The Biggest Skincare Scams You’re Falling For – And What Actually Works

Are you ready to stop falling for the hype and skincare  trends and start to invest in what actually works? Let’s get into it.

1. “Luxury Skincare is Better Because It’s Expensive”

The Scam:

Brands slap a $300 price tag on a moisturizer, and suddenly people think it’s liquid gold. But here’s the truth: price doesn’t equal quality. Many high-end brands use the same base ingredients as drugstore brands, but add fancy packaging, a celebrity endorsement, and a perfume-like fragrance to justify the markup.

The Reality:

What actually matters are the ingredients and their concentration levels—not the name on the jar. You can get a solid, dermatologist-approved moisturizer for under $30 that performs just as well (if not better) than a luxury one.

What Actually Works:

Instead of chasing luxury brands, take that extra step and look for ingredients that help with what you need help with. A local esthetician or dermatologist can help point you in the right direction or you can do some of your own research. Some main ingredients we see and their benefits include: 

•Niacinamide (evening skin tone) 

• Hyaluronic Acid (hydration)

• Glycerin (locks in moisture)

• Peptides (help with aging)

Save Your Money: You will find more affordable brands that have dermatologist-approved formulas and they will actually work. 

Tip - Focus more on our skincare products that we keep on like serums and moisturizers rather than our cleansers that we wash off. Unless a cleanser has a specific use like a salicylic for acne (these cleansers are more beneficial when massaged into the skin and left on for more time). 

2. “Clean Beauty is Safer and More Effective”

The term “clean beauty” is one of the biggest marketing schemes in the industry. Brands love to throw the word “clean” on their products to try and convince you that everything else is toxic. The problem? There’s no legal definition of “clean” in skincare. (especially in the US lol) Companies self-define what they consider “clean,” and many of these “toxic” ingredients have been scientifically proven to be safe, hard to believe everything you see in this industry and better to be safe and do your own research to find what works best for you. 

The Reality:

•“Paraben-free” isn’t always better – parabens are safe preservatives that prevent mold and bacteria growth in your products. (as an esthetician the amount of mold I’ve found in “natural” or “clean” skincare products is just unimaginable) 

• “Fragrance-free” is great for sensitive skin and has many other benefits but… this doesn’t automatically mean it’s a “healthier” or “clean”  product. 

• Many natural ingredients can be irritating (we’re all looking at you, essential oils).

What Actually Works:

•Instead of worrying about “clean beauty,” focus on evidence-based skincare with stable, effective ingredients.

• what works for one, won’t work for all find what ingredients work best with your skin. 

•If you have sensitive skin, look for fragrance-free and alcohol-free products—but don’t stress about “toxins” so many ingredients can be seen as a toxin even those “clean” ones. 

Bottom Line: Just because a brand calls itself “clean” doesn’t mean it’s better.

3. “You Need a 10-Step Routine for Perfect Skin”

The Scam:

Skincare companies (and influencers) love telling you that you need 10+ steps every morning and night for “glass skin.” The truth? More steps don’t equal better results—sometimes, they just mean more irritation and wasted money.

The Reality:

Overloading your skin with too many active ingredients can cause redness, breakouts, and a damaged skin barrier. Most people only need 3-5 steps max for healthy skin.

What Actually Works:

Good Morning:

Gentle Cleanser

Vitamin C, or hyaluronic type serum to provide extra barrier of moisture (optional)

Eye cream or serum 

Moisturizer

SPF

Good Night:

Cleanser (double cleanse if wearing makeup)

Treatment Serum

Occasional mask and exfoliation 

Eye cream or serum 

Moisturizer

Ditch the nonsense! Your skin (and wallet) will thank you.

4. “DIY Skincare is Just as Good as Professional Products”

The Scam:

We’ve all seen the TikTok and Pinterest recipes: “Make your own face mask with lemon juice and baking soda!” or “Coconut oil is the best moisturizer ever!” The problem? DIY skincare is often too harsh, too occlusive, or just plain ineffective.

The Reality:

I distinctly remember spot treating with TOOTHPASTE as a pre-teen LOL  please for everyone’s sake let’s stick to skin ingredients that are known to help our skin concerns. 

•Lemon juice is WAY too acidic – it can cause chemical burns and hyperpigmentation.

•Baking soda messes up your skin’s pH, making it dry and irritated.

•Coconut oil is comedogenic – meaning it clogs pores and can cause breakouts.

That was just to list a few there are so many more nobody wants to read up on. In conclusion if you saw it online please do your own research before testing it out on your precious skin! 

What Actually Works:

•If you want natural skincare, opt for professional products that use stabilized, effective botanical ingredients.

•DIY masks with oats, honey, or aloe vera are gentler alternatives that won’t wreck your skin.

Lesson: If you wouldn’t put it in your eye, don’t put it on your face. 

Final Thoughts: Don’t Fall for the BS

The beauty industry thrives on confusing consumers and selling unnecessary products. The best way to protect yourself? Know your ingredients, stick to the basics, and don’t believe everything a celebrity or influencer tells you.

Quick Recap – What to Avoid & What to Do Instead:

• Luxury skincare isn’t always better → Look at ingredients, not price.

• “Clean beauty” is a marketing buzzword → Focus on science-backed products.

• 10-step routines are overkill → Stick to essentials (cleanser, moisturizer, SPF, treatments as needed).

• DIY skincare is risky → Use professional, dermatologist-approved products.

What’s the Worst Skincare Scam You’ve Fallen For?

Drop your biggest beauty regrets in the comments—whether it was a celebrity-endorsed scam, a hyped-up TikTok trend, or that time you thought coconut oil would cure your acne.

If you found this post helpful or funny, please share it and let’s help more people stop wasting money on BS!