We love a beauty hack as much as the next person, but as the old saying goes, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet – especially when it comes to viral TikTok beauty hacks.
You’d think the world would learn after the whole Kylie Jenner lip challenge shitshow saw people end up with major bruising, swelling, discolouration, and long term nerve damage, but it seems that we’re all still a sucker for a DIY beauty hack.
While the net is full of cash-saving beauty tips, the explosion of TikTok has lead to every man and his dog being able to throw down their own beauty advice – despite the lack of any credentials or knowledge of any possible side effects.
We’ve rounded up just a few of the most insane beauty “hacks” across TikTok that you absolutely should not ever try at home – unless you’re willing to be left with some major permanent damage.
For more on this topic head to the Fashion & Beauty Observer.
Faux Freckles
Recently, Australian Big Brother star Tilly Whitfeld took to social media to warn of the dangers of undertaking a TikTok hack in an attempt to create semi-permanent freckles on her face with henna and a needle.
After buying ink on eBay, she later found out that it was counterfeit ink filled with lead. The “hack” left her with permanent scarring and caused the reality star to temporarily lose eyesight in one eye.
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Posting the painful-looking scars on Instagram, Tilly explained: “This is the result of attempting to remove scarring I inflicted on myself trying to replicate an at-home beauty procedure I saw on a Tik Tok video 2 months before Big Brother.”
“I literally shoved needles deep into my skin,” she said.
“Please please don’t try any “DIY” or “at home” beauty procedures. I ended up in hospital with temporary loss of vision in my eye due to swelling and was very sick from the infection, not to mention my face was somewhat unrecognisable. Leave it to the professionals!”
Sunscreen Contour
The sunscreen contour trend – which aims to use sunscreen in certain areas of the face to produce a look of contour via tan – took off on TikTok when LA Model Eli Withrow revealed her hack for the “naturally snatched” look in 2020.
“Haters will say it doesn’t work,” she began in the video that has since gone viral. “But I’m convinced that if you put a base sunscreen of SPF 30 on and then SPF 90 on all of the spots that you would put highlighter on, the sun will contour your face where you would put bronzer and you will be naturally snatched all summer.”
While others claim the “hack” worked, others showcased some unfavourable results of this dangerous trend.
TikTok user @teachermclane posted a video showing her sunburnt face after trying after attempting the trend, commenting: “Have you ever watched a Tiktok and thought it was a really good idea? So you decided to contour your face with sunscreen to have a natural highlight and you think it’s going to look fantastic?”
“Well, it’s not” before the user showed her sore-looking sunburnt.
“Not a good idea”.
Gorilla Glue Hair
@im_d_ollady Stiff where????? Ma hair 🤬🤬
Who could forget Tessica Brown, the TikTok user who decided to use industrial-strength super glue to slick down her hair when she ran out of her usual hair product?
Tessica’s split-second decision landed her in a world of hurt, ending with her literally requiring four hours of surgery to free her cement-stuck locks.
“When I do my hair, I like to finish it off with a little Got2B Glued Spray. You know, just to keep it in place,” she said on TikTok.
“Well I didn’t have anymore Got2B Glued Spray so I used this. Gorilla Glue Spray. Bad, bad, bad idea. Y’all look, my hair. It don’t move. Do you hear what I’m telling you? It don’t move. I’ve washed my hair 15 times and it don’t move.”
She continued, “So I’mma tell y’all like this: if you ever, ever run out of Got2B Glued Spray, don’t ever use this. Unless you want your hair to be like that forever.”
Teeth Filing
In one horrifying TikTok “hack” video, a woman is seen filing her teeth down with a nail file to shape and shorten her teeth – something that very easily can result in highly sensitive teeth, a higher chance of tooth decay, and inflammation.
According to Dr. Lisa Creaven of Spotlight Oral Care, who spoke to Extra.ie, “Engaging in this trend is highly dangerous, as your teeth do not grow back as your hair and nails do. Once your adult set of teeth grow, they are the teeth you will have for life.
“As a result, it’s important to treat them with care. This trend is unsafe and will likely result in permanent damage.
Erection Cream Lip Plumper
@littlechickencutlet If you know what movie I’m talking about please tell me because I want to watch it again #beauty #lips
One TikTok user went viral in 2020 after he posted a video of himself slathering erection cream on his lips in order to achieve a super plump pout.
While it certainly seemed to work, he was forced to remove the cream as it began burning.
“I don’t know the safety of it. If you want to try it, go ahead,” he said before ending the video.
As per the New York Post, doctors has slammed the hack, saying it was “utterly ridiculous and can be extremely dangerous,” adding that the “temporary” procedure could lead to a slew of damage, including soreness, swelling and blisters, blood pressure fluctuations and “possible heart problems.”
Yikes!
