Rage bait or genius beauty hack: What’s the deal with the caveman skincare trend on TikTok?

TikTok is embroiled in a fierce debate over caveman skincare, a trend that may or may not be rage bait intended to give the original creator some much-needed clout.

As our understanding of science behind beauty and skincare evolves, so do the internet trends that dominate almost every waking hour of our lives. The 2010s marked the era of extreme highlighting and contouring, slugging was the only way to guarantee facial moisture a few years ago, and just recently, morning shedding had everyone on TikTok looking like a snake.

Now, a trend that has drawn inspiration from our ancestors has taken root in the internet’s collective consciousness, but is everything as it seems? Rarely.

Where did TikTok’s caveman skincare start?

@tiazakher

it’s SO tempting to not pick at it but so far so good 💪

♬ I Love It (feat. Charli XCX) – Icona Pop

Rooted in the unsubstantiated claim that modern skincare practices have removed our body’s natural protections and vitality, the caveman skincare was created by TikToker Tia Zakher, who stripped back her skincare routine to literally nothing. She doesn’t even use water to wash her face, allegedly.

Zara seemingly started the trend this very month when she posted a video with notably crusty skin alongside the caption: “After eight years of picking and exfoliating, I’m healing my skin barrier by doing the only thing I’ve never tried before…nothing.”

Zara has really cashed in on the internet fame since, and now every other video is about her dedication to caveman skincare and the so-called benefits she has experienced. Her comments are as brutal as you’d expect, with armchair doctors diagnosing her with everything from severe psychiatric disorders to seborrheic dermatitis, bacterial infections to fungal issues.

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“What you’re seeing is dead skin that’s gonna flake off eventually while like new healthy skin forms underneath,” she explained in a follow-up video. “I’ve basically stopped all skincare, not using any water, and I’m just letting the barrier rebuild itself naturally. But for three years, I picked and over-exfoliated my skin and damaged my skin really badly. So it’s just going to take time. My skin is basically just shedding all the damage and attempting to re-regulate itself.”

What are the experts saying?

@tiazakher

Replying to @j

♬ original sound – tia zakher

Of course, people want to hear from experts who actually know what they’re talking about when it comes to TikTok’s caveman skincare trend. Most have said it’s not normal, and some have even accused her of faking it.

“As a board-certified dermatologist, I can tell you that what you’re seeing is not normal,” dermatologist Dr Jeaneen Chappell said in her response. “I don’t know if this is rage-bait, click-bait, or if this is actually post-Fraxel (laser) skin. I’m not sure; however, let me go over why this is not a good idea. I can’t think of one scenario, living or non-living, that does better, or thrives in, a state of neglect. It is a myth to think that your skin will strive in a state of neglect.”

“Everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one might not work for another. But abandoning cleansing completely is unlikely to benefit anyone or repair any skin barriers. Even cavemen will have had their own forms of hygiene!” Cult Beauty’s expert Trifonia Asmar also said.

People think it’s rage bait, and I have to agree

@tiazakher

ted talk era???????

♬ original sound – tia zakher

A lot of people have accused Zara of faking the whole thing in a bid to get her 15 minutes of fame. Outside of expert evidence, people have suggested it looked exactly the same as putting foundation over a clay mask.

Dr Jeaneen Chappell explained: “As someone who sees rashes all day, every day, the pattern of this young lady’s ‘rash’ is unusual. It would be highly unusual to get something like Tinea Faciei (contagious fungal skin infection) from not washing your face.

“Now if we focus on Seborrheic Dermatitis, which is an overgrowth of yeast, her pattern is just all wrong. It likes the crease of the nose, nasolabial folds, sometimes the chin crease, loves the eyebrows, I expect it to be effecting the hairline. Literally none of those areas are affected. Look at the distinct borders of this rash, it looks like someone has applied something, similar to how your face would look if you put on a mud mask.”

“God forbid a girl has skin texture while healing her barrier,” Zara said in response.

It’s yet to be seen whether Zara is faking it or not, but one thing is for certain: You should NOT be jumping on this trend, folks.

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Featured image credit: Tia Zakher