Good riddance
You can safely knock these trending items off your skincare wishlist
Sheet masks.
“Personally, I never found them necessary,” says Megha Asher, founder of Juicy Chemistry. “Their benefits are short-term. It’s a high cost per use. There’s product wastage, and they’re bad for the environment.”
Collagen creams.
Collagen molecules are too big to penetrate skin. You’re better off eating collagen-rich foods such as citrus, fish, nuts and chicken for better collagen production. Oral supplements are available, but they take three to four months for results to show, says Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta.
Acne and blackhead strips.
Dr Mour says that they do nothing to clear skin congestions. “Use a face wash that has salicylic acid instead.”
Dermarollers.
No product that creates microcuts on your skin is ever going to be a good idea. If they’re not sanitised and not used sparingly, they cause more skin problems than they solve, says Aashi Adani, content creator.
Pore-minimising creams. “It’s the craziest thing I’ve heard of, because skin needs pores to breathe. It’s something that makeup can hide, but it’s not an issue that needs to be addressed with skincare,” says Adani.
LED masks.
“They boost blood circulation and collagen production, and can kill bacteria,” says Dr Mour. But there’s not enough research on their long-term effects. Leave this to occasional salon treatments.
Dark-circle creams.
“Dark circles are hereditary,” says Gupta. “You can’t do much except keep your skin hydrated.”
Face massagers.
“If you learn the right techniques, your hands can do the job,” says Asher.