Weight Of Their Words

We’re seeing the portmanteau “skinfluencer” more frequently on social media these days. But can you really trust what they put out?

- Syed Zulfadhli 

SOCIAL MEDIA. It’s grown into global proportions by feeding on our collective nosiness, insecurity and vanity. According to Statista, YouTube and Instagram amassed over 2 billion and 1 billion active users respectively in 2020. Relative newcomer TikTok, which is targeted at the Gen Z audience, is steadily catching up with 800 million active users in the same period.

All that considered, it’s little wonder that society has started and continues to place emphasis on appearances. It’s simple: the better you look, the more attention you get. Fitness and fashion social media accounts have long been popular “genres” on social media because their visual impact – be it a thirst trap post or the flaunting of a pair of Dior x Air Jordan 1 – is instantaneous.

Eyeballs are, however, shifting towards skin care and grooming in recent times, and bringing a huge boom to the skincare market as a result. In fact, Statista reports that the global skincare sector expanded by 41.8 per cent between 2012 and 2019, and is predicted to be valued at $189 billion by 2025.

This is perhaps because people connect grooming with the idea of self-care and wellness. For instance, by using products with specific formulas, you can address imperfections like acne, dryness, or wrinkles. By doing so, skin care accords consumers the power to erase the source of their insecurities in the comfort of their own homes. Details like scents, textures and application techniques also help with the process of dissipating stress. In troubling times like these, skin care and grooming are seen more as necessary coping mechanisms rather than simply self-indulgence.