Is The Internet Ruining Your Skin?

Cosmopolitan’s Lucy Partington investigates why endless searching and scrolling in pursuit of a perfect complexion could be doing more harm than good.

- Lucy Partington

I’m proud of my skincare routine. It’s simple, not too expensive and, most importantly, it’s working. My job means I’m able to learn which products work (and which don’t), and it helps that my boss is a walking skincare encyclopedia. I also go to launches where I speak to the scientists formulating products, and have access to top dermatologists. But what if I wasn’t doing this job? If I was still plagued by the acne that made me miserable in my teens, where would I go for advice? The answer is the Internet.

24/7 SKINCARE STREAM

According to experts, India’s retail beauty and cosmetics industry is likely to be worth $2.68 billion by 2020, with hundreds of new products emerging every week—online stores launch an average of one new product every day. Twitter and Instagram feeds are flooded with miracle potions. Pinterest is bursting with DIY skincare recipes, and bloggers and vloggers are constantly uploading their latest regimes. A quick YouTube search for ‘morning skincare routine’ throws up over a million results. And while there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, it’s important to remember that most influencers aren’t qualified, rarely speak to expert dermatologists, often don’t pay for products they use, and can be paid a fortune to feature them.

“What’s being shared is personal experience, not a qualified professional’s opinion,” says London-based dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting. “Which is fine for make-up, but can be dangerous for skincare.”