If you've scrolled through Instagram or TikTok recently, you've probably seen the "deinfluencing" trend. It's just as it sounds. People who are normally known for sharing recommendations and encouraging their followers to buy products (aka influencers) are flipping the script by sharing the products they don't recommend. It's in an effort to save their followers time and money, and we think that's pretty cool. After all, the beauty market is incredibly saturated, and it can be difficult to know what products are worth it, and which ones you should leave sitting squarely on the shelf.
So, in the spirit of it all, we thought we'd share our take on the trend. After all, as beauty and fashion editors, it's our job to weed out the best from the rest. Ahead, see the seven beauty products we want to deinfluence (and 17 alternatives that we think are way better).
Shawna Hudson, Associate Beauty Editor
"This is a hot take, but I don't care for under-eye patches! A good eye cream works just as well and you'll see better long-term results when using one consistently. If you need something that's going to de-puff and help dark circles quickly, try an eye cream with caffeine!"
An Alternative:
Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor
"I think toner is one of the most over-rated skincare products, full stop. Not only do they add an unnecessary step to your skincare routine, but many toners are also mixed with harsh, irritating ingredients like alcohol that can dry out skin and damage your barrier. People love how fresh and clean toners make them feel, but instead of mixing in a toner, I think you should rely on double-cleansing to prep your skin and remove dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities pre-skincare."
An Alternative:
Kaitlyn McLintock, Associate Beauty Editor
"I've never tried a pore-minimizing product/primer that's worked for me. They just don't deal with the root cause of the issue, which is trapped oil, dirt, and debris inside the pores that make them look larger and more visible. So, instead of these products, I like to use effective chemical exfoliants to keep my pores clear and looking small. I'll apply an exfoliating mask at least once a week for this reason. Doing this also smoothes out skin texture and lightens discoloration."
An Alternative:
Yusra Siddiqui, Associate Fashion Editor
"There was a time in my life when I was heavily influenced by pore strips. Yes, those ones that we thought zapped all our blackheads. I also found myself trying oil-absorbing pore strips, which are similar to pimple patches but bigger. Needless to say, I'll be sticking to only pimple patches for now. And instead of strips, which irritated my skin extremely, I've found greater success in a great exfoliant. Whenever I find my skin feeling clogged or on the verge of a breakout, using Paula's Choice BHA exfoliant does so much making my skin feel fresh and breakout-free."
An Alternative:
Emma Walsh, Associate Beauty Editor, Branded Content
"My pick isn't the most seductive or controversial, but I hope it can inspire more self-confidence. Personally, I don't think a full-coverage foundation is worth buying. Here's my reason why: I used to be extremely insecure about my rosy cheeks, and basically suffocated my skin with heavy, full-coverage foundation until my skin was devoid of any natural flush. But as I've gotten older, I've decided to embrace the natural rosy tint to my complexion. If you can relate, I would suggest swapping in something more breathable–a skin tint, BB cream, or even a lighter coverage foundation like the Ilia Serum Foundation, ($54). I usually just reach for concealer on the daily, but I go for one of these options when I have an event or photoshoot. I really think that less is more, and letting your skin's natural radiance shine through is the most beautiful thing."
The Alternatives:
Sierra Mayhew, Associate Editor
"Remember when hair-waver (or hair-waving) tools were all the rage? It wasn't that long ago and I was persistent about having the hot tool for myself even though it was just a modern-day take on the crimper that we all loved in middle school. Looking back on that short-lived era of mine, I think my hair looked damaged when I styled it this way. Allow me to de-influence you, you definitely don't need that device. A hairstyling trend that is definitely worth buying into is heatless curls. I spent less than $10 and now wake up every day with perfect hair and no heat damage. "
The Alternative:
Allyson Payer, Senior Fashion Editor
"I've tried for so long to embrace face mists but I just don't get it. People love them so this may be an unpopular opinion, but I don't find that they do that much except make my face look wet. I'm not really a fan of any product you apply over makeup, but brightening serums that you wear under makeup are my current obsession. I swear that I need less makeup when I use them, even when I get very little sleep (which is always)."
The Alternatives:
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