Beauty Trends I Tried So You Don’t Have To

Curiosity is a dangerous thing—especially when it meets TikTok at 2 a.m. One minute you’re looking for a serum recommendation, the next you’re convinced you need to dunk your face in ice water, contour with sunscreen, and brush your eyebrows with soap.

I’ve always loved playing with beauty, not just for the aesthetics, but for the experimentation. But not every trend is a win. Some leave you glowing. Others leave you wondering if your dignity can be exfoliated away.

So here’s the honest rundown of a few trends I’ve tried, how they held up in real life, and whether you should thank me for going first.

1. Skin Icing – The Morning Freeze

The promise: Depuff, tighten, and wake up your skin using an ice cube or fancy facial ice roller.

The reality: Yes, it wakes you up. So would stepping outside in the middle of winter. It does help with puffiness and feels surprisingly meditative if you’re into the whole cold-plunge-lite experience. But does it erase fine lines or replace a good night’s sleep? Not even close.

Verdict: Refreshing, but don’t expect miracles. Keep a jade roller in the fridge and skip the hand-numbing ice cubes.

2. Soap Brows – The Sculpted Feather Look

The promise: Full, fluffy brows locked into place with a bar of soap and a spoolie.

The reality: It works—at first. My brows did look editorial, bold, and surprisingly tidy. But halfway through the day, they felt stiff and flaky. Also, God help you if it rains.

Verdict: Fine for photos. Questionable for real life. Brow gel exists for a reason—and it doesn't lather in your eyebrows.

3. Slugging – Vaseline as Skincare Savior

The promise: Seal in moisture by slathering petroleum jelly over your nighttime skincare routine.

The reality: It’s deeply hydrating, but also deeply… greasy. I woke up with baby-soft skin and pillowcase regret. Not ideal if you’re acne-prone or enjoy sleeping without your face sticking to the sheets.

Verdict: Great in winter or for dry patches. Maybe not every night. Definitely not for oily skin or silk pillow lovers.

4. DIY Lip Plumper – Cinnamon, Cayenne, Chaos

The promise: Natural, spicy lip plumpers using kitchen ingredients.

The reality: I mixed a little cayenne pepper into a balm like the video showed. Within five minutes, my lips were red, tingling, and felt like they were staging a rebellion. Did they look fuller? Yes. Because they were inflamed.

Verdict: Just… no. Buy a lip plumper or learn to love your lips as they are. This one’s not worth the fire hazard.

5. Foundation as Concealer Only – The “Dot Method”

The promise: Use foundation only where needed for a natural, skin-like finish.

The reality: Surprisingly good. It takes a minute to get the blending right, but once you do, it gives a more breathable, minimalist effect. Skin looks like skin—just more even.

Verdict: A keeper. Especially for “I want to look like I tried but not too hard” days.

The Takeaway: Trends Are Fun, Not Gospel

The best beauty routine is one that works for you. Not every viral hack will fit your skin type, your lifestyle, or your comfort level—and that’s okay. Some trends are worth trying just to laugh about. Some might actually become your go-to.

But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t need to do everything for the algorithm to feel beautiful. Trends come and go. Your skin, your face, your body? They’re not experiments—they’re already enough.

So try the thing. Skip the thing. But remember, you’re the one who decides what feels good on your face.