If your For You page is a nonstop scroll of 10-step routines promising poreless, light-reflecting “glass skin,” you’re not alone. But according to new research, the advice behind those dewy before-and-afters doesn’t hold up nearly as well as the glow.
According to Dermatology Times, researchers presenting at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026 in Vienna found that 94.7 percent of viral TikTok videos about Korean skin care and glass skin contained at least one potentially misleading claim. The team analyzed 38 top-performing videos in May 2026, using a brand-new account so the algorithm wouldn’t skew results.
The findings aren’t exactly glowing. Overall, 84 percent didn’t account for different skin types, 45 percent pushed excessive combinations of active ingredients without safety guidance and 32 percent promised immediate results. Only 1 of the 38 mentioned irritation, just 2 touched on sun protection and none suggested seeing a dermatologist. None were made by dermatologists (about 82 percent came from nonphysician influencers), and none cited a source.
“What surprised us most was how consistently basic safety information was absent,” lead author Maria Lúcia Paysano, MD, said in a statement.
A second study presented at the meeting shows the real-world fallout. Researchers looked at 94 patients who developed a new or worsening skin condition after using products promoted on social media. Chemical exfoliants with AHAs or BHAs were the most common culprits (34 percent), followed by over-the-counter retinoids, vitamin C serums and niacinamide products. Nearly half had copied full routines straight from social media, and 63 percent were layering more than three actives at once. Irritant contact dermatitis was the top complication at 42 percent, while 28 percent saw acne appear or significantly worsen.
“Many patients were reproducing complex skincare routines involving several active ingredients simultaneously, often based on advice from non-medical influencers,” lead author Ouissal Hormi, MD, said.
Still, the researchers stress that the findings don’t mean Korean skin care itself is harmful. The concern is how social media turns principles such as gentle cleansing, hydration and barrier care into one-size-fits-all, product-heavy routines.
Both studies were presented at EADV 2026, which ran September 30 to October 3, and the authors hope more dermatologists will join the conversation. “Rather than dismissing social media trends, we have the opportunity to participate in these conversations and make evidence-based skincare information accurate, accessible and engaging,” Paysano said.
