80% of people believe the skincare industry is 'rife with misinformation'
When it comes to skincare advice – where do you get your information? Do you have a personal dermatologist? Do you rely on features written by beauty journalists (like this one!) or do you look to TikTok and social media? Wherever you consume information – it's no secret that the skincare industry can be a minefield, with new product launches, buzzy skincare ingredients and complicated routines popping up as the 'new must-know trend' almost daily.
But, if you're confused by skincare, know that you're definitely not alone. According to The Simple Truth – a new report published by Simple – 80% of people believe that the beauty industry is rife with misinformation.
While the skincare industry aims to promote empowerment and confidence, Simple's report findings reveal that 79% of participants asked feel overwhelmed by the skincare industry and those with sensitive skin types are even more affected – with 84% of people reporting feeling confused by skincare.
And while it's disappointing, it's not all that surprising. Rewind fifteen years ago and the majority of information we consumed was through television, magazines and newspapers. Anything that was published or claimed was vetted by experts and so arguably, that bit more trustworthy.
Fast forward to 2023 and 57.1 million people in the UK are on social media. Of course, social media can be a brilliant source of information and word-of-mouth recommendations. You can find an influencer who might have a similar skin issue to you and connect instantly with their advice and recommendations.
But, with the hashtag #skincareroutine amassing 57.1B views on TikTok (and counting!) it's not surprising that 80% of women and 74% of men now believe that the skincare industry is flooded with misinformation.
"While some creators may possess genuine knowledge, many lack the comprehensive medical understanding required for accurate and safe aesthetic guidance," advises Emma Wedgwood, founder of Emma Wedgwood Aesthetics.
With social media playing such an influential role in people’s lives it is more important than ever to champion honest and relatable voices that empower consumers with accurate and essential skincare knowledge – which is where Simple's report comes in.
Simple are on a mission to simplify the information given – ensuring they collaborate only with influencers who share their uncomplicated, simple skincare values and aiming to provide consumers with concise and honest information.
While we're hoping that skincare brands across the board follow suit, there's no controlling what 99% of people put out there on social media and ultimately you're in control of where you find your skincare information. Whether that's following brilliant dermatologists (like Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, Dr Anjali Mahto or Dr Sam Bunting) and aesthetic doctors such as Dr Sophie Shotter and Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme as well as beauty editors and industry-vetted experts – it's important to consider where your skincare advice is coming from in order to really gain valuable, trusted and clear information.
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