It's only been just over a week into the new year and already there are some questionable trends floating around online.
Last year gave us vabbing (vaginal discharge perfume) and menstrual masking – where women smeared their period blood over their faces in pursuit of 'glowy' skin.
But, 2023 is not playing around in terms of viral methods which are sure to make people squirm.
READ MORE: 'Menstrual masking' trend sees women apply period blood to faces for glowy skin
Let's introduce you to the 'egg white facial'…
Yes, you read that right.
TikTokers in all corners of the world started to smother their faces in egg whites in the hopes of removing blackheads from their pores.
Armen Adamjan, who boasts 5.4million followers on TikTok, often shows off his 'hacks', and recently, his DIY approach to skincare.
In the clip which racked up millions of views, the content creator revealed his cheap method of ridding of blackheads – or so he says.
The influencer and author cracked the egg in a bowl and sucked up the yolk with a plastic bottle before whisking the whites together.
After this, Armen painted his nose with the whites using a brush and put a piece of toilet paper on top.
He then applied more egg whites on top of the tissue and added another piece before layering it with yet another coat of the raw food.
Armen instructed to leave the homemade strip on for 10-15 minutes to let it get "hard". The influencer then pulled off the tissue covered egg whites from his nose and then shared the 'blackheads' that were removed in the process.
However, Armen is not the only one to try the alleged 'hack'.
Radio host and influencer Theresa Rockface took to her thousands of followers to give the 'egg white facial' a go herself.
"I'm going to introduce you to the egg white facial", she said.
"If you've ever seen the Hanacure facial it's where you smear it on your face and your face gets really tight – it's like $110 (£90) – it's kinda the same thing."
Instead of just putting the egg whites on her nose, Theresa coated her whole face with the mixture. Once she had finished putting it on her face, the radio host claimed she could barely move her face after only five minutes.
"It’s great", she replied to a curious viewer.
"Everything is tight."
Although, the egg white facial might not be everything it 'cracked' up to be…
Skincare expert and founder of Bedew Skin Rachael Robertson explained the trend might not be the quick fix for better skin after all – it could even leave you exposed to salmonella.
Rachael said: "Egg white does contain the enzyme lysozyme which could break down bacteria on the skin, however the whites of the egg are made mostly of water, so the benefits are very limited in comparison to a product designed for purpose.
"Due to the protein content, it could make your skin feel a bit tighter, but this would only be temporary.
"Not to mention that while the risk of salmonella is low – it's not impossible."
The expert shared her caution over Armen's original black head removal video.
"The technique itself might work for surface level dirt and oil in sebaceous filaments which people often confuse for blackheads", Rachael wrote.
"But for actual blackheads it just isn’t going to cut it, they need proper extraction."
Rachael then revealed what works to rid of any dirt and treat the pesky blackheads which are two separate issues.
The expert continued: "Pore strips that are made for purpose can pull dirt and oil from the skin (how much will depend on the strength of the adhesive) but is very unlikely to work on deep set blackheads.
"They could help if you are struggling with sebaceous filament visibility or surface level dirt and want to keep on top of an area such as the nose or chin. But there are far better ways to do this with a good skincare routine that helps to manage and prevent the issue from occurring and is therefore much better for your skin in the long run."
"Sebaceous filaments are a natural part of the skins structure. If you’re naturally oilier or do not have a thorough cleansing routine they can be more visible as they fill with dead skin cells, oils and dirt.
Rachael added: "Squeezing them can damage the skin and cause the pore to become infected, starting up a pustule and could also lead to scarring.
"The best way to keep them clear and less visible is to have a good cleansing routine; oil cleanser and second cleanse, a hydrator and moisturiser for balancing oil, moisture and hydration, regular exfoliation and SPF protection as a basic routine.
"A black head is different, it's a clogged pore and will appear darker.
"You may be able to feel it slightly raised from the skin too. It needs careful extraction and then continued use of a good routine for management.
"In addition to the above routine, you can add BHA/AHA treatments to help with blackhead/filament control and could introduce regular professional facials."
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