The Caveman Method: Why skipping skincare isn’t the glow-up you think

 By Temo Mpodi

Social media is always pushing a new trend and, like clockwork, everyone jumps on board. The latest one going viral on TikTok? It’s called the caveman method. When you think “caveman”, skincare is probably one of the very last things that comes to mind. What exactly is this trend all about, and how did it start?

It started with influencer Tia Zakher, who posted a video talking about her super minimal (like, barely there) skincare routine. In the clip, she shows off her shedding skin while explaining how she healed her skin’s barrier by using… nothing. No cleanser, no moisturiser. Not even water.

Wait, what?! Yeah, we had the same reaction.

The trend claims that ditching all products helps reset your skin and fix the damage from over-cleansing or over-exfoliating. The idea is to go completely product-free and let your skin do its thing, naturally. Sounds simple enough, but before you toss out your skincare stash, there are a few things you should know. Because while TikTok is full of skincare tips, most of the people giving them aren’t actual experts.

Dr Judey Pretorius, a biomedical scientist and founder of Biomedical Emporium skincare, shared a few reasons why this trend might not be the best idea:

• Using zero products can actually mess up your skin. A few solid products with good ingredients are often all you need.
• There’s no science behind the caveman method. Simplifying your routine? Great. But using ingredients that work is still key.
• Skipping cleansing? Big mistake. Washing your face removes all the stuff your skin doesn’t want like dirt, oil, and bacteria.
• No SPF = major problem. The sun is a top cause of things like hyperpigmentation and early aging. Going without sunscreen is basically asking for trouble.

Bottom line: no matter the season, sunscreen should always be the last step in your routine. And if a trend online seems too wild to be true, it’s probably worth running by a skincare pro before giving it a go.