Like many beauty and wellness trends on TikTok, the dubious scientific claims behind the “eat your skincare” phenomenon can shepherd viewers down the path of disordered eating behaviours. Intentionally or not, by conflating the consumption of preordained “safe” foods with beauty, creators are encouraging compulsive eating habits. Echoing concerns about the unrealistic expectations set by online beauty culture, Lola Biggs, dietitian at Together Health, says, “When influencers present flawless skin as the direct result of eating specific foods […] they’re setting up an impossible standard.” Biggs adds, “When someone follows the advice and doesn’t see the promised transformation, the natural response is to eat even more rigidly, cut out more foods, and become increasingly anxious about every meal.” This, she says, is the pathway towards orthorexic thinking.
