The ‘Caveman Method’ is the latest viral skincare technique. Experts say you should think twice

The cost of a multistep skincare routine can quickly add up. But have you ever wondered what would happen if you simply stopped?

This weekend, a TikTok creator went viral for discussing her controversial “Caveman Method,” which she claims is helping restore her skin barrier after years of picking at her skin. In a video that has since racked up nearly 10 million views, Tia Zakher announced she had cut out everything from her beauty routine—even water.

“What you are seeing is dead skin that’s going to flake off eventually while healthy skin forms underneath,” she posted in response to questions about the texture on her face. In a separate video, she explains that the look of her skin is due to “retention hyperkeratosis,” in which the skin holds onto dead cells instead of shedding them immediately, as a result of “years of overpicking and removing texture manually.”

While some accused the creator of rage-baiting—pretending not to wash her face, or creating the look with a clay mask and powder just for views (she has since reintroduced water back into her routine)—others were curious about the validity of the so-called Caveman Method.

Rather than rely on TikTok diagnosis, Fast Company reached out to aesthetician and skin specialist Dr. Ellie Sateei for her expert opinion.

“Washing your face at night isn’t just a beauty ritual—it’s a fundamental part of skin health,” Sateei explains. “Cleansing your face at night is essential, and not just for removing makeup, sunscreen, and pollution, but for allowing your skin to properly repair itself overnight.”

While the Caveman Method suggests skipping this step to reduce irritation and reset the skin without interference from products such as retinol and moisturizer—which didn’t exist back in the Stone Age—it’s not backed by science. Sateei warns that it can lead to congestion, dullness, and breakouts, “much like going to bed without brushing your teeth affects your oral health,” she adds. While some claim that a back-to-basics approach helps the skin barrier, the buildup of oil, dirt, and environmental pollutants can actually end up damaging it further.

Most people’s skin also doesn’t benefit from a 14-step beauty routine before bed, as some skin-fluencers might suggest. Instead, Sateei recommends a minimal but balanced routine. “Use gentle products that support the skin’s natural processes without overwhelming it,” she says. “It’s about respecting your skin’s needs, not neglecting them.”