This trend is driving doctors bananas.
Beauty fanatics are in a fruit frenzy as TikTokkers reveal they are adding banana peels to their daily skincare regimen.
The unusual beauty trick — which proponents claim brightens and soothes skin, plus acts like a “natural Botox” — involves rubbing a banana peel on the face for a few minutes every day.
One content creator claimed that her face was “so much tighter” afterward, while another said she does “banana peel scrubs instead of Botox” for the same results.
“This trend has come from claims that banana skins contain ‘lutein,’ an antioxidant that can help brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Dave Reilly, the head scientist at Absolute Collagen, explained to the Daily Mail, adding that some users have claimed it is also an exfoliant.
But he is skeptical that the sweet snack has benefits when applied directly to the face.
In fact, he said, the effects are “limited.”
“While it may be true that banana peel contains this antioxidant, it will not be topically absorbed through direct application to the skin,” he said.
“The concentration of lutein in the peel is also not high enough to produce significant results.”
Other doctors are also squashing the so-called “anti-aging” hack, which they say is not an ample substitute for traditional Botox — DIY gurus be damned.
“There’s no topical or food supplement that is going to give you the same effect Botox can when you inject it,” Toronto-based dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav said in a TikTok clip.
Instead, she recommends an over-the-counter skincare product instead of the budget-friendly fruit peel.
However, Ohio dermatologist Dr. Mona Mislankar previously told The Post that banana peels aren’t as risky as other at-home skincare hacks that circulate online, with the biggest risk being an allergy to the fruit.
Still, she echoed Yadav’s remarks, preferring Botox over bananas. The injectable, she explained, “works at a muscular level which is significantly deeper to prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles on our face,” something topicals can’t achieve.
“Unfortunately, TikTok trends like these often spread misinformation about skincare and can become popular quickly,” Reilly said.
“That is why I would always recommend sticking to your trusted skincare routine and avoiding any skincare ‘hacks’ to minimize the risk of irritation.”
Banana peels, however, can be used in a myriad of other home remedies, from calming insect bites to removing splinters.
