Caveman Skincare Is Trending Thanks To This TikToker — But Will It Get You Glowing Results Or An Infection?

I just know that the clean girl aesthetic girlies are shaking in their Adidas Sambas after Tia Zakher has gone viral for a low-maintenance skincare routine, now known as “caveman skincare.” And by low-maintenance, I mean no-maintenance because that’s basically what caveman skincare is since they didn’t have microneedling, laser therapy, or collagen-generating stem cells to spare — like the It girls do nowadays. Why would anyone want to run it back to the Stone Age for their skincare routine? That’s what Tia has been fighting for her life in the comments about for weeks now, as TikTok tries to diagnose her current skin with every condition under the sun. Damn, guess we’re all licensed dermatologists now!

That being said, I was curious how the 22-year-old budding influencer justifies the layer of what she describes as “dead skin cells piling up” that have left a noticeable “thick, flaky look.” I learned everything about Tia Zakher’s caveman skincare routine and why she’s doing it.

What is the caveman skincare routine?

Caveman skincare, for Tia, means “doing absolutely nothing” to her face “after 8 years of picking & exfoliating.” This means nixing the fancy skincare products that have been treated less like luxuries and more like essentials these days, especially with the younger generations, who have found a passion for going to extreme lengths to avoid wrinkles. I’m not a doctor, nor a civilian, who recommends ditching the skin gym cold turkey, but is it bad that I find it refreshing to see a young betch unafraid to pivot from the 17-step nighttime routine propaganda?

Yes, this zero-step skincare method excludes washing your face, even with just water. TBH, I’m not sure if the caveman did or did not indulge in a mud mask every now and then, but Tia says TikTok came up with the catchy term, not her.

Why is that girl on TikTok doing caveman skincare?

Though her approach may seem extreme, Tia chose the caveman method because her “skin’s shedding cycle was disrupted” after years of over-picking. According to Tia, her skin “used to rely on picking to exfoliate,” so when she stopped, “it had to learn how to shed on its own,” meaning with no help from outside beauty products or her bad habits.

What is on the caveman skincare girl’s face?

In a photo posted to TikTok, Tia explains that “all the dead skin cells that built up naturally over time have built up temporarily,” causing the greenish layer the comments are so kindly fixated on lately. She self-diagnoses the sandy texture as “retention hyperkeratosis,” which Tia finds to be “a normal part of resetting [her] skin barrier.” Even though it “looks bad temporarily,” Tia maintains the shedding process is “fixable” and a “part of healing with patience.”

And she’s happy with the results after seven weeks of “healing her barrier” by stopping all skincare and “not using any water.” So, for all the dedicated fans who are hate-watching with the hopes that Tia is rage-baiting or faking the whole thing, think again. And, in some good news for everyone losing sleep over a total stranger, Tia has reintroduced plain ol’ water back into the mix.

What happens if you don’t wash your face?

Well, surprise, surprise, most dermatologists and skincare experts don’t advise leaving your skin to its own devices. In a previous article for Betches, Lucie Royer, director of private cosmetic clinic Skin & Soul Medical, was not a fan of skipping face wash. “If you skip washing your face entirely, you might notice a buildup of oils and dead skin cells, leading to clogged pores and breakouts,” Royer explained. “Your skin can also look dull and feel rough. Plus, not washing off makeup and sunscreen can contribute to irritation and aging.”

One allergist stitched Tia’s video, explaining that one result of a caveman skincare method could be dermatosis neglecta. Medical News Today defines this condition as “an inflammatory skin condition that can occur when someone does not or cannot maintain personal hygiene,” leading “dead skin cells” to “build up in patches of skin that are hyperpigmented, scaly, and rough.” The outlet notes that “secondary infections and other skin conditions can arise if a person does not treat these patches.”