Face Basting: Is This TikTok Trend Worth the Hype?
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
People on TikTok are putting nappy rash cream on their faces in order to wake up with glowy skin and as a Dermal Therapist, we need to talk about it.
This process has been called ‘face basting’ and is actually a trend that was made viral by Dermatologist Dr Shereen Idriss and honestly, as we delve into it it’ll make sense; but (pardon the pun) before you reach for the nappy rash cream, there are a few caveats we need to explore.
What Is Face Basting?
I.E How do you face baste and why would you do it?
Well, you’d only really try to coat your face in your baby’s nappy rash cream to repair dry and or inflamed skin and you’d need to ensure your cream was zinc oxide-based - which most of them are.
However, the goal of rubbing your baby’s nappy rash cream on your face is to repair your skin, manage dry skin and reduce inflammation so if you have generally pretty normal skin then there is no need for you to do this.
Ditto if you are an oily/acne-prone girly, the thickness of these creams could potentially clog your pores and do the complete opposite of what it was intended for.
But if you deal with constant dryness/irritation then face basting can help.
Honestly, remember when slugging was a thing? It’s kind of like that, but face basting is designed to manage inflammation - which is something that slugging cannot.
How? Well, zinc oxide repairs dry/cracked skin and has wound healing properties - which is why it’s great for your baby’s butt - AND your dry/inflamed skin.
You see, zinc oxide-based barrier creams are literally designed to provide a protective barrier, whilst also locking in hydration and moisture for the most sensitive places - so you can see how this works.
How to Do Face Basting With Skincare.
So now if you are keen to try it (or not if you are normal/oily/or acne-prone) then this is how you’d do it.
1. Cleanse your skin.
2. Apply your nappy cream all over your face - then go to bed.
That’s right, no moisturiser, no serums - it is a two step process and I’d only be trying on an ad hoc basis when your skin is going through it.
This is not an every night type of scenario, but it’s pretty simple.
Face Basting Products.
Now onto some products, because to try this all you would need is some zinc oxide nappy rash cream from your local chemist.
However, if the idea of applying nappy rash cream to your face does give you the ick - because same - did you know that zinc oxide can also be found in a lot of great moisturiser formulas that are designed for the purpose of repairing and healing the skin as well?
Two of my absolute favourite products to baste your face with at night:
Avene Cicalfate helps soothe, repair, and protect irritated skin by combining soothing thermal water, skin-restoring minerals, and antibacterial agents - and it contains zinc oxide!
She’s an icon, she’s a legend and she is the moment. Also a great product to baste your face in.
This balm intensely hydrates, soothes, and repairs irritated skin with 5% Vitamin B5, while madecassoside and shea butter restore the skin barrier, reducing redness and discomfort.
And while it doesn’t directly contain zinc oxide it does contain copper-zinc-manganese that contributes to the product's antibacterial properties and would be a great alternative.
Bonus: you can apply your serums under both of these products.
So tell me, would you try this trend?
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