A couple of weeks ago, I did what so many of us do: I went down a TikTok rabbit hole.
You know the kind. You start watching one innocent skincare video, and 40 minutes later you're wondering why half of TikTok is putting Sudocrem on their faces.
At first I thought, Surely not? The nappy-rash cream? On my face?
But curiosity won. I already had a simple CeraVe skincare routine that my skin seemed happy with, so I decided to experiment carefully.
And ladies… my skin feels amazing.
My makeup is also lasting beautifully throughout the day.
But before we all run to the bathroom cupboard and cover ourselves in Sudocrem, I wanted to look into why it might be working for me, what I'm actually using, and what we should be careful about.
Important: This is my personal experience, not medical advice. Skin is incredibly individual. Something my skin loves may irritate yours.
What is the TikTok Sudocrem trend?
Sudocrem certainly wasn't created as an anti-ageing cream, moisturiser or makeup primer.
It's a thick barrier cream containing ingredients including zinc oxide, and its formulation is designed to create a protective layer over the skin.
That's probably part of the reason people have started experimenting with it on their faces.
But TikTok trends have a habit of turning "this worked nicely for me" into "EVERYONE NEEDS TO DO THIS!"
Those are two very different things.
And I'm definitely in the first camp.
I'm simply sharing what I've been doing and how my own skin has responded.
My evening routine
This is where I started.
Step 1 — Cleanse
I wash my face with my CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser.
Salicylic acid can help unclog pores, although dermatologists also caution that it can irritate some people's skin, particularly if it's overused.
I don't scrub my face aggressively. Gentle cleansing is enough.
Step 2 — Moisturise
Next I apply my CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion.
I give that a little time to settle into my skin.
Step 3 — My tiny layer of Sudocrem
Then comes my TikTok experiment.
Using my face brush, I apply a very thin layer of Sudocrem.
And when I say thin, I really do mean thin.
I'm not trying to make myself look like I've iced my face like a birthday cake.
It's simply a light layer over my moisturised skin.
Then I leave everything alone and go to bed.
And the next morning?
This was the bit that surprised me.
My skin felt soft, smooth and comfortable.
Not stripped.
Not horribly greasy.
Just lovely.
After continuing the routine, I realised I was really enjoying how my skin felt.
And naturally, because apparently I hadn't experimented enough already, I tried something else.
Then I put Sudocrem under my makeup…
In the morning I wash my face again and apply my CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF.
Then I started experimenting with a tiny amount of Sudocrem with my BB cream.
And this is where things got interesting.
My makeup stays on all day.
I also really like the finish I'm getting.
It seems to give me that smoother, slightly more substantial base that I would normally expect from a primer.
But after looking into this properly, this is the part of my experiment I would change.
What I'd do differently now
Rather than physically mixing Sudocrem into my BB cream, I'd keep the products as separate layers.
A sensible morning order is:
Cleanse → moisturiser/SPF → allow it to settle → tiny amount of Sudocrem if wanted → BB cream/makeup
Dermatologists generally recommend applying moisturiser and/or sunscreen before makeup.
Most importantly, I wouldn't consider Sudocrem a replacement for sunscreen, even though it contains zinc oxide.
I'm sticking with my proper SPF.
That is non-negotiable.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher for sun protection.
Why might my skin be enjoying this so much?
I think this is the most interesting part.
Sometimes we assume that better skincare means adding more and more active ingredients.
Another serum.
Another acid.
Another TikTok miracle bottle.
But my routine is actually pretty straightforward.
I'm cleansing, moisturising and protecting my skin.
Then I'm putting a thin barrier cream over my moisturiser at night.
So rather than Sudocrem magically transforming my skin, the simple explanation may be that my skin likes the extra barrier effect.
And that is an important distinction.
I'm not going to tell you that Sudocrem removes wrinkles, cures acne, shrinks pores or performs any of the other miracles social media might attach to it.
My observation is much simpler:
My skin feels really good when I use it this way.
But there are a few things I'm watching carefully
Just because my skin currently likes something doesn't mean I'm going to ignore it if that changes.
My cleanser already contains salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid can be useful, but if skin becomes irritated, dermatologists recommend reducing or stopping irritating products rather than simply pushing through it.
So I'm watching for:
redness, itching or burning
unusual dryness or flaking
tightness after washing
clogged pores or new little bumps
breakouts that weren't there before
irritation around my eyes or mouth
If any of those start appearing, I'm going to reassess rather than assuming "TikTok said it works, so I must continue."
New skincare products can also cause contact dermatitis in some people, and dermatologists recommend patch-testing new products before widespread use.
One little thing about my face brush
Because I'm applying Sudocrem with a brush, I'm also going to be quite strict about keeping that brush clean.
It's easy to obsess about skincare ingredients and completely forget about the tool we're putting onto our faces every day.
Dermatologists recommend regularly cleaning makeup brushes because dirty brushes and sponges can contribute to breakouts, rashes and infections.
So a beautifully clean face followed by a two-week-old dirty brush rather defeats the point!
Would I recommend the TikTok Sudocrem trend?
I'd put it differently.
I'm enjoying my Sudocrem experiment.
There's a big difference between sharing that experience and promising someone else the same result.
I'm going to continue with my very thin evening layer while my skin is happy with it.
I'm also going to continue using proper moisturiser and sunscreen rather than replacing either of them with Sudocrem.
And I'm going to listen to my skin.
Because that's something TikTok can't do for me.
Big Sister Questions
Now I really want to know what you ladies think.
Have you tried Sudocrem on your face?
Did your skin love it, or was it far too heavy for you?
Have you ever discovered a strange beauty trick on TikTok that actually worked?
Do you use a separate makeup primer, or have you found another product that makes your foundation last all day?
What's one viral skincare trend that you absolutely refuse to try?
And here's another one:
Would you rather have a five-product routine that works or a bathroom cupboard full of expensive skincare?
I already know my answer to that one!
This Week's Big Sister Challenge
For the next seven days, don't add anything new to your skincare routine.
Instead, pay attention to what your skin is telling you.
How does it feel after cleansing?
Does it feel comfortable after moisturising?
Is something causing redness or tightness?
Does your makeup sit better on certain days?
Sometimes figuring out what our skin loves isn't about buying something new. It's about actually noticing what happens with the products we're already using.
And if you're tempted by a TikTok skincare trend, do what I'm learning to do:
Research first. Experiment carefully. And never assume viral means suitable for everybody.
