The Viral Skin-Care Ingredients Cosmetic Chemists Say Are—and Aren’t—Worth It
NewBeauty Facebook Pinterest Instagram Youtube find a doctor Face Adult Acne Antioxidants Anti-Aging Celebrity Chronic Skin Conditions Eye Hydration Hyperpigmentation Makeup View All Eyebrows Eye Color Foundation Fragrance Lip Color Makeovers Male Skin Care Peels Pre-Event Prep Sensitive Skin Skin Care Skin Health Smile Sun Care Treatments Fillers Microneedling Post-Procedure Skin Care Neurotoxins Regenerative Aesthetics Skin Lifting Body Body Sculpting Breasts Butts Cellulite Hair Removal Hands + Nails Legs Pregnancy Find a Doctor Hair Bond Repair Celebrity Dry Hair Frizzy Hair Gray Hair Hair Color Hair Growth Hair Repair Scalp Health Styling + Tips Awards NB100 Awards 15th Annual Beauty Awards 2025 NewBeauty Readers’ Choice Awards Shopping Gift Guides Product Reviews NewBeauty Storefront Wellness Fitness GLP-1s Health Menopause About Us TESTTUBE Search for: Search HomeFaceSkin Care The Viral Skin-Care Ingredients Cosmetic Chemists Say Are—and Aren’t—Worth It These buzzy ingredients are everywhere. But do they actually work? Allie Hogan Published: Feb 18, 2026 We may earn commission from links on this page. Each product featured has been vetted and chosen by our editors. Photo by Laura Jaeger on Unsplash In This Article Featured ExpertsHypochlorous AcidGrowth FactorsTallowRiceManuka HoneyGinsengPropolisShea ButterNoniCollagen With social media fueling today’s skin-care trends, not every viral ingredient or product is necessarily the most effective—just the most searched. Recently, Spate analyzed Google search data from 2024 to 2025 to identify which ingredients saw the biggest spikes in interest. The ones below experienced the most notable year-over-year growth, and we tapped experts to weigh in on which are truly worth adding to your routine. The top ingredient, hypochlorous acid, saw more than a 19.7K increase in Google searches year over year. It’s an interesting one: an antimicrobial compound that can be used as a disinfectant. While it may offer some soothing and antimicrobial benefits for skin, experts note that its instability…