I Tried Putting Nappy Rash Cream on My Face – Here’s What Happened

Tuesday 07th Jul 2026 |

I Tested TikTok’s Nappy Rash Cream Trend Using a 40% Zinc Oxide Cream

If TikTok has taught us anything, it’s that the next big skincare trend could be hiding almost anywhere.

The latest beauty hack? Applying nappy rash cream to your face overnight in the hope of waking up with smooth, glowing “glass skin”.

Videos showing people slathering on thick layers of zinc oxide cream before bed have racked up millions of views, with many claiming it’s the affordable secret to flawless skin.

Naturally, I wanted to see if the hype was real.

So, I bought a 40% zinc oxide barrier cream—the type commonly marketed for treating nappy rash—and put it to the test.

Unfortunately, my experience couldn’t have been more different from the glowing reviews filling my social feeds.

The Crave Test

  • We buy it.
  • We test it.
  • We photograph it.
  • We tell you the truth.

Part of Crave’s Viral Product Reviews series, where we test trending products so you don’t have to.

The Crave Test

Product tested: 40% zinc oxide barrier cream (nappy rash cream)

TikTok claim: Wake up with hydrated, glowing “glass skin”

Test: One overnight application

My verdict: ★☆☆☆☆

Why are people putting nappy rash cream on their face?

The trend centres around zinc oxide, a mineral that has been used for decades in barrier creams, mineral sunscreens and nappy rash treatments.

Unlike retinol or vitamin C, zinc oxide doesn’t stimulate collagen or speed up skin renewal.

Instead, it creates a protective barrier over the skin, helping to reduce moisture loss while calming irritation.

For people with damaged skin barriers, that protective layer can sometimes leave skin looking calmer and less red by morning.

TikTok, however, has taken that science and turned it into claims of overnight “glass skin.”

So I decided to see for myself.

My experience

I applied a generous layer of the 40% zinc oxide cream before bed, expecting it to sink in gradually.

It didn’t.

Instead, it sat heavily on my skin throughout the night.

Almost immediately it felt thick and uncomfortable, and as the night went on I became increasingly aware of it. My face felt slightly itchy, and rather than forgetting I was wearing it, I found myself wanting to wash it off.

By morning, things hadn’t improved.

Instead of glowing skin, my face felt dry, powdery and tight.

Even after cleansing, there still seemed to be a lingering white cast, making me feel like I’d wandered downstairs looking like Casper – haunting the house with my whiteness….

What surprised me most, though, was that the fine lines beneath my eyes actually looked more noticeable than they had the day before.

That wasn’t exactly the plump, hydrated complexion I’d been promised.

The first thing I did was reach for a hydrating serum before applying my trusted Dr Melaxin eye patches to try and restore some moisture and comfort to my skin.

Why did my skin react like that?

It’s worth remembering that zinc oxide isn’t actually a moisturiser.

It’s a protective barrier.

Many creams containing high concentrations of zinc oxide are designed to protect irritated skin from moisture and friction rather than actively hydrate it.

For some people—particularly those with compromised skin barriers—that can be beneficial.

But if your skin is already dry or dehydrated, or if you simply don’t enjoy wearing thick occlusive products overnight, the experience may be very different.

Everyone’s skin reacts differently.

Would I keep using it?

No.

Some TikTok creators suggest that consistent use produces better results over time.

That may well be true for some people.

But after one uncomfortable night, waking up with skin that felt drier rather than more hydrated, I couldn’t honestly think of a good reason to repeat the experiment.

Skincare should make my skin feel healthier and more comfortable—not leave me counting down the minutes until I can wash it off.

Is the trend completely wrong?

Not necessarily.

There’s good evidence that zinc oxide helps protect the skin and calm irritation.

It’s widely used in dermatology and has genuine benefits for damaged skin barriers.

But that’s very different from saying everyone will wake up with “glass skin.”

As with many TikTok beauty trends, individual skin type plays a huge role.

The verdict

For me, this trend simply didn’t live up to the hype.

Instead of glowing skin, I experienced an uncomfortable night’s sleep, slight itching, dry powdery skin and under-eye lines that appeared more noticeable than before.

Could someone else have a completely different experience?

Absolutely.

But after testing a 40% zinc oxide nappy rash cream for myself, I won’t be putting it on my face again.

Sometimes the best skincare advice isn’t to copy what everyone else is doing on TikTok—it’s to listen to your own skin.

Following this disaster I popped some Medicube Collagen Jelly on alongside some Dr. Melaxin patches – and I am back to my former glory…..

A note on my experience: This is one person’s results after a single overnight application of a 40% zinc oxide barrier cream. Skin responds differently to skincare products, and some people with irritated or compromised skin barriers may have a more positive experience. My review reflects how the product performed on my own skin.

For this test, I used a barrier cream containing 40% zinc oxide, similar to the nappy rash creams often recommended in TikTok videos. I’m not naming the specific brand because this article isn’t intended as a review of one product. It’s about the wider trend of using high-strength zinc oxide creams on the face in pursuit of “glass skin.


Joanne Brook-Smith is a writer and editor with two decades of publishing experience. She launched Crave Magazine during the Covid period to create a fresh, inspiring space for food, travel and lifestyle content.


Looking for a lifestyle magazine UK readers trust? Explore more stories at Crave Magazine.

Other Viral Skincare Reviews

If, like me, you’ve fallen down the TikTok skincare rabbit hole lately, these are some of the other viral beauty products we’ve tested on Crave: