The Biggest Beauty SCAMS & Fails of 2026...So Far

Instagram - james_s_welsh Unboxing Channel - @JaymesPlays1 Skincare marketing in 2026 has officially lost the plot. Today we’re looking at some of my WORST skincare moments of 2026 so far! But this isn’t necessarily about bad products. It’s about bad marketing, exaggerated claims and the increasingly ridiculous ways brands are trying to make perfectly normal skincare go viral. We’re talking about Dr. Melaxin and the TikTok affiliate marketing that continues to drive me insane, including exaggerated product demonstrations, questionable claims and those AI-generated creator briefs. Then there’s the sudden return of the viral K-beauty balm stick, with Dr. Melaxin and Medicube presenting an old skincare format as though we haven’t already lived through the KAHI Multi Balm era. We also need to talk about Kiehl’s 1cc CollaShot Plumping Serum and its very deliberate connection to “Ozempic face.”! And finally, we have Lemme x Starface. Starface has an incredibly young, teen-friendly audience, while Lemme sells supplements across wellness categories including metabolism, appetite and weight management. So why exactly are we bringing those two audiences together?! So let’s talk about the WORST of skincare 2026… so far. 0:00 Skincare marketing has lost its mind 1:29 The brand that defines the problem 6:55 The return of the moisturizing stick 11:36 Targeting the Ozempic face trend 17:24 An uncomfortable brand collaboration 20:58 The future of skincare honesty Worst skincare 2026