Many cosmetic procedures can be quite expensive and often require repeated appointments or ongoing sessions before you start to see results. You may not be surprised, then, that some at-home beauty hacks are going viral. #BeautyHacks on TikTok has over 18 billion views, and from mole scraping to using bleach to whiten teeth, we found that quite a few questionable DIY beauty tips and tricks are gaining traction.
While we don’t recommend trying all of these at home, we did want to find out which treatments Americans want to try most. We dug into Google search data to determine which at-home hacks are the most popular in the U.S. right now, and where, as well as which professional cosmetic procedures are the most popular across the country.
Key Findings
- More Americans are searching for at-home and DIY cosmetic treatments in 2022.
- The top trending at-home cosmetic treatments are skin slugging (+529%), lash extensions (+52%) and mole removal (+46%).
- The three most popular professional cosmetic procedures are butt lifts, veneers and crowns.
The Most Popular At-home Cosmetic Treatments in the U.S.
Technological advancements have made certain cosmetic treatments more accessible and affordable, condensing previously complicated and expensive procedures into convenient handheld devices or products for purchase. While not all cosmetic interventions can (or should) be done at home, some new consumer devices and products are bringing the med-spa to homes across the country.
This past year, the three most-searched at-home treatments in the United States are laser hair removal, teeth whitening, and chemical peels — all of which can be done with safe products or recipes at fractions of the professional costs.
There are many laser hair removal devices on the market, and you can find plenty of teeth-whitening options, too, from classic Crest strips to homemade baking soda concoctions to temporary veneers. You can also choose from lots of options when it comes to chemical peels, depending on the benefits you’re seeking.
Trending At-home Cosmetic Treatments in the U.S.
Given years of COVID-19-related shutdowns and the rise of niche internet influencers, at-home treatments might seem like better options than professional ones. In the past year, Google saw a 9% increase in searches for at-home cosmetic treatments, while searches for professional cosmetic procedures actually dropped 11%.
So, which at-home treatments are the trendiest? The popularity of skin slugging — slathering your face in petroleum jelly as the final step of your nightly skincare routine — has jumped a whopping 529% in the past year. Interest in lash extensions (+52%) has grown, too.
Mole removal (+46%) is one of the more concerning search trends that has taken off since 2021. Though you might come across a video explaining mole scraping, this kind of procedure is something best left to a professional dermatologist.
The Most Unusually Popular At-home Treatments by State
Of course, where you live has a lot to do with your beauty preferences; aesthetics differ from state to state, and so do Americans’ cosmetic priorities. We took a look at the search volume for different at-home procedures in each state to find out where Americans are most eager to try certain treatments.
Though exercise is the only safe DIY option for a perkier bum, many Americans are still hoping for an at-home butt lift: Out of the 50 states, 17 have a notably high search volume for “at-home” or “DIY” butt lifts. Midwesterners in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, to name a few, as well as Southerners in Arkansas, Mississippi are more interested in at-home butt lifts than Americans in other states.
The Most Popular Cosmetic Procedures in the U.S.
Given American’s hopes for an easy at-home hack, we weren’t surprised to find that butt lifts were a top professional search, too. Along with bigger or rounder butts, straighter teeth, and smoother skin are among the top beauty priorities for Americans.
When it comes to professional procedures, veneers and crowns are the second- and third-most popular searches, respectively. While the appropriate procedure for you depends on the state of your teeth, our guide to veneers can walk you through some options.
Dermabrasion and microneedling, both of which improve skin texture and elasticity, are also near the top of the list.
Some of these interventions definitely don’t require all the hassle they might have had in the past. For example, Shiny Smiles offers professional, snap-on veneers that get delivered straight to your door.
Trending Cosmetic Procedures in the U.S.
The aim of cosmetic procedures may be timeless, but certain treatments fall in and out of fashion. This year, the top-two trending treatments were thigh lifts (+125%) and laser skin treatments (+72%).
The Most Unusually Popular Cosmetic Procedures by State
After analyzing the most popular and trending procedures, we looked at results state-by-state to see where Americans are most interested in specific procedures compared to other regions.
On the West Coast, facial procedures popped; for example, Californians want nose jobs, while Washingtonians and Nevadans want microneedling.
Elsewhere, Americans are especially interested in dermabrasion and butt lifts. Those in Montana and Idaho are more likely to search for dermabrasion procedures, while those in Texas and Oklahoma are curious about professional butt lifts.
Ultimately, Americans are willing to try quite a lot at home to get the look they want, but the more involved interventions are still best left to professionals. If you’re looking for a happy medium and a quick way to boost your smile, snap-on veneers from Shiny Smiles might be the right step for you. Because they don’t require a visit to the dentist or any surgical procedures, they’re a fantastic non-invasive alternative to dental implants or getting traditional veneers to hide missing teeth or other cosmetic dental issues.
Methodology: We conducted an analysis of Google Search trends for a variety of cosmetic procedures and at-home treatments using Google AdWords. To assess the “most popular” treatments and procedures, we looked at average monthly search volume from the past year. To measure the “trending” treatments, we looked at changes in search volume over the last 12 months.