Just when we thought skin care trends couldn’t get any fishier (cue the salmon sperm craze of 2025), TikTokers tout their latest catch: sardines.
Dubbed “sardine skin care” online, the fad follows an “inside-out” approach to skin health, parroted by self-proclaimed beauty experts online who swear consuming the whole fish has concrete complexion advantages that are worth a try — or, in this case, taste. The question is: Is it viewer bait, or are there proven benefits?
According to Dr. Melanie Palm, board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, adding the tinned fish to your skin diet can be beneficial, beauty-wise. “Sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may help calm inflammation (and inflammatory conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis) and support the skin barrier. When that barrier is healthy, the skin is generally better at holding onto moisture and may feel less dry,” Dr. Palm told WWD, adding that sardines are also a “convenient source of protein.”
“The skin is constantly turning over and repairing itself, so it needs a steady supply of amino acids from the foods we eat. Depending on the fish, you may also be getting vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc,” she continued.
