From skincare to skin problems, it might be time to turn to Reddit.
An article by The Times recently revealed that Reddit is just as popular with women as men in the UK: half of its 30 million users are female, and more than a third are Gen Z. The place we once eyerolled as a haven for incels and men ranting about women is now being adopted by girlies everywhere. First, we came for F1, now we’re coming for Reddit — go cry about that on your podcast.
I was first recommended Reddit about two years ago by one of my closest friends. At the time, I was struggling with my mental health and feeling isolated in my diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. She insisted I give Reddit a chance, revealing she was a frequent user herself, which came as a surprise after living with her for two years.
To my shock, the BPD forums on Reddit were comforting. Since then, I’ve used Reddit personally and professionally and have recommended it to women who were as hesitant as I once was.
Some discover Reddit by accident, like Hattie:
“I use Reddit for information: finance, beauty/health, DIY,” she told Glamour. “It guides any major decision or purchase I make. But I don’t really use it for entertainment…until I stumbled across r/chalametsecrets.”
“It’s a snark page about Timothée Chalamet. I didn’t realise people hated him? Not that I love him, but it spiralled when his ballet/opera comments blew up — I haven’t been able to look away.”
Immediately looking up this page.
A comment that didn’t exactly land en pointe.
Since the girlies are riding for Reddit, it's about time you learn what to do with it. Glamour asked women what they use Reddit for, and here are their responses.
Entertainment
As an entertainment journalist, I find Reddit invaluable for deep-diving into TV shows. Instead of just hearing from professional critics, I get to see what fans really think, which couples they loved, which storylines fell flat. It’s like breaking the fourth wall between viewer and writer.
But you don’t need to use it for work, Reddit can help you get the most out of your favourite shows, too.
“I love live threads for TV shows, like The Pitt,” Grace explained. “Especially since live-tweeting is dead.”
Grace is referring to the sadly extinct tradition of fans live-tweeting as they watched — a golden era, particularly for season finales. Who doesn’t wish the Succession finale had gotten the full live-tweet treatment?
Reddit isn’t just for mainstream TV, either. It helps you discover niche communities who love a show as much as you do. My best friend and I still mourn the 2019 Netflix delight The Society, cancelled after one season without resolving what happened to the teenagers. Entire Reddit threads exist just to dissect that tragedy.
Similarly, Jade told Glamour she uses Reddit “mainly for the Drag Race subreddit.”
Reddit also hosts tight-knit communities like BookTok’s literary fans. Charlotte, a journalist and book podcaster, goes there specifically to interact with fellow readers.
“Literary discussions [there] are much more thoughtful than BookTok or Bookstagram,” she said.
Beyond TV and books, Reddit can help you find your next album, film, or binge-worthy obsession. Entire albums are dissected, with recommendations for what to listen to next.“I started on Taylor Swift threads, and through those, I discovered artists like Maisie Peters, Griffy, and DYLAN,” Maggie explained.
I once spent an hour delightfully lost in the Swift “Holiday House” drama — a Fyre Festival–style Swiftie-on-Swiftie crime that only Reddit could fully unpack.
Recommendations
Reddit is unbeatable for user-generated feedback. Real opinions from the anonymous masses, with none of the #ads we’re seeing all over Instagram and TikTok.
“Any kind of recommendations, like skincare, books, or travel. I trust that an obsessed nerd will know,” Zoe said.
“Researching holidays and restaurants,” Daphne added from her sunny trip to Australia. “I get better local recommendations and honest opinions this way.”
Somewhere along the way, Reddit became the platform for the everyday person — the place we turn for real tips, away from influencer gloss. We've caught on to their TeaTox schemes, and we want real tips.
“Honest product reviews and tips on cleaning,” Isha admitted. “I trust a Reddit review more than any other source, especially for skincare and haircare.”
Emily agreed, noting she uses Reddit for product reviews because she knows “they’re actually genuine.”
It’s a way to get highly specific, personalised advice; no AI interference, no sponsored content. Summer even uses Reddit as her personal makeup guru: “Concealer and foundation colour matches,” she explained. “When I’m switching brands, it helps me find the equivalent perfectly.”
Looking for a dupe of an expensive product, a fix for a specific hair woe, or a replacement for a discontinued lipstick? Reddit’s got you, girl.
Advice
Of course, all advice on Reddit should be taken with a pinch of salt. Never blindly trust it for health or medical questions. That said, many users find it invaluable for connecting with others who have been through the same challenges.
“Health questions!” Hannah said.
“Medical advice,” Sophie added. “I’ve gotten more insight about my Adenomyosis there than from doctors.”
Pregnant women, for example, have found comfort in seeing how many others are going through similar struggles. Others share reassurance about conditions like endometriosis when they feel unheard elsewhere.
Sometimes, Reddit advice is less about health and more technical.
“If my computer does something I don’t understand or stops working,” Soph explained, “I check forums specific to my laptop and follow the tech advice offered.”
Charlie most recently used Reddit to find a new internet provider, claiming it’s better than Google: “Because it’s genuinely from real people, not paid or sponsored content.”
Connection
I found fellow individuals with my diagnosis who shared their tips, struggles, and journeys. Rather than being depressing, it made me feel a little more hopeful and less alone. While it didn’t replace therapy (read: go to therapy), it gave me a community that understood what it was like to sit in my too-thin skin.
“To read ‘Am I the Asshole?’ and share it with my sister. Iconic content,” Bex said.
'Am I the Asshole?' might be Reddit’s most popular forum, where users share stories in which they’ve been branded the “bad guy” — and defend their case. Spoiler: they’re usually the asshole.
This is one of the ways Reddit can stimulate conversations and debates online or offline.
For others, Reddit has become a full-fledged social hub, filled with online friends, routines, and communities.
“I use Reddit every day,” Betty shared. “I have a few different subreddits I check, like socials.”
Maybe Reddit is the antidote to AI-fuelled search engines and influencer-heavy social media. Maybe it’s a way to feel less lonely as we trudge through 9-to-5s and navigate life in sprawling apartment complexes. Maybe Reddit will even replace what neighbours once did.
Reddit can be whatever you want it to be. But for now, here’s a glimpse at how real people are using it — so you can get the most out of the platform, and fully claim it for the girlies.
