Influencer is slammed for ridiculous move in the water: ‘This is really harmful’

Kayla Reid has drawn the ire of the internet for a bizarre video intended to advertise waterproof SPF cosmetics. 

The American beauty and lifestyle influencer, 22, decided to go for an ocean swim with her make-up bag. 

‘Mermaid makeup,’ the influencer captioned a short clip that shows her applying a face of make up whilst taking a swim. 

The video shows Kayla holding the make-up products in her mouth and haphazardly applying them to her cheeks as she bobs in the water. 

‘Mermaids wear SPF too,’ she captioned the post. 

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Kayla Reid (pictured) has drawn the ire of the internet for a bizarre video intended to advertise waterproof SPF cosmetics

The Charlotte-based content creator has built a following of 360,000 on Instagram and 642,000 on TikTok with her Gen Z-focused makeup and skincare tutorials. 

However, this seemingly innocuous video has raised more than a few eyebrows after it started racking up thousands of likes. 

Many of Kayla’s followers questioned whether the click-worthy act was ‘necessary’. 

‘Literally what is the point of this,’ one commented. 

‘Why do you even need make up in the water? Hopefully it’s water resistant,’ added a second, as eco-warriors got up in arms about the potential for water pollution. 

‘Hi, babes! So, that is actually really harmful for the body of water you are in, please apply products out of the water,’ a third added. 

The influencer did have her supporters, though, with tens of thousands liking comments penned in her defence. 

‘Not y’all blaming global warming on one girl’s makeup while cruise ships out here leaking gallons of oil every day. Be for real,’ the top comment on the video reads. 

The video has raised more than a few eyebrows after it started racking up thousands of likes

It has been liked 49,000 times. 

Australian influencers often attract criticism for their attempts to generate traction with attention-grabbing displays, but rarely do we see this kind of act. 

Sydney TikTok star Indy Clinton, who copped severe backlash following her rhinoplasty surgery, hired professionals to identify women who have been ‘trolling’, ‘harassing’ and ‘defaming’ her over the years. 

Indy then took to TikTok to share a clip regarding her investigation into the trolls, revealing some of them were ‘mothers’. 

‘How it feels receiving a 64-page report from my PI [private investigator] after an extensive three month investigation on all my ladies (mothers) who have continuously bullied, defamed and trolled me and my family for months and months and even years,’ she wrote across the video of her dancing.

‘Send me some outfit inspo pics for court,’ she captioned the post, alluding to the fact that she was taking legal action against the cyberbullies.

The action has been heralded by Australian influencers as something of a rallying cry, with dozens of high-profile content creators praising the effort online. 

‘Think I might do this too. You are not anonymous trolls,’ AFL WAG Bec Judd commented on the post. 

Influencer Tammy Hembrow, model Simon Holtznagel, Michael Clarke’s ex Yade Yarbrough, and MAFS alum Samuel Levi all commented three clapping emojis