The internet is full of DIY skincare recipes. Everyone has some special recipe of face scrub or mask that have worked miraculously for their skin. But some ingredients can do more harm than good to your skin. We all have seen those toothpaste hacks for acne healing overnight, but little do we know how bad the chemicals in the toothpaste can be for our skin.
Below are the 7 common household things that are harmful to your skin. Are you using any one of them?
1. Lemons
Raise your hand if you have used lemon on your face. Lemon is a very common household ingredient that people use for brightening their skin. However, applying any type of citrus to your face and going out in the sun can cause chemical burns. Lemons may be good to consume but are not safe for your face.
Our Recommendation:
If you’re looking for a brightening product alternative, you can try the K-bright Crystal Bright Gel Cream. It contains icy-lock complex which is a blend of brightening ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, borage seed oil and many powerful components. Using a dermatologically tested face cream instead of raw lemon will ensure that you get your desired brightening effect without the damage.
2. Body Lotions
Body lotion should never be applied to your face or used as a replacement for face creams. As we know that the skin on our face is much thinner and more delicate than the skin on our body. Body lotions contain high water content that our facial skin cannot absorb well. As a result, your pores get clogged and your face starts to breakout. The chemicals in a body lotion are not suitable for your skin as well.
Our recommendation:
Use moisturizer and face creams that are made for specific skin types and concerns. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is a good option if you’re looking for a moisturizer to hydrate and keep your skin smooth. The face cream is also suitable for sensitive skin types.
3. Sugar
Many popular face DIY masks include sugar as an ingredient for exfoliation. However, you should avoid using sugar as a scrub for your face. That’s because sugar crystals are sharp and edgy. It can easily cut through your delicate skin leading to tiny micro-tears that can cause redness, irritation, inflammation and dryness.
Our Recommendation:
As a better and well-tolerated alternative, you can try the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. This face scrub is dermatologically tested and is made with natural exfoliants. It is free from parabens and is hypoallergenic.
4. Toothpaste
Youtube, Instagram and Pinterest are filled with DIY videos that advice you to put toothpaste on your pimple or acne. The drying nature of the toothpaste may dry out your pimple but it is quite harmful to your skin. Common toothpaste contains harsh ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS ) that aid in cleaning your teeth but can burn your delicate skin.
Our Recommendation:
For a quick remedy to dry out acne and pimples, you can try the Acnes Acne Patch. This acne patch works overnight to absorb the pus and sebum from the acne and speed up the recovery process.
5. Vinegar
Vinegar is one such ingredient that is widely used as a DIY facial toner. Even though many people suggest that vinegar is effective as a toner, it is actually highly acidic. With a very low pH, vinegar can be quite harmful to our skin.
Our recommendation:
Try the KIEHL’S Herbal Extract Toner. The toner does not strip off the natural oils from the skin. It helps to clean and soothe the problematic areas of the skin.
6. Coconut Oil
Do you use coconut oil to remove your makeup? Coconut oil may break down makeup particles and easily remove them but it is not a suitable product for your skin, especially for oily skin.
The oil has a thick consistency and is not well absorbed by our skin. It can clog up your pores, trapping dirt and bacteria on the top layer of our skin and lead to acne.
Our recommendation:
Use gentle micellar water to remove makeup. The Nivea Professional Micellar Water has a light and fast-absorbing texture that easily removes greasy, water-proof and stubborn makeup while leaving your skin feeling smooth.
7. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly offers to create a protective layer on your skin and heal dry and chapped skin. However, petroleum jellies are not easily absorbed by your skin. The jelly seals the surface of your pores and does not allow them to breathe.
Our recommendation:
A better alternative to petroleum jelly is aloe vera gel that is a natural ingredient and good for your skin as well. Try the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Gel that contains 92% natural aloe vera extract. The lightweight and non-sticky consistency of aloe vera help to moisturize and keep your skin hydrated.
The DIY skincare world can be intimidating with so many people suggesting homemade solutions to skin problems. Just because a DIY mask worked amazingly for someone on the internet does not mean it will work the same on your skin. Using products that are dermatologically tested and made in the laboratory is a safer choice for your skin.