8 Funky Ingredients To Avoid In Your DIY Beauty Rituals

Surprisingly, this citrus fruit is the holy grail of some DIY beauty bloggers! Lemon is highly acidic, making it an absolute nightmare for dermatologists. With a pH level of 2, even a few drops of it can misbalance your skin’s pH level of 4-5. Known as mother nature’s bleach, lemons gnaw away at the skin’s protective barrier, causing irritation on deep cellular levels. They also make your skin super-sensitive to the sun which means that you could easily notice discoloration, pigmentation, and burns on your skin after only a few hours out in the sun. To put it simply, lemon may make food really yummy but keep it away from your skin at all costs. 

Eggs to get rid of wrinkles 

Spas around the world promote facial treatments with egg whites because they are supposedly said to brighten the skin tone. tighten the skin, and shrink pores. However, there is no real research to support this. In reality, the egg white just sits on top of your skin as a film. Egg whites have a mild astringent effect which is derived from its protein. In the long run, it ends up drying your skin out instead of moisturizing. Moreover, using eggs at home can be a little tricky. Egg whites contain bacteria that cause food poisoning- salmonella. It’s easy to get things in your mouth during application but this can be risky with egg white since you could end up with a bad stomach. 

Rubbing alcohol to get rid of acne

Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant used to disinfect wounds. Some products such as toners and astringents may contain alcohol because it dries out the skin. These products normally target acne-prone skin. Even though alcohol may reduce the natural oil produced by the skin initially, it actually strips the skin of its essential oils and proteins, leaving behind blotchy, irritated patches on the face. An alternative to unsafe products is The Primary Glow Toner which only contains Glycolic acid, chamomile, witch hazel, aloe, and mint, gently wiping away dead skin cells and leaving your skin supple and hydrated. 

Sugar scrubs for smoother skin

Toothpaste for zits and dark spots

A cult classic recommended by SO many people that we too started to question ourselves! It’s core ingredients- peroxide and baking soda- are not good for your skin. Even though toothpaste initially brings down inflammation, it will irritate your skin and may also lead to chemical burns in the long run! Not really worth it now, is it?

 Hot water during showers

While hot water feels excellent during winters and helps relax your muscles, it is actually bad for your face. The water literally gnaws away at your skin’s moisture, leaving it red, itchy, and irritated in most cases. The consequences of hot water on the face are worse for people with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or keratosis pilaris. When your skin is dried out, it produces an overload of sebum and oil, leading to eventual breakouts. 

Coconut oil as a face moisturizer 

Despite its reputation as a magical potion, coconut oil is not the best for all skin types. It is comedogenic, which means that it clogs pores. This is especially bad for those who struggle with rosacea or oily skin. Clogged pores lead to breakouts and blackheads. Those with normal or dry skin should also steer clear from coconut oil as even though it provides moisture, it does not allow the skin to retain any of its natural moisture. Hence, it may actually contribute to the dryness you feel on your face!

Apple cider vinegar to fade blemishes 

Some bloggers refer to ACV as the holy grail of DIY astringents easily available in the kitchen. They claim that it clears acne, fades blemish scars, and removes birth moles overnight. For starters, it has a funky smell that is pretty hard to tolerate. Furthermore, undiluted ACV can corrode your skin due to its high acidic levels. It will cause a stinging sensation on your skin and will result in second-degree burns.

The bottom line:

While grabbing an ingredient from the kitchen and mixing it all up can be fun and make you feel like a creative Goddess- don’t do it without doing your research and consulting your dermatologist. You should always be positive that your DIY skincare rituals don’t do more bad than good on your face. And remember, natural doesn’t always mean good! Your safest and luckiest bet would be to go with products easily available in the market that are specially formulated for your skin.