DIY Skincare Trends to Avoid
Ah 2020... the year of the stay at home order. During this time period, the art of at home self care really spiked (not that we’re mad about it). However, with the closure of salons, we saw a lot of people getting creative with how to keep up with their usual beauty and skincare treatments.
With the help of social media, I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of DIY skincare videos, reels, images, etc. You may have even tried one or two self care trials of your own at home (it’s okay, we won’t tell anyone).
Well, we’re here to forewarn you to proceed with caution when it comes to DIY skincare. While some self care routines might be harmless, others have the potential to cause some serious damage.
DIY Face Masks
We’ve been seeing a lot of DIY face masks that are created using some basic ingredients you might find in your kitchen. A few popular ingredients we continue to see: yogurt, avocado, turmeric, etc. Those additives might not kill you, but one in particular could cause some damage - lemon juice!
Why is lemon juice dangerous for the skin? The natural pH of the skin is usually between 4.7-5.7. The pH level of citrus juice is at about a 2. Applying this low pH ingredient will cause disruption to the natural barrier function of your skin which will allow bacteria or other things into the skin that could cause breakouts and irritation. Breakouts are NOT the goal we’re looking for post face mask (especially when you go through all the trouble to make it yourself)!
If you’re looking to apply a mask and relax on your couch in the comfort of your own home, we recommend reaching out to your local esthetician for a quality brand product. Our esthetician at Gameela Skin can hand select a mask for your skin type and have it shipped straight to your doorstep!
Homemade Face Scrubs
Similar to the DIY face masks, we’re gonna put a hard stop to the DIY exfoliators as well. Some of the products we’ve seen include coffee grounds, sugar, baking soda, etc. These ingredients are way too rough for the skin! Not only could these cause tearing to the skin, but similar to the above - they can also cause a disruption to the pH balance of your skin. The only thing these ingredients will give you is soreness and irritation.
Looking for a quality exfoliator to use at home? We recommend the Mandelic Perfecting Polish by Rhonda Allison.
Replacing Moisturizer with Natural Oil
We are actually surprised with how much this trend is plastered across the internet. We do NOT recommend applying any type of oil on your skin that you might find in the kitchen pantry.
Unless it’s going into the fryer for dinner, we do not recommend using coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, etc. These types of cooking oils are extremely thick and when applied to the skin, they do not allow your pores to breathe. This causes clogged pores, which in turn causes breakouts.
We recommend using a facial moisturizer best suited for your skin type from your local esthetician.
DIY Microneedling
Microneedling is a skincare treatment designed to reduce wrinkles, acne scars, large pores, etc. The treatment is largely effective and has gained some significant popularity in the skincare world over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, there has also been a rise in popularity for the DIY microneedling devices you can purchase for at-home use - YIKES!
Attempting this treatment at home isn’t just going to cause breakouts or irritation, but it could cause some permanent damage if done incorrectly. This treatment involves using a small needle across your entire face, to make micro-injuries to the skin which helps produce collagen and elastin.
When puncturing your skin with thousands of little needle pricks, it’s important to follow all safety & sterilization protocols. If done incorrectly, you could cause more damage to the skin, prolonged healing times, staph infections, and more.
We always recommend consulting a trained professional for your beauty and skincare needs. It’s better to space out your treatments and products than to put your health and skin at risk for these at-home trends.