Whipping up a quick DIY face mask using common kitchen ingredients is a fun activity to do. However, I hate to break it to you that most DIY recipes that are made with common kitchen ingredients actually do more harm than good. After a few bad DIY experiences, I’ve realised the hard way that natural ingredients are not always the best. Most of them are either highly comedogenic or acidic. So, if you want to take good care of your skin, stop using these DIY skincare ingredients, STAT:
1. Coconut Oil
Even though everyone and their mother was obsessed with this ingredient, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t belong on your face. It is highly comedogenic, that means that it will clog your pores and make you break out. However, you can use it on your scalp and on the rest of your skin. Just remember not to use it below your hairline and above your neck.
2. Lemon Juice
Even though lemons contain vitamin C and they are a powerful antioxidant, they’re also extremely acidic. Using pure lemon juice directly on your skin will damage its acid mantle and cause irritation. It will also make your skin more photosensitive (sensitive to sunlight). That’s why you’re better off using a serum with L-ascorbic acid instead. You’ll get the same benefits minus the side effects.
3. Baking Soda
I was always confused as to why people liked using this ingredient in their DIY recipes. Baking soda is extremely alkaline and it can mess with the pH level of your skin. Continous use of baking soda can prevent your skin from regulating its natural oil production. So, skip any DIY skincare recipe that calls of baking soda.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar may have great healthcare benefits but that doesn’t mean that it’s great for your skin. It can seriously lower the pH balance of your skin and in some serious cases, it can cause a chemical burn.
5. Toothpaste
The worst DIY skincare advice I’ve probably heard is applying toothpaste to pimples or zits. Most toothpastes have irritating ingredients like peppermint extracts, alcohol etc. That’s why it can highly irritate your skin possibly give you a chemical burn. So stick to spot treatments recommended by your dermatologist.
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