I used be really into natural skincare and I felt like I had a recipe for everything. I've always been a fan of making my own beauty products. I've made cleansers, moisturizers, toners, masks, treatments, etc. You name it, I've probably tried it. Now with the help of Pinterest these DIY skincare recipes are everywhere. I've taken a lot of time researching and learning about the science behind skincare and in doing so, I've figured out why some things just never worked for me. I cringe whenever I log on Facebook and see someone sharing a Buzzfeed style video of a DIY skincare recipe filled to the brim with irritating and potentially harmful ingredients. Hopefully, I can give some basic guidelines on things to avoid that could save your skin.
Lemon:
I will admit, I used to use this. It was touted as a cure for acne scarring and reducing pore size. Truth is it's nothing but harmful. Skin has a pH of about 5.5, lemons have a pH of about 2. If you remember anything from chemistry class then you'd know that lemons are really acidic. Beyond that, they're phototoxic. What that means is, once it's exposed to sunlight it can cause damage to the skin leaving behind horrible sunburns or blisters. Phototoxic substances also can cause inflammation and hyper-pigmentation, meaning you're going to worsen those acne scars you're attempting to fade. You might not be able to see the damage lemons are doing to the skin, but the damage will show long term. Look into using chemical exfoliants instead, like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs).
Baking Soda:
Once again, we are faced with the problem of pH. Baking soda is highly alkaline. Your skin has a lipid layer, which helps keep moisture intact. When introducing an alkaline you are compromising the lipid layer, thus harming your skin overall. Baking soda never belongs on your face. Never. If you want a mild physical exfoliant, as baking soda is often being used as, consider buying jojoba beads or rice powder which won't harm you or the environment.
Toothpaste:
I've seen so many people using this as an acne spot treatment. I do not understand why this is so popular but you shouldn't be using it. There is the same issue of it being highly alkaline just as baking soda is, but now you're adding in more irritating ingredients such as mint. People like that this will "dry out" the blemish, which it will. Toothpaste has sodium lauryl sulfate, which is soap, thus it's very drying. It will undoubtedly dry out the skin you put it on but that isn't something you want. If you're looking for a spot treatment I would suggest clay masks (Queen Helene makes one that's very inexpensive) or Hydrocolloid bandages which will quickly take care of your problem spot without any damage.
Vinegar:
This goes for vinegar and apple cider vinegar, which are both seen as "cure-alls." I'm guilty of this. I used to use this on my skin and in my hair but I now know that isn't the best idea. Once again, the pH of these substances cause problems. Vingear is highly acidic, thus compromises the lipid layer. Using these regularly can make it difficult for skin to retain moisture, thus leaving your skin perpetually dehydrated. It can be diluted with water so it isn't as bad for the skin. You would need to mix one part water to one part ACV in order for it be considered "safe" to use as a toner.
African Black Soap:
I decided to add this in because It's something I used for years and truly believed was the best thing that had ever happened to my skin. It wasn't until I stopped using it that I started to think otherwise. It completely messes up skin's moisture barrier. It is a soap so it's very drying and the Shea Moisture one I used to use had a pH of 9, way too alkaline for use on the face. Now I use my back stock of bars to clean my makeup brushes, which works better for me than even the Beauty Blender solid.
Lavender:
I love lavender. It's calming and one of my favourite scents, that being said it doesn't belong on the skin. I used to use so many skin care products containing lavender. A lot of "natural" brands will use it in their products to make them smell nice and fresh (I'm looking at you Lush). The problem is, lavender is phototoxic and also believed to be cytotoxic, meaning it causes harms to cells. Obviously, you don't want to put anything on your face that is going to be so harmful to your body. Lavender, like all fragrances, is also very irritating to the skin.
Essential Oils:
I'm going to expand from just lavender and say don't use any essential oils in your skincare. There is no reason why you need to have your face smell nice. Fragrance never belongs in skincare. On a whole, fragrance just serves to irritate your skin and doesn't offer any benefits.
