The most fundamentally skin-damaging problems we experience is by doing DIYs that we think benefit our skin however they do not. These are a list of DIYs that we think you should stay away from.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: PURE LEMON JUICE OR LEMONS ON THE FACE
Although Lemon Juice is an effective ingredient in treating dark marks (as it includes citric acid, vitamin b3 and vitamin c), lemon juice IS NOT meant to be used alone. Lemons are great to eat, but not so great on your face when you grab it out of your fridge.
Why is this? Have you ever eaten two jalapeño peppers that look exactly the same but noticed one was much hotter than the other? In a similar fashion, acids, even natural ones, can burn the skin when you don't know exactly how much is going on to your skin. It's best to use lemon juice if it's within a skincare product.
DIY lemon juice skincare has been linked to chemical leukoderma: where patches of skin lose their pigmentation. In other words, you end up with uneven lightened patches on your skin.
The citrus fruit peels often contain chemicals called furanocoumarins and psoralens. These are fine in the shade, but if you get them on your skin and then go into sunlight, they turn into nasty skin irritants. Long story short, just don't use pure lemon juice by itself.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AS TONER
Vinegar = acid, so using apple cider vinegar as a toner can burn the skin if not used properly (which 99.9% of the time, it's not used properly in DIY recipes).
Remember: the burn does not always mean it’s working. Intuitively, people tend to think the tingling sensation (whether you’re using apple cider vinegar or a DIY product) means it’s “cleaning” harder, but that’s not always what happens.
On the other hand, there are some slight benefits to apple cider vinegar: it’s unfriendly to bacteria, and can provide mild exfoliation. The key is to dilute it enough so it won’t be too strong and irritating on your skin.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: AT HOME SCRUBS FOR YOUR FACE
There's a reason why specialists always recommend scrubs that aren't harsh on the skin... It causes microabrasions to the skin!!
The same for sea salts and DIY at home scrubs.
Sure, things like sugar and salt can be good for your skin: epsom bath salts, or saline for helping wounds heal and remain clean are great examples. But sea salt scrubs can be overly aggressive on the face, and cause micro-abraisions. Your facial exfoliator shouldn't feel like your exfoliating (unless it contains jojoba beads which are great for the face).
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil tends to block pores—slowly and imperceptibly because it is highly comedogenic. Some say it’s good for your skin because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, but you can get those same benefits without clogging pores from other products, such as the sunflower sweets serum.
So avoid putting coconut oil on your skin. If you're an avid coconut oil user, discontinue use as it's only giving your skin congestion. It does more harm than good. You can try jojoba oil instead.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: EXTRACTIONS
Squeezing pimples and other acne blemishes may seem so simple that anyone can do it, but there is an art to doing it right. You need proper technique and we suggest you leave it to a specialist to avoid:
Permanent acne scars
More-noticeable acne
More-painful acne
An infection
How to use a blackhead extractor:
The answer to how to use a blemish extractor is simple: Don't use one.
"While it may be tempting, please leave extractions to the experts!
Blemish extractors (sometimes called 'blackhead extractors', 'whitehead extractors' or 'metal extractors') are tools with metal loops that squeeze the skin to extract impactions. Some versions even include a pointed lance to pierce and break the skin.
We cannot stress enough how harmful these can be to your face and skin. Trying to "pop" zits or breakouts on your own is a bad idea, and using a metal blackhead extractor only makes it worse since it does more harm than good. Book an esthetician who will properly extract your "zit" and we promise you'll see and feel the difference.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: TOOTHPASTE THE PIMPLE AWAY
Remember, toothpaste is formulated for your teeth, not the sensitive surface of your face. So, while the strength of the chemicals in your toothpaste might be safe on your pearly whites, they are likely too strong for your skin. Toothpaste has a basic pH [level]… and can irritate healthy skin, which has a naturally acidic pH. Upsetting your pH with too much baking soda could lead to rashes and burning.
Sodium lauryl sulfate, another ingredient often found in toothpaste, may be too harsh to be used on blemishes. It’s been known to irritate skin on some, depending on your sensitivity.