How many beauty products do you use in your skincare and makeup routine? According to
The Telegraph, the average woman uses 16 per day. It's no surprise, then, that the beauty
industry is booming. Accumulating all those products is not cheap. If you choose to DIY
your skincare instead, you'll definitely save money, but if you're not careful, your skin will
suffer. According to the experts, here are some things you should never put on your face
Toothpaste is for teeth When you get a zit, you want it gone immediately, and you're likely to try anything — even
toothpaste. While people have been touting toothpaste as a zitsapper for years
it's simply bad advice. Dr. Michael Kaminer, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic
surgeon, told Skincare.com that while toothpaste can help dry out a pimple
it can also irritate your skin and has the potential to be overly drying
That's not to say you have to forego spot treatments altogether, you just shouldn't use
toothpaste. Safe alternatives, according to Kaminer, include common products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid Hold the hairspray Setting spray is a really useful tool for making your makeup stay put all day long You simply mist and voila But couldn you just use hairspray to achieve the same result
The experts say no. David E. Bank at the Center for Dermatology in Westchester, New York, recognizes the appeal
of using hairspray as setting spray, but he can't endorse it. He explained to Bustle
"...hairspray contains alcohols which can strip the skin of moisture. It can also clog your pores and lead to irritation and acne flare-ups.
Shun the citrus Does citrus belong in skincare? Many experts say no way. As New York dermatologist Doris Day explained
to CNN, lemons contain the powerful chemical sorolin, which makes your skin very sensitive
to light. According to Day, it takes as little as 10 minutes to activate and as long as 24 hours
to wear off. If you go out in the sun slathered in sorolin, your skin could actually blister. Ouch
The same is true with limes and lime juice, which are common DIY acne treatments
The idea is that the antioxidant and antibiotic qualities in limes cause skin renewal But you better off saving them for your corona Lime treatments could cause blisters much like lemons and can even cause abnormal skin coloring that one dermatologist told Reader Digest can last for months
Peroxide is problematic Pouring hydrogen peroxide on a cut is a fascinating, if somewhat gross, experience
The frothing bubbles, the noise — you just know it's working. But putting hydrogen peroxide on your face as a cleanser
Don't do it. Peroxide can irritate the skin, according to Day, who bluntly told CNN
Peroxide is toxic to skin cells. Say no more! Goodbye to glue
Ask any kindergartner. Glue is fun to put on your hands and peel off
but that doesn't mean you should put it on your face like a proper peel. A popular beauty hack on Instagram is a DIY blackhead remover made by mixing charcoal
powder and Elmer's glue. It may work initially, but your dermatologist would likely advise against it
A dermatologist from Wexler Dermatology told Glamour, I do not recommend this practice, as glue is not formulated for skincare
It can cause skin irritation and hypersensitivities resulting in scarring and changes in pigmentation So leave the Elmers to the kids and their crafts No scrubs Finally a controversial pick Scrubs Sugar scrubs salt scrubs and pretty much every
other kind of scrub have been all the rage in recent years. Some dermatologists think
they're fine for use on the face, like Howard Lancer, a Beverly Hills dermatologist who
explained to The Cut, "'I have all my patients get in the habit of using a physical scrub every single day
as it actually teaches the skin cells to turn over more quickly, mimicking the action of
youthful cells. But Manhattan dermatologist Neal Schultz told The Cut that some scrubs
are actually problematic. He notes that many DIY concoctions are overly abrasive and can
cause irritation if not used correctly. And while Schultz has a more neutral view of the popular skincare treatment, scrubs
get no love from Dennis Gross, another Manhattan dermatologist who told The Cut
"...scrubs are a primitive way to exfoliate. It's like using sandpaper on your face.
If you must use a scrub, Schultz recommends one with micrograins, which will give you
the exfoliation you're after without irritating you and your beautiful, unique skin