9 “Safe” Products That Can Do Harm to Your Face

Many women like homemade facial and body masks and scrubs. There are millions of recipes on the internet, but you have to know which products are safe and which ingredients are really dangerous and can lead to inflammation and other unpleasant symptoms.

Bright Side has decided to find out which homemade remedies do more harm than good and which products dermatologists warn against using.

9. Baking soda causes excess exfoliation.

Yes, the granules of the baking soda look like granules used in facial scrubs, but in fact, these elements aren’t that good for our skin. Try to recall high school chemistry classes: the pH level of normal skin varies between 4.5 and 5.7. The pH level of baking soda is 9, which is extremely high.

Applying baking soda by itself would be enough to dry out our skin. If you use baking soda on a regular basis, it can actually cause more serious moisture loss.

8. Toothpaste burns skin.

Don’t apply toothpaste on pimples and red spots. First, it probably won’t help. Second, toothpaste contains ingredients like peppermint, peroxide, artificial flavors, and alcohol that cause skin burns. It’s better to use benzoyl peroxide.

7. Warm water causes the spread of acne.

Hot water dries out the skin and damages its natural protective barrier (you’ve probably noticed red spots on your skin after taking a hot bath or shower).

Hot water is also really harmful for people who suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or keratosis. What’s more, it leads to the spread of acne in people with problematic skin.

6. Peroxide causes irritation and redness.

Peroxide is a good antiseptic that deals really well with small scratches, wounds, and cuts. But it’s not a great idea to use it as a component of a homemade skincare product. The thing is, peroxide usually causes skin irritation and redness. What’s more, if you use it too often, it damages the protective skin functions and affects the skin’s moisture level.

5. Sugar and salt irritate and damage the skin.

When it comes to the body (not face!), salt and sugar scrubs exfoliate the skin really well. Mix some coconut oil with brown sugar and you’ll get the perfect body scrub. But keep in mind that it’s too harsh for your face!

Sugar and salt granules can damage our smooth skin and it’ll take your face a while to recover.

4. Hand cream dries out the skin and causes allergies.

Our hand skin isn’t as sensitive as our facial skin. Hands experience the impact of detergents and cleaning products almost every day. Our facial skin is more sensitive and many environmental factors can affect it.

Hand cream, if applied on the face, can clog the pores and cause inflammation. What’s more, these cosmetic products may cause severe allergic reactions.

3. Alcohol makes our skin more oily.

Many people who suffer from pimples think that alcohol can help them get rid of their problem. But we should know that when our skin loses its protective layer, which alcohol can strip, it starts producing more sebum to protect itself. In addition, alcohol destroys the layer that protects the skin from bacteria, dirt, and other factors.

2. Lemon causes burns.

It’s usually recommended to use lemons to get rid of dark spots, pigmentation, freckles, and acne. The effect of using lemons is the opposite of the effect from using baking soda. The pH of lemon juice falls between 2 and 3. When you apply lemon juice to your face, it irritates the skin at the cellular level. Oils contained in citrus fruits are phototoxic too: they can cause burns if you spend time in the sun right after using a lemon infused lotion.

1. Cinnamon causes burning and a rash.

Many bloggers claim that cinnamon is a great product to use against pimples, dark spots, and pigmentation. But it’s not true. It appears that cinnamon causes burning, rash, and dries out the skin. Dermatologists also warn us that excessive amounts of cinnamon may cause irreparable harm.

Do you use any of these products? Do they help you or make things even worse?