Pinterest is loaded with advice on skincare, especially home skincare using foods and other common household items.
While it can be relaxing and fun to do a home facial using natural and organic ingredients it can never replace a professional one, or professional home skin care. Why? Because the ingredients in these home recipes do not have the ability to penetrate the skin on a cellular level. And, these whole ingredients need to be formulated to ensure that they remain active to penetrate skin.
It’s also very popular because it’s cheap to use, easy to purchase, and for someone who doesn’t know much about skincare products sold in stores or facial salons, it may seem safer and easier to use.
And because use something is natural or organic, doesn’t mean it’s better.
And, just because you can eat some of these things, for healthier skin, it does not mean your skin will be healthy or made healthy by putting them on topically.
Our skin has protective barriers. Our acid mantle maintains our skin with a PH of 5-5.5. Which makes it a little acidic to protect against infection and acne. PH is important in skincare because if something is too alkaline it is damaging and if something is too acid it can cause burns. We also have a lipid layer, fatty oils that are secreted from our sebaceous glands which keeps your skin moisturized. The lipid barrier traps water, maintaining hydration, firmness and softness. Damage to our lipid barrier causes inflammation, dryness and flaking.
So, let’s take a look at a few things we are all reading about on Pinterest that can be potentially harmful to your skin.
Lemon and Lemon juice- This is seen on Pinterest and DIY sites a lot nowadays. It is not a good idea to put lemon juice or a lemon directly on skin. It can cause redness, inflammation, irritation and dryness. There is also talk of lemon used on acne, well that would be painful and much more irritating. Lemon can also have a bleaching effect on skin.
Salt- usually recommended on Pinterest for facial scrubs and body scrubs. OMG why would anyone put salt on their face? Can be painful, drying, irritating, scratching, hard and cause tears to the skin. Can you imagine how that feels on a pimple, or sensitive skin? Ever used a salt scrub after shaving legs?
Vitamin C- Vitamin C is an amazing anti- aging product as it is key to Collagen production, but never put Vitamin C capsules directly onto facial skin. It need to be the correct PH, strength and mixed with an appropriate base. Using these can cause burns.
Baking soda- PH of 9, an innapropriate PH for skin, can damage the skins barrier. It is used a household cleaner to clean appliances and counters, and can be used as a stain remover for toilets. Causes irritations and burns. Really want to use this on your skin?
Coconut Oil- Very, very popular right now. Coconut is anti fungal and anti microbial which can sound perfect for acne prevention. Natural oils are composed of two acids, Oleic which is very pore clogging and Linoleic is not clogging. And coconut oil is one of the highest in Oleic acids. Which can make it a big problem for skin.
Sugar- The sharp jagged edges cause tearing and will disrupt the lipid barrier causing dryness and flaking skin.
So so if you are using any of these on your face…STOP RIGHT NOW! If you are looking for cleansers, moisturizers, serums with active ingredients, see an Esthetician for advice on the best products suited for your skin, and professional facials. And, stay away from all that do it yourself advice on the Internet.
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To make an appointment for recommendations on skincare or to have a facial, please call Afterglow (Age Management & Corrective Skincare) in Providence, Rhode Island at 401-575-9004 or go to www.afterglowprovidence.com.