Consult your dermatologist before you start a DIY skincare routine at home to avoid harming your skin. (Photo: Pexels) With access to dermatologist clinics, spas and salons restricted, people may begin to turn to DIY for skincare once again. But, before you head straight to your kitchen to try face masks, scrubs, and cleansers, because they are easy, budget-friendly and quick, you need to know the ingredients that are only good in your food and should be completely avoided for topical application.
Some ingredients cause harm to your skin and may leave you with a breakout, irritation, inflammation, and more. So, before you make yourself a DIY face mask for a relaxing self-care session, know what to avoid:
Lemon
One of the most popular ingredients, not only in chaats but also in skincare recipes, lemon causes more harm to your skin than good. It is too acidic and can leave your skin dry and irritated.
Sugar
An easy ingredient that people love to add in their face and body scrubs, the granules in the basic white sugar we use at home are too big and hence, too abrasive for the skin, causing tears and leading to inflammation as well as irritation.
Cinnamon
The Indian pantry staple dalchini, or cinnamon, is great for consumption but harmful when applied on the skin. It can cause discolouration and even leave a burning sensation. Similarly, other spices like nutmeg and black pepper powder are also harsh on your skin. Try something gentler like turmeric instead.
Apple cider vinegar
Using apple cider vinegar as a toner for your face will leave it feeling irritated and can even cause burns as it is way too acidic for your skin.
Coconut oil
Only using coconut oil as a moisturiser is not enough to hydrate your skin. It is also highly comedogenic which means it leaves the pores on your face clogged, resulting in acne. You can use coconut oil on your scalp and other parts of the body, but ideally, avoid the neck and face area.
Toothpaste
Applying toothpaste on an active acne, pimple, or a zit is a big no-no as it can inflame or irritate the skin. Same applies for baking soda as well.
Raw eggs
If you put any part of a raw egg in any DIY skincare recipe, stop right away. Raw eggs can give you a bacterial infection called salmonella, which even though relatively rare, is extremely harmful.
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