Oct 4, 20208 min read

Are homemade DIYs safe for the Face Skin?

Updated: Apr 19, 2021

Why only face?? Because the skin on the body is thicker and can handle the level of abrasion and stimulation brought on by homemade remedies.

Also, the body is protected from environmental pollutants by clothing, whereas the skin on the face is constantly exposed to a barrage of toxins, microbes, radiation, and other aggressors.

The tradition of creating homemade skincare has been part of many cultures worldwide and homemade skincare DIY-ers keenly sharing their recipes and results on Youtube that is starting to gain immense popularity among young followers. Social media are brimming with all kinds of remedies mostly made with ingredients found in the kitchen, and it’s easy to get sucked into the DIY beauty trend just because it doesn’t involve any money at once.

The little we come to know about something, the more we believe we can do it better ourselves. The wealth of information related to skincare and its ingredients available has made many people believe that they can create something just as effective in their kitchen, especially when the popularity of using natural ingredients and botanicals in the cosmeceutical industry grew. However, getting fruits and vegetables from your local store straight onto your skin isn’t as simple as you might think.

The majority of natural ingredients contain a high concentration of acids and sugars, which makes them unsafe to use directly onto the skin, than the ingredients used in skincare products which are rarely in their raw form.

If you're getting DIY beauty tips from the internet, you might want to proceed with caution — all-natural doesn't equal "all good" when it comes to skincare.

Not all DIY skincare is safe and can actually be incredibly harmful in the long run and can ruin your skin.

Homemade isn't always better than store-bought (you need to read product label before buying though)

Let’s check these so-called “remedies” and why you shouldn’t ever be using them on your face.

Lemon Juice – Lemon juice is considered to be one of the ancient home remedies for lightening skin, age spots, and melasma; and for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lemons have a pH of about 2, which can really mess up the skin's natural pH of 4 - 6. They're way too acidic and literally, eat away or compromise our protective barrier and make the skin more sensitive to the sun and can lead to blistering, an allergic reaction, or nasty discolouration that could last for months.
Egg White to tighten your skin and bleach to treat brown spots – Everybody knows that egg whites' proteins work great in improving skin tone and elasticity. However, This can only end in breakouts, blisters, scabs, and scar. And don’t forget salmonella, listeria, staphylococcus aureus, avian influenza, if contaminated egg white comes into contact with mucous membranes or is accidentally ingested, the consequences can be dire.
Scrubbing your face with cinnamon for a brighter skin – Many people use cinnamon as a natural scrub due to its vasodilator properties. It may taste sweet in your dessert, but it can create havoc on your face. We're talking about irritation, blisters, and in some cases, even burns.
Treating acne with –
1. Using nail clippers or bare hands to pop your pimples – The problem with conducting your own extractions without properly sanitizing your hands and face, and thus spreading the bacteria to other areas, resulting in more outbreaks and pain.
2. Using toothpaste to shrink pimples – Did you know that it also causes dryness and itching and alters the skin's pH? The main ingredients in toothpaste are peroxide and baking soda. Even if it brings down inflammation momentarily, it will eventually create irritation. You even run the risk of being left with marks and discolouration after the acne has faded.
Exfoliation –
1. Baking Soda – Normally added to homemade masks as an exfoliant. Baking soda is extremely alkaline in nature, which can cause certain types of bacteria to multiply skin infections. Its basic pH is much higher than healthy skin should live. It can double as an expensive and unsafe (for sure), department store exfoliator.
2. Sugar, Salt, Grounded Nut Shells, or Coffee Ground – This group of ingredients are too rough for the delicate skin on the face (even the finest granules), no matter how excellent these are to use in DIY (these are meant for body scrub recipes). These types of granules have jagged edges that cause microscopic (may not be visible to the naked eye) scratches on the skin and actually break the skin, damaging its protective barrier. They aren’t designed for the face.
Water – Water is the ultimate breeding ground for microbes. Where there is water in our recipe, it is more likely that it’s contaminated. It can also be rose water, fresh Aloe Vera juice, etc. because chemical reaction starts (mixing with air) as soon these liquids come out of their shell.
Using Witch Hazel as an astringent – Online stores make it easier for us to buy cosmetic ingredients in small quantities to experiment from the comfort of our own homes. Witch Hazel (without alcohol), is a natural anti-inflammatory and is commonly used as the main ingredient in DIY astringents. The fact is that Witch Hazel (with alcohol) is mostly distilled by alcohol or immersed in it as a preservative. This can tear apart the skin's acid mantel, leaving it dry, flaky, and irritant.
Covering up body odour with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – DIY deodorants have become increasingly more popular. And apple cider vinegar is commonly used as a base because it kills yeast and bacteria that lead to body odour, and it is great at absorbing/neutralizing stinky scents. However, It’s so acidic that it makes an effective remedy for burning off skin tags and warts, but continued use at full strength can cause permanent skin damage to surrounding tissues.
Trying to heal your skin by hydrogen peroxide is a commonly used product to clean scrapes and cuts. While 3% of it is great for debriding and disinfecting wounds, it’s not meant for daily. It does a great job of cleaning; however, it is actually toxic to the skin. If you keep applying it, you could suffer from permanent hypo-pigmentation (lack of pigment) or vitiligo, and your wound won't heal.
Using Vitamin pills in DIYs – Since most natural skincare products contain vitamins like C, E, and other antioxidants, many people think that crushing up the supplement versions of these make them a skin care remedy and will have the same benefits. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. They are not formulated in a way that’s appropriate for topical use and would need to be formulated to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. Vitamin E in the form of tocopheryl acetate is oil soluble and has a better chance of penetrating through the skin’s lipid matrix instead of using Vitamin capsules. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is water-soluble and is specially formulated to penetrate the skin. Applying crushed vitamin tablets or capsules to the skin can quickly burn the skin. If you plan to use vitamins in your home remedy, you must buy them from proper cosmetic ingredient suppliers, which have been formulated tested for safe use on the skin. Vitamins remain intact when in pill or powdered form, but when mixed with water or other ingredients, it may become highly unstable and oxidized. So they actually cause free radical damage to the skin, which is the opposite of what they’re intended to do.
Coconut Oil as a face moisturizer – This may come as a shock to anyone, but coconut oil isn’t actually an amazing ingredient for your face skin. Coconut Oil can work for some people, but it isn’t the greatest option all the time. First of all, coconut oil is comedogenic, meaning it clogs your pores as it contributes to breakouts and blackheads. This isn’t good for anyone, but it’s terrible for those who struggle with acne, rosacea, or oily skin. Coconut Oil does provide moisture, but it doesn’t help your skin to retain its natural moisture because it isn’t a humectant, which means it doesn’t attract water. In fact, it does the opposite and repels water from the skin, keeping your skin from getting moisture from those natural sources and contributing to your skin's dryness. However, it’s considered great for hair. In place of coconut oil, you can use fractionated coconut oil which is a great moisturizer for skin, leaving skin soft and smooth without clogging pores.
Creating homemade masks using ingredients from your kitchen – It's a well-known fact that the ingredients you find in your kitchen are similar to those you find in your skincare products. The problem is when people try to make their own masks or products with incomplete information or without fully understanding how they work together. It needs added ingredients to stabilize the formulation so that it could be stopped from damaging your skin. Using things together in your so-called remedy, regardless of whether they complement each other or not, is a recipe for disaster and this is where most people go wrong when trying to experiment with their own homemade remedies. This can lead to a big mess with no major benefit to your skin.
Hairsprays – Hairspray? Who puts hairspray on their face? Strangely, hairspray is being recommended or used by the beauty-freaks as a quick makeup setting spray. Getting some hairspray on your face accidentally isn’t the end of the world. But when someone directly spraying on their skin to set their makeup?? It’s incredibly comedogenic, meaning, it will clog your pores, and on top of that, drying your skin out with its alcohol content. So opt for a product that’s made for setting makeup.
Hot water – Hot water strips your skin’s moisture barrier, so it actually considered an irritant. Yes, a steaming-hot shower feels excellent on chilling nights. Still, the water will literally zap away your skin’s lipids, leaving you red, irritated, and itchy—which is especially scary for people suffering from eczema, psoriasis, or keratosis pilaris, where their skin barrier is already compromised. Additionally, drying out their skin will put their oil production into overdrive, which will lead to more acne and breakouts.
Body Lotion – Let's understand that the skin on your body and the skin on your face is not the same in terms of what they can and cannot handle. Most body lotions contain fragrance and lesser nourishing ingredients for your tough, resilient body, but potentially irritating and comedogenic as your facial moisturizer. Heavily fragranced body lotions are a box of surprises for anyone with rosacea or acne because you’re essentially adding fuel to the fire for any skin condition. Even if you don’t have skin problems, you’re still likely to have some reaction, because the fragrance is a top-three skin allergen, meaning it’s irritating for most people.

Things to consider at the end –

It will help if you don't try a DIY treatment, (as long as you get your recipes from a credible source, such as a dermatologist) without doing your homework. Even if the ingredients seem harmless and natural, the wrong combination could damage your skin for life.
Homemade products don’t have preservatives in them, so bacteria can easily develop and lead to breakouts.
Watch out for food allergies. Even if you are not eating and just applying, still it can create severe allergic reactions.
Remember, bacteria can grow in homemade products, so prepare enough as a one-time-use and use it as quickly as possible. Don’t keep or store for later or future use.
A poorly prepared or preserved home remedy is not only ineffective, but it can also be harmful. It can cause adverse reactions ranging from mild irritation to a full-blown skin infection, or even more free radical action means more skin ageing.
Misconception about taking Vitamin E, Rosemary Extract, and Grapefruit seed Extract as preservatives. These are antioxidants that reduce the rate of oxidation. Mixing them in homemade DIYs will not save them from growing microbial, yeast, and fungus.
Essential oils are natural, and it doesn’t mean its safe to put on skin neat or mix in a carrier oil (as much as you like) without any appropriate measurement.
Sanitize your hands and equipment before preparing your DIYs.