Don’t Try These At Home

Pinterest FAIL! It's fun to see those photo compilations online, isn't it? Where someone tried to recreate this "easy" project that was accompanied by a gorgeous photo and their attempt, well let's just say it's like me trying to paint a Van Gogh. It's not as easy as they make it seem...

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Pinterest! There are so many great ideas on the Internet and it's an incredible tool to organize and hold onto the ideas that I love for decorating, organizing, recipes, fashion, jewelry – the options are endless. (I will be skipping the attempts to decorate a 5 tier birthday cake in the shape of a unicorn with perfect swirls of frosting and just call the bakery, though.)

Where I feel both Pinterest and the Internet in general have a breakdown is in credible information and safety of information. We're so spoiled for information that we've stopped looking at the information we read critically to see if it's accurate. We see an idea, the writer makes it seem easy and we decide to give it a whirl without looking at anything further to give the flip side.

As an aesthetician, I look at "home remedy" and DIY skincare tips all over the Internet that scare me on behalf of my clients. Everyone's skin, chemistry, and needs are unique; relying on strictly anecdotal tips with no research behind them can be disastrous. There is no one size fits all – not even one size fits most – when it comes to skin care.

There are fantastic articles out there about skin care that are carefully researched and backed by science. We are lucky to live in a time where scientists research and find not only great skin care ingredients and products, but they're always making new discoveries about the power of nature around us to incorporate into our skin care regime. The key is the research and what that research shows.

As a company that produces a line of skin care products, we don't rely on just our experiences or stories from the spa when choosing ingredients in our products. We look at the research carefully to bring together a product that will truly benefit the user.

Here is our list of "Don't Try These At Home". It's not exhaustive, but I've listed some of the scariest and seemingly innocuous DIY ingredients I've seen – and yes, I've spoken to clients who have tried these.

1. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). Full strength ACV is often recommended as a toner or cleanser for acne and hyper-pigmentation. However, it is a very strong acid that can cause burns and inflammation on skin.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide. There are many home uses for peroxide, but it is a bleach and a powerful one. Putting it straight on your skin can lead to the opposite of what you desire; on its own, without knowing how deep it will go or how long it will be active in the skin cells, rather than correcting hyperpigmentation it has the potential to strip melanin where you don't want it to.
3. Raw Eggs. Umm...ever heard of salmonella? Your skin absorbs a large percentage of what you put on it. Apply good things, you get good results. Apply bad things such as bacteria, well, you get the picture.
4. Lemon Juice. If you've ever read an old book with a heroine who hates her freckles, chances are, they mentioned using lemon juice to get rid of them. Unfortunately, they did not have our research to know that it is highly acidic and can cause inflammation in the skin, not to mention drying it out and removing the natural balance of oils.
5. Granulated Things. From sugar to salt to coffee grounds to ground up nut shells to other kitchen ingredients. Scrubbing the face with harsh, potentially sharp granules does not equal proper exfoliation. It's more of a recipe for scratching the skin, visibly and invisibly.
6. Raw Garlic. Okay, let's just put it out there. EWWW! I can't even stand the smell of garlic on my hands when I've been cooking, so putting it on my face where I'd be smelling it for days? No thanks. Purported for its antifungal and anti-inflammatory benefits, it is a powerful plant that can actually burn the skin when applied.
7. Cucumber. Yes, many spas will place cucumber over your eyes while you relax and enjoy your facial. And yes, cucumber infused water tastes delicious. However, those with allergies to ragweed, melons, chamomile, bananas and sunflower seeds can experience reactions to cucumber. Also, the high levels of Vitamin C in this delicious fruit can cause photosensitivity on the areas it has been applied.

While we don't recommend using these ingredients in a DIY / home remedy form, they are amazing ingredients when used properly and safely in skin care products. In the proper concentrations, with other ingredients that work with them to either stabilize or control their benefits, they promote beautiful skin, and that is, after all, what we are after!