The internet is filled with umpteen beauty hacks for a radiant face! But do you believe everything you read? While some products may give instant results, they can prove to be detrimental in the long run.
So if you are wondering whether a particular product or ingredient is good for your facial skin or not, you should read this article. Know all about what you should avoid applying on your face, and why.
Things You Should Avoid Applying On Your Face
1. Paraben
Foundation, bb creams, shampoo, lotions and many other skincare products often contain paraben as an ingredient. This harmful chemical, can cause hormonal imbalance by influencing the estrogen[1] in your body. Some people also get allergic reactions due to paraben based products. The allergy can cause itchy red skin and even inflammation.
Smart Tip
Check the label on the product before buying, so that you can avoid using paraben.
2. Body Lotion
When we run out of our regular face cream, body lotion often becomes the go-to product for the face. However, it should not be used on delicate facial skin. As body lotion is thicker in density and greasier, its oily texture can clog facial skin pores and cause an acne breakout. Also, body lotions tend to have artificial fragrances[2]. These may lead to an allergic reaction.
Smart Tip
Only use face-related products for your face as they are lighter and mostly non-greasy.
3. Sugar
Sugar is a common ingredient in many DIY face scrubs. While it has some wonderful exfoliant qualities, it can be abrasive for your skin. Usage can lead to irritation, redness and dryness of the skin. If not used gently, sugar can hurt your skin with scratches which cause micro-tears.
Smart Tip
When using sugar on your face, apply it very gently.
4. Hot Water
Just like hot water should not be used to wash hair, it isn’t advisable for your face too. Direct use of hot water on your face will reduce the moisture in your skin, making it dry and dull. It may also cause a burn.
Smart Tip
Use lukewarm water for facial steam therapy. This will help open up your skin pores and loosen the dirt for better cleansing. It also softens the blackheads and whiteheads, making them easier to remove.
5. Lemon
Enriched with Vitamin C, lemon is indeed good for health. But applying raw lemon slices or lemon juice on your face, may cause more harm than good. Psoralen, a chemical found in lemon makes your skin sensitive to light. So, going out under the sun, after using lemon, may irritate your skin. This may also result in a chemical burn.
Smart Tip
If you need a DIY bleaching or skin lightening ingredient, use potato or tomato slices, which are considered safer options.
6. Toothpaste
Toothpaste is popular as a DIY remedy for blackheads and zits. But experts say that using toothpaste on your face can lead to burns and even infections. If you have used toothpaste on your pimples before, you may have noticed them turn red post the usage. This is because toothpaste has strong ingredients, which can irritate your skin.
Smart Tip
Avoid using toothpaste on your face and use safer remedies instead.
7. Baking Soda
A versatile ingredient, baking soda is used for many things. Due to its multipurpose nature, you may have used it to cure acne too. However, baking soda is alkaline in nature and may cost your skin, its pH balance. Your pH level secures your skin from bacteria and infectious pathogens. If your natural pH is disturbed, you may get breakouts.
Smart Tip
Avoid the use of baking soda on your face.
8. Glue
Many popular social media influencers give DIY remedies to their followers. One such remedy recommends using glue as a blackhead remover. Peeling off glue is indeed a fun-filled experience. But it is not advisable to use on your face. Glue can be toxic to your skin. Even a non-toxic glue can clog your skin pores.
Smart Tip
Use safer remedies for blackhead removal.
9. Bar-Soap
You clean your face with soap or face wash to remove the dirt and excessive oil. But in that process, you cannot afford to lose the natural oils that keep your skin hydrated. Bar-soaps remove the natural oils from your skin and make it dry, rough and even itchy.
Smart Tip
Follow instructions of skin experts, and use a face wash or gentle cleanser for the face.
10. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil usage is not recommended for people with oily skin. Coconut oil is a good carrier oil and used in many homemade remedies for hair and face. But it takes time to get absorbed into your skin. If you already have oily skin, coconut oil will clog your skin pores. This will eventually cause an acne breakout.
Smart Tip
If you can’t go without face oil, try using olive oil in a small amount.
11. Hair Sprays
Setting your makeup with hair-spray can damage your skin. Hair spray has alcohol in it which decreases the skin’s moisture level. Your skin will become dry, dull and look aged over some time. Hair sprays also have various other chemicals, which may irritate the skin, and also lead to rashes.
Smart Tip
Use a setting spray that’s meant for setting makeup.
12. Nail Polish
Using nail polish for face painting is a popular hack that’s recommended on the Internet. However, nail polish has acrylic molecules that can harm your facial skin[3]. It strips the moisture away from your face and makes it extremely dry. So, even if you have watched videos on it, do not apply nail polish on your face.
Smart Tip
Use non-toxic colours that are meant for the skin and are safe.
13. Mayonnaise
Apart from making food delicious, mayonnaise is also used in homemade hair care regimens. Some use it as a face pack as well. This is not advisable as mayonnaise is acidic and occlusive. This may clog your skin pores. Additionally, ingredients present in mayonnaise, such as egg yolk and soya, may lead to allergic reactions.
Smart Tip
Avoid using mayonnaise on the face.
14. Shampoo
While cleaning your hair with shampoo, sometimes it drips down your face. Even though you don’t apply shampoo intentionally on your face, this small amount can also damage your delicate facial skin. Shampoo’s cleansing agents are great for hair but harsh for the skin. Normally, our face wash has milder ingredients.
Smart Tip
Try saving your face from shampoo while hair wash.
15. Expired sunscreen
Many use sunscreen only in the hot summer season, and save it for next year, once summer is over. Naturally, there is a chance of your sunscreen crossing the expiry date. Many use the expired product without checking. This will neither protect nor benefit your skin. In fact, an expired product can cause allergic reactions.
Smart Tip
Use sunscreen despite the season, and keep a check on the expiry date.
16. Waxes
Facial skin is much softer and delicate as compared to the rest of the body. So, while waxing can be a great option for body hair removal, such is not the case for facial hair. In fact, it may lead to ingrown hair, sensitivity to sun, rashes and in some cases, scarring as well.
Smart Tip
If you have a lot of facial hair and can’t go without waxing, do a patch test before applying it on your face.
17. Deodorant
Some online beauty hacks talk about using your deodorant as a face primer. However, this product is meant only for your armpits. There is a huge difference between the skin of the armpit and face. Your facial skin has more oil glands, while the armpit has more sweat glands. Deodorant controls perspiration production and not oil secretion. Using deodorant on the face can cause itching and discomfort.
Smart Tip
Use a proper face primer that prevents your face from producing too much oil and sweat.
Top 10 Tips To Keep Your Facial Skin Healthy And Hydrated
While the above list tells you what not to apply on your face, here are some tips to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Have a simple daily routine for skin care, and it will go a long way in giving you radiant skin.
1. Never forget to remove your make up with a makeup cleanser before sleeping.
2. Wash your face only twice a day or whenever extremely needed. Overwashing causes dryness.
3. Limit your shower timing within 10 to 15 minutes to keep the natural pH balance intact.
4. Scrubbing once a week is sufficient, and avoid over scrubbing your face.
5. Remove your facial hair gently whether you shave it off or use wax. Take proper precautions before and after hair removal.
6. Maintain a diet that has antioxidant-enriched food.
7. Moisturize your face daily with a face cream or lotion.
8. Get 8 hours of beauty sleep every night.
9. Drink a lot of water to keep your body hydrated.
10. Know your skin and get skincare products that suit your skin type.
Wrapping Up
Your face serves as your primary identity, and calls for attention and care. But taking care of your face does not always mean applying products. It also involves identifying the ingredients that you need to strictly avoid. As facial skin is very delicate, it needs mild and gentle products that suit your skin type. Know about what to avoid for a radiant glow.
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