Safety First Please

Mar 21, 2014

Emily W.

Hello fellow Beautylishers,

Lately I have been seeing several threads regarding do-it-yourself or home "remedies" for a variety of issues. While there are many items in your pantry and refrigerator that have benefits to your skin, please RESEARCH an ingredient before you recommend that others slap it all over their face. I have seen some rather unsafe "advice" being given in the forums by well-intentioned posters.

These are several ingredients I see popping up again and again that are not necessarily safe for topical use.

- Honey: while natural honey is known for its humectant, antiinflammatory, and antibacterial properties, it also contains bee pollen and royal jelly--which can inflame allergies (sometimes severely). Always do a patch test on your arm before using it anywhere else, and wait at least 30 minutes to make sure you don't react.

- Cinnamon: cinnamon or cinnamon extract is common in lip plumper products because it increases blood flow. Cinnamon is a powerful irritant both to skin and mucous membranes (which is why that "challenge" is so dangerous). Applying cinnamon to skin can cause hives/rashes or burns. There is no reason to use cinnamon topically; if you are trying to fight acne or oil, there is little evidence that cinnamon will help.

Lemon/any citrus: Lemon makes a very powerful bleaching agent, because it contains citric acid. Diluted with water and a dairy product such as plain yogurt, a citrus infusion can help lighten scars or dark marks. However, this preparation should only be used at night--citric acid causes photosensitivity, and exposure to sunlight can cause a severe chemical burn. Additionally, undiluted citrus juice applied to skin can burn. Some people are allergic to compounds found in lemon or citrus juices. Dilute first, then test on your arm for reactions. Remember to wash off before exposure to light.

- Essential Oils: essential oils are used to add flavor or fragrance to a product, and some oils have medicinal properties. Mint oils are often used in face products to stimulate the skin. However, in concentrated form these oils can cause chemical burns, allergic reactions, and photosensitivity. Always dilute before using, and test on your arm for reactions.

Basically folks, don't just go running to the cabinets thinking you will magically cure your skin woes whilst saving tons of cash. Take it from someone with experience, allergic reactions on the face are awful. Even worse is an anaphylactic response. It only takes a couple of minutes to Google an ingredient and see if it has any benefit to your skin, and it is worth testing on your arm and finding out you shouldn't use it rather than finding out while it is on your face.

Mar 21, 2014

Emily W.

Ah yes, baking soda. Highly abrasive, this is one item to leave in the pantry. Though some call for its use to exfoliate, it is simply too harsh for the face.

Mar 21, 2014

Alyx T.

I love my honey masks, but I agree some people do have reactions and it's always good to do a spot test on any product just in case.
And lol jacqlyn I got told once to use ketchup as a spot treatment, which sounds bad and painful enough, I can't imagine horse radish lol

Mar 21, 2014

Zoey A.

:( Hahaha!
I'm craaazy allergic to bee pollen... As you guys know.

Mar 21, 2014

Zoey A.

Oh my god, Jacqlyn, how could you have known? And I kinda put it on before waiting for a response, hahaha! I'm so reckless and hasty, it's no one's fault but my own!

Mar 21, 2014

Zoey A.

Hahaha, I would've said something, but I was ashamed of myself for being so impatient. You're such a sweetheart, I'n sorry you felt bad!

Mar 21, 2014

Zoey A.

<3

Mar 21, 2014

Simmie K.

What's cucumber a remedy for.

Mar 21, 2014

Abha A.

thanks a lot

Mar 21, 2014

Magaly E.

Omg I love this thread I was about to go put baking soda on my face as an acne treatment because it won't go away but thank you so much I could have made my whole face worse!

Mar 21, 2014

Natalie T.

Amazing post Emily! Thanks for the info, I hope everyone here gets a chance to read this =)

Mar 21, 2014

Alma M.

Emily, I'm so glad you made this thread Thank you.This is important information that we all should read :)

Mar 21, 2014

Caitlin M.

I'm glad you made this thread as well. I've been seeing so many posts that it was getting overwhelming trying to tell people to be careful with the things they were using. I'm not trying to be snarky and I'm not speaking of anyone specifically but I hate that attitude of "oh it's natural, it must be harmless." just as much as I hate the opposite attitude of "oh it's got chemical names I can't pronounce, it must be harmful." Just because it's natural does not mean it will be gentle or work for everyone. I think that's a huge thing to stress to people. I hope everyone reads this thread before making any homemade remedies. Way to go Emily :)

Mar 21, 2014

Caitlin M.

Although I will add, I recently did a banana oatmeal mask and it was delightful lol. Really helped clear up some super dry patches I had.

Mar 21, 2014

Emily W.

Caitlin, exactly! People assume "hey, I can eat it so it is safe" which isn't always the case. And I definitely agree re: chemicals, I made a thread about that a while ago too. :)

Mar 21, 2014

Antonia S.

This is a great post. I love seeing things that really inform amongst the sea of "MOTD" posts. I learned a lot!

Mar 21, 2014

Kitty K.

Thank you for this post Emily. It makes me want to scream everytime I see someone advise to use cinnamon, baking soda, toothpaste, yogurt and other harmful ingredients. In order to be successful in treating acne it is important to be very gentle on the skin. Having red, inflamed acne is usually a great factor that contributes to scarring. The skin on the face is very sensitive and needs to be treated very kindly. There is no need to use any of the listed ingredients when there are much safer practices that can be used without irritation and possible side effects. Most of these remedies are like the pills we see on TV... solve one problem cause 25 more.

I just want to add some information since I am always getting e-mails or posts on my profile about recipes and DIYS for the skin.

Lemon/Lime/Citrus whether it be in a form of an oil, diluted, mixed etc.should never ever be used on the skin. They are irritating ingredients that are phototoxic as well. They potentially damage the skin's protective layer which in terms can contribute to more break-outs, make your skin prone to infections, cause hyper pigmentation and other issues. If citrus fruits can deteriorate and destroy your teeth, why would it be a good idea to take a lemon with some sugar and scrub away at your face?
You can achieve the results of using citrus through safer means. There is NOTHING that lemons/limes/citrus fruits can do for your skin that cannot be achieved by using safe ingredients like jojoba oil, rosehipoil, serums, and other skin safe methods.

Essential Oils are absolutely unnecessary. Essential Oils are fragrances, any type of plant extract is usually a fragrance. ( Lavender Oil, even tea tree oil falls under the category of a fragrance. ) Fragrance is way more harmful than parabens. Parabens are harmless, there is no proven link between parabens and cancer other than it being present at the time just like any other chemical was. Parabens are preservatives used commonly in cosmetics.
If you are attempting to treat acne, using any type of irritant like cinnamon, Essential Oils, Citrus fruits, physical exfoliants even can worsen the acne. Acne is technically a wound in the skin... would you pour a bowl of lemon on a wound on your leg and then scrub at it with baking soda( which is too alkaline and can potentially damage your skin since it's PH is not meant for the skin)? Now imagine your face, which is far more delicate than the skin on your leg!

DIY recipes to do not keep the Skin's PH levels in mind, which is very important with treating any kind of skin issue. Just because an ingredient is 'natural' does not make it any more better. Poison IVY is natural and I would not rub that all over my face.

Some good articles to review when it comes to the skin are:
Using common household items on the skin :
http://www.sebamedbikeday.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/Studien/Saeuremantelkonzept/1.06.pdf

A basic Guide for skin care routines:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skin-care-basics/_/how-to-put-together-a-skin-care-routine#essential

The dip on natural ingredients and what shouldn't be used:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/natural-skin-care/_/are-natural-and-organic-ingredients-better-for-your-skin


Sensitive Skin Articles;
http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/sensitive-skin/

Mar 21, 2014

Alicia H.

Great post and the additional contributions are super helpful. DIY masques are fun and often times really work for one but not another. I think the overall message is to simply to err on the side of caution when using ANY new skin care treatment, natural or otherwise. Just because it's safe to eat doesn't mean it's safe sitting on your largest organ (your skin). Great info, guys!  xo.

Mar 22, 2014

Roz X.

THANK YOU for this thread.

Mar 22, 2014

Kitty K.

@Jacqyln I suggested oatmeal. I am a believer of not eating dairy to improve acne so I would never go ahead and put dairy straight on my face ☺

Mar 22, 2014

Deniece P.

I'm happy that you posted this because I tried to do the honey and lemon and had the worse reaction to it the honey and lemon alone also left me red I couldn't imagine what cinnamon would do

Mar 22, 2014

Didi K.

OH MY GOSH YES! You have no idea how many of my mates have tried things like this and had a horrible experience! Thank you Emily.

Mar 22, 2014

Tilly M.

One christmas years ago a friend bought me a cinnamon body care set, so of course I ran the bath, dropped in the cinnamon bath bomb, smelled so lovely and christmassy :) then I got out, slathered on the cinnamon body lotion and body spray. Within 1-2 hours I was covered in this really itchy rash. It was my mom that pointed out it must be the cinnamon doing that :( because I literally am not allergic to anything. Having since learned that cinnamon is what they put in lip plumpers, I can't imagine why anyone would want to put it on their skin. Luckily I didn't put any of those product on my face. Silver linings and such!!

Mar 22, 2014

Jenna M.

What I love is when someone tells someone to not eat something... As in calcium... Then they are unhealthy or at risk for Ca deficiency... Eat a well balanced diet and don't eliminate any food group.

Mar 22, 2014

Jenna M.

Just saying dietary intake is a little bit important.