5 Beauty Trends You Should Avoid

A lot of us have come across some bizarre skin care practices, most of which are portrayed as normal on social media. Dr. Bukola Odetundun Abubakar has managed to draw out the top 5 on her list. So, here are 5 beauty trends that you should avoid if you crave healthier skin.

Purchasing chemical peel ingredients and DIYing at home

A chemical peel is a kind of treatment you want to see a professional for. It involves an application of chemical peel solution to the face, to remove dead skin cells, and improve the appearance of the skin. There are 3 types: superficial, medium, and deep. Superficial and medium are usually less invasive and are usually safe if done by a suitably qualified practitioner. However, deeper peels are more invasive and are riskier, and could cause serious side effects.

There is a possibility of reacting to the chemical used (phenol), which could affect your heart and kidneys. Consequently, the heart and blood pressure are closely monitored during the procedure. Unfortunately, if you source the ingredients online and DIY it, the possibility of getting the right ingredients is low. Also, monitoring your vital signs in the comfort of your home is not feasible.

There is also a possibility of having an anaphylactic reaction to those chemicals which could be life-threatening. Instead of going through all this hassle, it is much better to incorporate a less invasive device that would most likely do a similar job. For example, you can use LUNA 3 as a skin exfoliant and as a skin massager.

Skin bleaching

This trend involves using actual bleach-containing cream on the skin to relieve redness, lighten skin tone and clear up post-acne hyperpigmentation. Although some of these intentions look unharmful, it is dangerous to bleach the skin according to experts. Furthermore, skin bleaching has the propensity to affect melanin production, a chemical that gives skin its color and protects it from the harmful effect of Ultraviolet rays.

Furthermore, most bleaching creams contain a harmful chemical called Hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is a chemical that is used to fade hyperpigmentation. It works by slowing down melanin production. Unfortunately, Hydroquinone is highly carcinogenic and it can cause Ochronosis. It is a skin condition when hyperpigmentation becomes darker. As a result of all these harmful effects, products containing Hydroquinone are currently being restricted in many countries of the world.

The interesting thing is, there are alternative skin-care products that contain natural alternatives to hydroquinone, such as Liquorice or bearberry extract. They are both potent, skin-soothing antioxidants that even out skin tone and fade dark spots, and they also have the safest rating on the environmental working group’s skin-deep ingredient database. Another yet significant skin affirmation is; to love your skin regardless of its shade.

Using Glue and Charcoal glue masks

Even if the thought of applying glue, letting it dry, and peeling it off seems utterly satisfying, I strongly recommend that you should not do it. Personally, I have seen lots of black glue adverts splattered all over social media as a blackhead and whitehead removal and advised as an exfoliant. A DIY blackhead removal method is highly ineffective and basically introduces unnecessary harsh chemicals to your skin and eventually causing an allergic reaction and skin dryness.

Similarly, Charcoal face masks seem to be everywhere. However, New York-based dermatologist Ritu Saini suggested checking the ingredients because charcoal itself is not the problem. The problem is the glue used to apply the mask can peel off normal skin cells and cause skin damage and irritation. That said, your best alternative is to find an exfoliating product that is also safe for your skin.

Literally, lemons and limes are not meant for your skin

I understand a lot of people see it like this: lemons and limes are harmless. Also, a lot of skincare products have them as ingredients, so, why not use them for beauty treatments? Well, the answer is that when you buy products that contain citrus, they have been formulated in the right proportion to be safer for your skin.

When you apply lime and lemon juice directly on your skin, it can cause all sorts of problems such as; skin dryness, soreness, skin irritation, which makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight or increase your risk of developing phytophotodermatitis. It is a skin condition that affects the epidermis and it manifests as a blistering rash on the skin.

Using deodorant as a makeup primer

Beauty trends can be dangerous, and this one is a good example of that. While antiperspirant is formulated to minimize sweat under your armpits, it was not made to be on your face. Despite this, people have started to use it as a face primer. Not a smart idea. Namely, putting antiperspirant on your face will likely lead to clogged pores, which could result in blackheads and acne. Furthermore, the fragrances used in deodorants could possibly irritate and inflame the skin on your face.

Nowadays, it’s quite easy to come across various skincare hacks on the internet, particularly social media. A lot of those “tricks” can become viral causing many to believe they are safe or OK to try at home. However, most of those skincare tricks are inefficient, at best. As you’ve seen from the examples above, some of them are potentially very dangerous for your health.

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