DIY recipes to create homemade facial masks for acne are all over beauty blogs and Pinterest boards these days, but by going DIY, could you be doing more harm than good?
Skin Care Ingredients to Embrace
Honey is one of the most popular ingredients natural skin care products and homemade concoctions right now, for good reason. It has antiseptic properties and it’s breathable enough that it doesn’t clog pores. Honey can reduce acne, reduce eye puffiness, and even treat eczema.
Aloe is also a great anti-inflammatory that can be used to treat wounds, burns and poison ivy. Even though it can sting a little when applied it will only benefit your skin.
Olive oil and coconut oil are also great components of natural skin care solutions. They calm and hydrate irritated skin and actually do clean oily skin, even though that seems counter-intuitive.
Salt. baking soda and sugar can be combined with olive oil and other natural cleansers to make great exfoliants.
Natural Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid
Berry facials may seem like a tasty and pleasant skin care solution, but they don’t make great homemade facial masks for acne. For instance, blueberries don’t have enough topical antioxidants to make a difference, and you’ll often stain your face blue.
Milk is another big craze at the moment, but the lactic acid benefits don’t really transfer to your skin, and milk can actually spoil after you apply it. Milk isn’t cheap, either. Yogurt is often a better option.
Egg whites are a popular treatment for oily skin, but you also run the risk of raw eggs running into your eyes or mouth and causing salmonella. It’s often better to be safe than sorry and avoid egg whites altogether.
Spices like cinnamon or pepper applied as homemade facial masks for acne can irritate your skin and even cause burns and blisters. Turmeric doesn’t irritate skin, but it can turn it orange. However, these same spices can decrease inflammation when added to food. Citrus can also irritate skin.
Many of the benefits of these ingredients can be enjoyed through natural face care products which are tested extensively on skin and tailored to give you the best results. Look for each of these ingredients, good and bad, in your skin care products and make purchasing decisions based on what you’ve learned. Good refereneces.