The internet is littered with recipes to make your own face scrubs, and the chances are that if you love skincare, then you've tried at least one. From sugar scrubs to oatmeal and coffee, making your own concoction to beautify your skin seems like a great, affordable idea, but could these seemingly innocent scrubs actually do more harm than good? In some cases, the answer is yes.
PREVIOUSLY: A SHOWER FILTER IS A SMART FIRST STEP IN CREATING A SKINCARE ROUTINE
Store-bought brands go through rigorous testing and are often specially made for a certain skin type. Simple ones that we make at home are often billed as a one-size-fits-all way to exfoliate or nourish your skin, which can be damaging. One of the worst offenders is one of the most popular - the coffee ground scrub.
The super-easy DIY involves simply taking leftover coffee grounds and using them to exfoliate, with the caffeine supposedly giving your skin a little extra bounce. However, coffee grounds are jagged and course, according to skin care line Eminence Organics. The small grounds can cause tiny tears in your skin, meaning that your pores are left wide open. If you have dry skin, it can cause irritation, infection and even more dryness. Plus, coffee grounds are one of the worst things you can flush down the drain. They don't clear through the pipes properly and if they are disposed of in this way on a regular basis, they can cause some serious blockages.
The second "Worst DIY Skincare" award goes to peels made from apple cider vinegar. While apple cider vinegar supposedly has some great benefits such as weight loss and reduced cholesterol, using it as a skincare product should be avoided at all costs. As the vinegar contains 5% acetic acid there have been cases of DIYers giving themselves serious chemical burns by applying it directly to the face. When you're trying to help your skin, there's no worse outcome than burning it all off.
Though it may seem like the perfect money-savvy treat to whip up a batch of something homemade on a Saturday evening, ensuring you properly do your research first is important when applying anything dermatologically untested to the skin. Why not pop into your nearest Lush store and treat yourself to an organic product that suits you to a T?
We know which option we'd choose.
NEXT: YOUTUBE CREATOR MISSREMIASHTEN HAS LAUNCHED A DIY SKINCARE LINE
