Out of curiosity and sometimes, out of desperation, we try to look for easy, homemade solutions to our skin problems. Who here hasn’t tried a honey and oatmeal mask or turned to rubbing calamansi on their darker areas?
However, as with anything that concerns the skin, you have to be wary of concocting your own skincare solutions at home and proclaiming their miraculous results. Dermatologist Anna Palabyab-Rufino gives us four precautions to keep in mind before slathering kitchen ingredients and other similar products onto our faces.
#1 It’s a matter of relativity
Yes, maybe that honey mask works for your skin problems or perhaps the sugar scrub you made the other day really helped exfoliate your skin. Still, don’t be so brazen as to recommend it to your friends. Dr. Anna tells us, “It’s hard to concoct something that did not go through enough studies to prove its effectivity or know its side effects. What may work for some may not be the best thing for others.”This means you also have to be wary of any kind of home remedies your friends are currently raving about.
#2 Know what is best for your skin type
However, not all home remedies should be ruled out. It’s just a matter of knowing which one is best for your needs. Dr. Anna recommends coconut oil as a moisturizer for dry skin. Olive oil is also great for most skin types and can also remedy dry, damaged hair. As to how many times one should apply these oils, Dr. Anna says it is still best to consult your dermatologist to determine just how much you need for a day.
Also, one must be concerned over the quality of oils used. Virgin coconut oil and cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil is best for skin solutions. Storage is also important since exposing them to direct sunlight with ruin their potency and will just more issues with your skin once you use them.
For particular skin problems such as dark spots, Dr. Anna warns us against using calamansi juice on them. “I have seen a lot of irritation caused by rubbing lemon or calamansi on dark spots.”
#3 Think before you scrub
On the subject of sugar scrubs, Dr. Anna isn’t totally against them. As long as the sugar is mixed with olive or coconut oil, it wouldn’t be harmful to the skin. “Never use scrubs on very dry, sensitive, or damaged skin,” she warnsus. “I see no harm in using sugar as a scrub mixed with oils but it should not be used every day. Once a week should be enough. If you notice redness or irritation on the area, stop immediately. “
If you wish to do your own sugar scrub, go for brown sugar which is less processed than white sugar. The processing strips away their nutrients which is also what you are after when you do a sugar scrub.
#4 When in doubt, try honey
Some people attest that honey masks are good for your skin, and Dr. Anna assures us that it’s a fool-proof remedy. “I remove space have no experience with using or recommending honey as a home remedy, but I’ve read that aside from having moisturizing properties, honey also contains antioxidants which are good for the skin. Honey is also known to have antibacterial properties,” she explains. But be warned as most honey bottles available in grocery are full of substitutes and none of the advantageous ingredients you want. Reach for organic honey or for manuka honey from a credible source when creating your honey masks.
However, it is still best to ask your skin specialist if honey’s properties will take effect on your skin and address your skincare problems. Otherwise, stay away from experimenting, especially if your skin is already suffering from a lot of problems. You don’t want to create your own problems.
Photo courtesy of Cool Mom Picks