We’ve seen the DIY (Do it yourself) side of TikTok, where you can make skincare if you have the willpower and the ingredients in your pantry…or bathroom — we all remember the time when we put toothpaste on our pimples. The danger of the DIY skincare tutorials, however, is when an unqualified person attempts to replicate skincare formulas by combining chemicals and properties. Among the many DIY skincare ideas on social media, hyaluronic acid serums, sunscreen and facial cleansers are a constant. It’s true that some homemade skincare is safe to put on the skin, but this doesn’t mean it will be as effective or as safe as formulas created by cosmetic chemists.
The secondhand harm we see is misguided influence — the virality of some of these posts urging people to try these at-home remedies. Though some of these videos only have hundreds or thousands of likes, the exposure and reach it gets is enough to steer people to use these DIY methods without any research or thought put into it. Influence isn’t the only harmful aspect of DIY skincare; homemade formulas pose risks like contamination, skin irritation, and harm to the skin barrier.
Most importantly, the ratios of skincare formulas matter. Cosmetic chemists create skincare formulas in a lab because it’s a sterile and controlled environment, without that environment it leaves factors unaccounted for and leaves a product vulnerable to degrade or change. In this article, we will dissect how and why DIY skincare is putting people’s skin at risk, the potential consequences of it, and why we should leave this innovation to the experts.
What are the Risks?
Natural ingredients and chemical-based ingredients can equally affect your skin health and disrupt your skin’s pH. This is why it’s important to consult a dermatologist and really understand how your skin interacts with certain ingredients.
Mixing chemicals without doing the proper research is the biggest reason why DIY skincare has become so dangerous. With factors like affordability and distrust in certain ingredients or chemicals, this is major reason people veer towards using natural ingredients for DIY skincare, which isn’t technically dangerous, but by using these homemade remedies it subjects your skin to other risks.
1. Contamination
- In the cosmetic consumer industry protection against pathogenic microorganisms(bacteria) is vital. That’s why preservatives are used in cosmetic products to ensure it’s safe to use — especially on the face.
- Homemade skincare products made without these preservatives make the shelf life astronomically shorter than any store-bought skincare product
- Bacteria thrive in most environments, which is why homemade lotions, face washes or serums — anything with a water-base — are likely to eventually grow fungi or bacteria possibly causing infection.
- Waterless products run a risk for contamination without a preservative, especially if they’re kept in a moist environment like a bathroom.
2. Skin irritation and allergic reactions
- Acidic ingredients like lemon juice or coarse ingredients like salt or coffee grounds, are known to irritate the skin. This can cause hyperpigmentation or damage to the skin barrier.
- Everyone’s skin is different therefore you never know how your skin is going to react to ingredients, even if they’re deemed simple.
Ratios Matter!
The key to making an effective skincare product is the ratio. A kitchen does not compare to a lab, and simple measurements do not compare to understanding how complex chemicals and ingredients interact with one another.
To make an effective product it must have ingredients that aim to target concerns such as acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or oiliness or dryness. Ingredients used to combat these concerns are called active ingredients — “substances responsible for providing benefits to the skin.” This includes exfoliants such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which break down bonds between dead skin cells, allowing for skin renewal; moisturizers like ceramides, petrolatum and hyaluronic acid, that help skin maintain hydration; and antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and retinol (vitamin A), that protect the skin from free radicals, such as aging, radiation, pollution etc. The formulation development for a skincare product selects active ingredients based on the compatibility of skin types and ingredients, as well as keeping the stability of the product in mind.
Another aspect of creating an efficient formula is the concentration of the active ingredients being used. Unlike DIY skincare, measurements of active ingredients pertaining to a skincare formula are measured and weighed to target specific skin issues for maximum efficiency. The concentration of an ingredient is the percentage of active ingredients in a product. High concentration products are made to tackle skin issues at a faster capacity than low concentrationproducts, but that’s when the need for ratio balance is most needed. When you look at the ingredient list of a skincare product it’s required by the FDA to list the ingredients with the highest concentration to the lowest, from top to bottom. In comparison, DIY skincare does not remotely use the same scale as a cosmetic chemist would to balance these formulas using active ingredients. Not only is chemical-based DIY skincare dangerous to skin health, but it can also be ineffective if the ratios are off.
Conclusion
DIY skincare appeals to people because it can be seen as sustainable or “natural skincare” that’s inexpensive, but what is not realized is that these remedies though they are advertised this way; they do not benefit every skin type. The dangerous side of DIY skincare is the loose use of active ingredients and chemicals that will either be ineffective or dangerous for the skin. Cosmetic chemists are the reason we have a wide selection of safe and effective products to choose from. Though DIY skincare can classify as a form of traditional medicine for cultures and can be an effective use of the DIY craft, this isn’t a universal method. The essential problem with DIY skincare is the use of chemicals by the hands of people who do not fully understand the important methods used by cosmetic chemists and skincare manufacturers.
Only you and your dermatologist know the limits of your skin, so make sure you are informed when putting foreign ingredients on your skin. But please, leave the chemicals to the professionals, who aim to keep your skin safe, happy and healthy.