B’s Skincare Don’ts

Hello, there my lovelies! If you are new here, we wish you a warm welcome and for those who have been following along, you would know that this platform is implemented to be full of positivity and motivation. This article is aimed at the negatives of skincare, which is unusual for this platform, but I feel this is my duty to help not only better any problems, but straight out avoid them at any cost. Some of the suggestions listed here might be something you incorporate regularly into your skincare, and I always say if it works for you, it works. Generally, however, these ingredients, methods, and old wives' tales should rather be overlooked and should be replaced by better alternatives. Let’s jump right in!

Ingredients to avoid: This one may be a little controversial, as there are many many ingredients that the beauty community has been made out to be bad, but are in fact actually more inclined to personal preference. This includes (natural) fragrances, parabens (some of them and in low quantities), essential oils, and alcohol types, which I personally don’t have any issues in using (as long as nothing has been tested on animals), but again skin types & preference differs from person to person. The ingredients listed here, however, have been shown to cause distress and damage in one way or the other, and therefore is ultimately a waste of money and will cost your skin in the long run. As mentioned above, if it works for you, that’s your own personal preference, but according to studies, these are a massive NO in regular skincare.

• Lemon & Lime juice. I have seen so many Instagram videos of people using a lemon dipped in sugar as an exfoliating technique. My first question is, when eating a lemon, what is your first reaction? Exactly. The same goes for your skin. Vitamin C itself is such a wonderful component to incorporate into your skincare routine for pigmentation and as an antioxidant, but there are better ways to go about it than putting raw citrus on your face. There have been so many studies done that show the actual burning effect lemon has on the skin and the uneven skin patches it leaves. Vitamin C can be chemically formed and found in other fruits including strawberries and oranges, so my suggestion would be to stay away from lemon and lime itself, as well as any skincare containing it.

• Apple cider vinegar. An old classic is to put apple cider vinegar on your pimple overnight and by the morning it’s gone. While this has some truth to it, a lot of factors come into play when applying the vinegar. There have been so so so many cases of burns caused by this strong astringent type. If diluted properly it may have benefits for acne-prone skin, but if you are not a chemist, I’d suggest leaving it for the professional and trusted brands.

• Formaldehyde. This is an ingredient found in small quantities in skincare and nail hardeners, primarily to preserve the products. In large doses or over long usages it can be an irritant that causes itchiness, headaches & asthma attacks. It’s even been proved to be cancer-causing, so it’s highly recommended to be completely avoided.

• Toluene. Another product found in nail products and some moisturizers (it allows for a smooth and less chunky formula) which has proven to cause bone marrow poisoning, lung damage, and even depression in the nervous system if overexposed. This is an unfriendly ingredient even for our senses.

• Glitter. I know, I know, I was both sad and surprised when I found out this is actually a no in skincare. Glitter is both bad for the environment (including biodegradable glitter has some small plastic parts still in) and for your skin. The microplastics in glitter is a big skin irritant for sensitive skin, rather opt for brightening ingredients for that glow effect.

• Triclosan. This is a cleansing ingredient found in soap and face wash types as well as mouthwash and shaving creams. Rather use glycerine based products, as this ingredient has been proven to be disruptive in thyroid function.

• Aluminum. This toxic lead type can boost estrogen hormones which cause disruption and the lack of healthy functioning in the endocrine system. This is found in so so many products and especially deodorant.

• Siloxanes. This ingredient used over a long period of time also affects the endocrine system and can even cause infertility or impairment of fertility in most cases, found in both hair and skincare products. Stay away, especially if you are pregnant. On this note, pregnancy has another long list of ingredients that should not be incorporated, including a favourite such as retinol. I’ll be doing a separate post on this in the coming weeks.

• Synthetic fragrances. The biggest problem with this is that you’re never sure what exactly these fragrances are made up of. Many products have natural fragrances based on the essential oils added, including lavender, but some of the stronger fragrances are a big no. They cause irritation, allergies, and hormonal imbalances and is especially found in moisturizers, so just be wary.

• Phthalates. This is mostly used to help products stick to the skin, but are extremely dangerous towards children especially, they can be labeled under fragrance, (another reason to avoid the mentioned synthetic fragrances) and can once again disrupt the endocrine system.

• Lead. Lead poisoning is more common than not, I have personally suffered from lead poisoning before from (I assumed) using a cheap unbranded eyeliner. It is found in lipsticks as well as other lip care products and is a serious neurotoxin that can cause impairment in learning and behavioural issues. This ingredient has even been removed from paints and gasoline, yet we still (unknowingly) put it on our skin.

• Parabens. There’s a good reason many brands advertise their products as being paraben-free. This is another very controversial ingredient type, as very low doses do not cause any harm and most research is based on the ingredient being used at a 100% capacity, whereas some skincare uses only 0,4% of it. It is what helps preserve products and helps products keep their shelf life. This is such a difficult ingredient to determine, as I know I use products containing it often and I have not had any problems with it (due to the low dosage). The problem with parabens at a high dosage level is that they mimic the estrogen hormone and can cause breast cancer when used in excess and over a long period of time. My debate on this is that we are unlikely to smother ourselves in 100% pure paraben every minute of every day, however, in the long run, it is always better to be safe than sorry & I guess this applies to most ingredient types mentioned above.

• Coconut oil. I know this is a holy grail to so many of you and although it might not be as toxic as some of the ingredients mentioned here, it’s still something to avoid. Where it becomes confusing is when it is found in skincare products, but these products contain other ingredients that neutralize the “negatives” presented by coconut oil. Pure coconut oil is alkaline, as opposed to our skin naturally being more acidic, therefore it disturbs the PH level of our skin which can lead to irritation and even thinning of the outer barrier of our skin. Furthermore, it is highly comedogenic, leading to blocked pores, acne outbreaks, and in some cases eczema. It also messes up the skin’s microbiome, increases heat in the body, and can worsen skin issues such as perioral dermatitis.

Methods to avoid: Throughout the articles I’ve explained a few methods to avoid and try instead, including washing your face with a regular soap as opposed to a formulated face wash for example. Your grandmother or that Instagram influencer are not always right either. These methods mentioned below are quite damaging to the skin or they produce the opposite results of what is desired. Again, I stipulate that if it works for you, by all means, carry on, but the general consensus is to avoid the means mentioned below.

• Over exfoliating. Exfoliants are to help rid of dead skin cells, but doing so on a regular basis may result in micro-tears or the skin not having ample time to repair itself. Something new I learned from personal experience is to not overlook chemical exfoliators. These do not necessarily take place in the regular old scrub we are so used to but can be in masks and even cleansers as well. The mistake I made was to use a cleanser containing salicylic acid day in and day out. I recently learned that even this form is an exfoliating type. A lot of products say it is suitable for everyday use and everyday exfoliating, but it is in fact a big no. Give your skin the time to breathe and heal. After I changed my using of the salicylic acid cleanser to every three days, it showed a massive improvement in my skin tone and texture. The product helps, even if not used daily.

• Using harsh scrubs with thick or large beads. These types can also cause micro-tears and even damage capillaries, for super sensitive skin types I would rather opt for chemical exfoliants.

• Some peel-off masks/pore strips. The biggest issue here is the peeling off of the product self, often times fine facial hairs or even skin is attached to the glue-like residue. It is true that in some cases it can rip the gunk right out, but choose your product wisely. I’ve had amazing results from peel-off masks and some horrible stings and skin tears as well. For more recommendations, you can check out my All things masks article, under peel-off masks.

• Toothpaste. I have no idea where this horrible idea originated and I wish I wasn’t a previous believer in this method. While it may be true that toothpaste dries out a pimple, it can also worsen it. The menthol present in toothpaste is very irritating and can cause severe skin sensitivity.

• Expired products. I know, I know, you spent R500 on your favourite mask or moisturizer and keep it in the cupboard for special days. Unfortunately, products have expiry dates for a reason. You would not eat expired food, so why put expired products on your face? Products naturally degrade and lose their potency, so in best-case scenarios, the product would not work, but in worst-case scenarios, the product could be irritating and cause abnormal breakouts. Germs and bacteria also tend to breed when the preservatives are no longer functioning fully (gross!).

• Using hot water. I hate this one and wish it weren’t true, as I myself love showering in the fiery pits of hell, but my skin hates it and can actually not tolerate it. This strips the skin of its natural oils and no amount of moisturizer can redeem that. Don’t run the unnecessary risk of first or second-degree burns.

• Not using SPF. I think this one speaks for itself. Skin cancer. Pigmentation. Burning. Redness. Inflammation. Just wear your sunscreen!!!!!! Even if you don’t wash your face, brush your teeth, or brush your hair, just protect your skin by using sunscreen at least, I literally cannot emphasize this enough! Which is why there was an entire article dedicated to SPF, go check it out if you want to learn more.

• Using PM-products during the day (and vice versa). Products stipulate night and daily use for a reason. Daily products may have more protection while night time products have more healing qualities. For example, retinol is used at night as it has a means of increasing sensitivity towards the sun.

• Touching your serum droppers to your skin. Why use expensive products if you risk contamination?

• Not changing your pillowcases every 3 days (or a week at least). Again, why risk contamination? Your skin sheds at night, your hair oils transfer, and other bacteria may be exposed to your skin.

• Touching your face. Again, this spreads bacteria, so why risk the contamination?

• Don’t pick at or “pop” pimples. I know this is so tempting, but the best method is to just leave it and have your products sort it out (which is why they were formulated). Picking at your skin would only cause excess irritation and spread bacteria which in turn has acne spread and pop up on other areas of the face. The best advice would to have extractions done by a professional or to let your products do their job.

• Using too many products. It defeats the purpose of using singular products, as they may be canceled out or it may be just too much for your skin to handle. This could lead to breakouts, dryness, irritability, or excess oil.

• Ignoring your skin type (I’m also guilty here). I know you really want to try out that mask that everyone is raving about, but if it’s not for your skin type, it simply is not meant to be. Every skin type needs specific product types to better it and keep it healthy.

• Sleeping with makeup on. Eye infections, clogged pores and not having your skin breathe is a big no.

• Neglecting your neck, chest & hands. Not a lot of people know this, but signs of aging are seen in your neck, chest area, and hands as quickly as in your face and should be cared for in the same way. Skin is not limited to face, otherwise I would have created a face care blog instead of a skincare orientated one.

• Don’t share certain products. I love sharing products with my friends and family members, but certain products come into direct contact with my skin or hands, such as moisturizers in tubs or mascara. Sharing these could risk the spread of bacteria and/or infections. You never know if someone has an underlying pink eye or how clean their hands actually are.

There you have it my lovelies. I hope this helped in making better decisions in the long run and to allow you to take care of yourself fully and responsibly, who knows, you might just inspire the next person to do the same. For now, keep going, keep glowing & keep growing. You’re doing amazing.

All my love, always

• B x