In the world of DIY, when doing it yourself is the trend, and an entire movement of DIY’ers can be found for almost every category imaginable (DIY home improvement, DIY organic farming, DIY dentistry – yes, that is seriously a thing), there are just some things you shouldn’t skimp on to try to do yourself. Sure, saving a buck or two is a good thing when it’s something that you can do on your own and afford to learn through trial and error…but trust me when I tell you that your skincare should not be one of those things. (Neither should DIY dentistry..umm, just no.)
So why the spike in the DIY trend? Well for starters, everyone wants to do their part to go “au natural” and reduce a carbon footprint, this has led to also wanting to find and use the most natural ingredients for skincare as well. But certain natural ingredients that might often seem like a good idea to use in place of pricier quality skincare products, might not always be the case.
For instance, many people believe that using apple cider vinegar as an all natural skin toner will work wonders in purifying the skin and clarifying it with a fresh and natural glow. This idea comes from the fact that apple cider vinegar, when used topically on your face, will leave a stingy, tingle sensation that many think means it’s actually working to do something good for your skin, when in fact, its acidic properties can cause irritation and burning to sensitive skin. While there are some benefits to apple cider vinegar as a natural ingredient in skincare, it’s really best to consult with a licensed skin care professional on the best way to incorporate it into your skincare routine. An experienced skincare specialist will know and understand how much dilution apple cider vinegar will need in order to not be damaging to your skin and can even create a custom formula specifically for your skin (kinda like having your very own skincare scientist).
Another recently popular natural skincare trend is to use coconut oil as a moisturizer, makeup remover, or even to treat acne. But coconut oil can actually cause blackheads and blemishes because it’s comedogenic and clogs up pores as it settles into the skin. While it does have some nice benefits, like containing vitamin E, it’s best to use quality skin care products that contain coconut oil or traces of it, versus using it straight from the container to your face in full concentrated form.
Then there are all the typical DIY skincare ingredients like sea salt scrubs, honey, oatmeal and/or avocado masks, egg whites, tomato juice, yogurt, and milk masks. These all sound like the ingredients for more of a buffet spread than skincare products, but there are thousands of home remedies and DIY skincare treatments using these. Look through any Redbook or Glamour magazine and you’re guaranteed to find an article touting the fun you can have with making your own at home skincare ingredients. But please, take my advice, save yourself the time, mess, and potential bad skin reaction, and leave treating your most precious body organ – your skin (and the one that gets noticed the most) to being thoroughly cared for and treated by us professionals.
One of the many good reasons to consult a skin care professional for your skin care needs is because we know the secrets to turning bad skin good, the tips and tricks to making that transition last, and we can formulate both an in spa and at home treatment plan that’s right for you. Also, when you see a skin care specialist regularly, we can help ensure that any changes to your skin are addressed promptly before they become bigger issues.
In addition to addressing the obvious skin remedies with high-quality skin care products and treatments, I am a firm believer in adopting an overall health and wellness approach to help my clients achieve healthy skin and that includes advising them on healthy eating and exercise. Many skin problems are caused by an underlying issue of inflammation. Fighting off the inflammation causing your breakouts and wrinkles is the first step toward a healthier complexion and that change starts on the inside; with a healthy diet containing plenty of anti-inflammatory omega-3s and polyphenols that are found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, and seeds. While there is no topical product that can reduce inflammation in the dermis, an anti-inflammatory diet can really help.
NIGHTMARE DIY SKINCARE STORIES AND WHY YOU DON’T WANT THESE TO HAPPEN TO YOU
I once heard a story about a woman who was dealing with age spots on her skin and wanted a quick way to get rid of them on her own. She read that lemon is a great natural skin lightener so proceeded to scrub and cleanse her face with lemons. Instead of having her age spots lighten up, she developed red irritated skin because the lemon was way too acidic for her skin. Lemons have a pH of about 2, which can really mess up the skin’s natural pH of 4 – 5 and eat away at the skins protective barrier. So while lemons might have been your go-to hair lightener back in the day, please don’t use them to lighten any part of your skin.
Another well known DIY skincare nightmare is the serious acne and breakouts that come from using mayonnaise as a soothing skin care mask. Honestly, ladies, let’s save the mayo for our sandwiches, it seriously does not belong on your face. Mayo is full of oil and fat, clogs your pores, and can cause bacteria to grow in your pores as well. The same thing goes for using toothpaste to get rid of pimples and acne. Toothpaste can cause irritation, discoloration of skin, and is simply just way too harsh for skin. So while toothpaste might seem to temporarily fight inflammation of a blemish, the adverse reactions that could happen far outweigh the temporary anti-inflammatory effect.
THE TOP 7 REASONS WHY IT’S BEST TO HAVE A SKIN CARE PROFESSIONAL CREATE A HOME SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR YOU
So while DIYing your at home skin care routine may seem tempting, there are just way more benefits and safety reasons for having a professional skin care specialist create an at home skin care plan for you. Some of the main reasons I like to point out are:
An expert can first asses your skin with an expert skin analysis and then create a custom at-home skin care regimen that’s best for you, instead of a generic process that might not be beneficial to your skin type.
A skincare professional can provide prevention of potential skin issues and identify potential serious skin problems that you might not be aware of.
When all is said and done, there is just no substitute to expert exfoliation and extraction that a professional skin care specialist can give you.
You’ll have peace of mind and well-deserved relaxation knowing that you have a professional taking care of your skin.
Professionals will know which home products to select for deep cleaning of the skin.
When you turn to the advice and recommendations of a professional skin care specialist to help you with your at home skincare routine, your skin can become healthier quicker and look more radiant for a longer time.
And lastly, combining professional at home skin care routine with regular in-spa treatments will work together for the best overall results.
Jamie Ortiz of Tru Skin Rituals is a licensed esthetician, healthy skin advocate, age management strategist, and authority on corrective skin care.
