Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.
The Internet is home to a slew of tips and tricks aimed at helping solve problems or making everyday life a little more interesting. From the most useful hacks, like using a name card to get the perfect winged liner to the most outrageous ones, like fixing broken furniture with ramen.
Travel hacks, household hacks, tech hacks, we’re all for it! But just how practical and beneficial can these tips be, especially when it comes to our skin? Gather around folks, we’re here to bust the following beauty myths that you really shouldn’t be doing.
1. Using toothpaste as a spot treatment
You spot the beginnings of an angry red spot. You reach for the medicine cabinet and pull out a tube labelled toothpaste. You start to apply it- wait… toothpaste?
In the early 2010s, literally everyone, celebrities included, was putting this trend to the test – applying toothpaste to not only your teeth but also your face. Yes, you heard that right.
Rumour has it that using toothpaste as an acne remedy can help clear your zits. Not sure how or where the idea came from. Perhaps it was a cheaper alternative, or maybe people figured if toothpaste could clean their teeth, then it could probably do the same for their skin…
Fortunately, this crime of a fad didn’t last very long, and here’s why.
Toothpaste has a basic pH level of 8, which makes it alkaline. Your skin, however, has a naturally acidic pH level of 5.5. So while it may dry out pimples, it can also disrupt your skin barrier, resulting in rashes and in worst-case scenarios, a burning sensation.
Instead, use acne-specific products such as face washes, moisturisers and masks. Try ést.lab’s PurClear Anti-Acne range that promises you blemish-free skin!
2. Using fresh lemon juice in a face mask
Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C and citric acid. Vitamin C is a well-known brightening agent as it fades dark spots without altering normal skin pigmentation. They are also known for their detoxifying effects, particularly when you add a few slices into water for consumption. This powerhouse ingredient can also shield your skin from the visible impacts of environmental stressors.
Because of its brightening and antioxidant properties, there’s been growing popularity in incorporating lemon into skincare. However, using fresh lemon juice on your face may cause more harm than good.
While it’s full of vitamin C, lemon juice is highly acidic (pH 2) and may cause an imbalance to your skin’s natural pH level. It may also cause skin irritation, hyperpigmentation, hypersensitivity and in some extreme cases, chemical burns. Applying extracts of citrus fruits topically before any outdoor activity is without a doubt, a big no-no. Not only does it increase your skin’s sensitivity, it will also lead to pretty nasty sunburns.
A safer alternative would be to use ést.lab’s LumiWhite Brightening Serum. It’s a lightweight brightening serum that contains vitamin C to brighten and protect the skin against harmful UV damage. It also diminishes dark spots, improves skin clarity, and strengthens the skin for a healthy and luminous glow.
Pro-tip: Leave the application of vitamin C products to the evening where you will not be exposed to direct sunlight, and remember to slather on your sunscreen liberally the next morning!
3. Using baking soda as an exfoliant
Lately, baking soda has been the champion at-home remedy for pretty much every problem. Freshen fruits and vegetables, use baking soda. Unclog the sink, use baking soda. Soothe bug bites, use baking soda. Treat UTI, use baking soda. ?
While baking soda can in fact create wonders in the kitchen from baking to cleaning, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to rub it on your face.
Baking soda is highly alkaline, with a pH level of 8.3, and will disrupt your skin’s natural pH level of 5.5. Exfoliating with baking soda can strip the skin’s protective oil barrier, alter its pH level, and disrupt natural bacteria that helps to prevent infection and acne. This will then leave you with dehydrated skin and an onslaught of breakouts.
So remember to keep your baking soda in the kitchen and away from your face.
Instead, try out ést.lab’s LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub. Say hello to instantly brighter skin! It’s a gentle yet powerful exfoliator that sloughs away dead skin cells with natural jojoba beads to decongest clogged pores, lighten blemishes and revive dull complexions. Count on it to do the job without the nasty side effects!
4. Using deodorant to mattify skin
Swipe some deodorant on your face and you’re good to go for the perfect matte finish! Or so the Internet says… We have no idea where people are getting these ideas from but NO!
You don’t have to be a skincare guru to know that a high concentration of alcohol will definitely dry out your skin. And that’s exactly what’s found in deodorants.
While it keeps your underarms dry, deodorants are not meant to control sebum production – the main cause of a shiny forehead. In fact, when used on the face, it can clog up your pores resulting in congestion and breakouts, yuck!
Perhaps it’s a cheaper alternative, but seriously, it isn’t worth the nasty side effects that come along with it. Instead, invest in a product that’s designed to keep your face matte, such as ést.lab’s PurClear Acti-Biotic Normalising Cream. A multi-beneficial cream that balances sebum secretion and skin’s pH, suitable for use under makeup, leaving you with a clear and matte complexion.
Deodorants are meant to mask odours, not mattify your face. So invest in good skincare and leave the deodorant to your pits.
While the immediate effects of these hacks may seem justifiable in the moments after, trust us, the long term effects aren’t. A word of advice, think twice and do your due diligence before putting just anything on your face. Just because the Internet swears by it, doesn’t mean you should too.
In good hands,
Estetica
