Why I Don’t Recommend DIY Skincare

(From the archives: 7/13/21)

Nothing makes an esthetician roll her eyes faster than when someone brings up the do-it-yourself exfoliating scrub recipe they found on Pinterest.

Here’s the real deal with DIY skincare.

Natural, seemingly harmless ingredients like sugar, coffee grounds, and coconut oil can actually wreak havoc on your skin. When you use food ingredients to exfoliate and scrub the skin you run the risk of creating micro-tears and scratches on the skin. Coconut oil often clogs pores, raw eggs can contain salmonella, the list goes on and on. Even if an ingredient from your kitchen is safe for your skin, often it’s the combination of ingredients and how they work together that is the real gamble.

Not to mention the mold. Anything that has water in it or comes in contact with water can very quickly grow mold. Not sure why you’d want to go through all the trouble of cooking up a homemade skincare product just to have it mold very quickly? While some preservatives can be problematic in professional skincare formulas, others are very effective at making it safe to use for quite some time. Are you schooled in how to add safe and effective preservatives to your DIY products? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Formulating skincare is a lot more complicated than just buying some produce and blending it up to put on your face. Professional products are made in a controlled, very clean setting. Ingredients and formulations are repeatedly tested and this results in a safe and effective consistent product. The people involved in formulating professional products are highly educated in chemistry and manufacturing processes, you my friend, are most likely not.

Another thing to consider with DIY skincare is you aren’t getting the guidance of a skincare professional. A pro can evaluate your skin and tell you want products and ingredients will help to reach your skin goals. DIY trial and error is not the way to get the results you're looking for. It often leads to breakouts, skin irritation or just no results at all. Plus your kitchen will be a hot mess!

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about skin health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.