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Homemade Skincare Remedies Debunked

DIY skincare has started to gain a lot of traction at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with it came a lot of misinformation. It’s only normal that people would want a glowing complexion and great skin, and it’s also understandable to try out remedies at home first before going to a dermatologist to get a proper treatment. However, it’s important to know which remedies actually work, and which don’t. Here are three skincare remedies that are frequently shared on the internet but in reality don’t actually work that well:

  • Lemon Juice for Dark Spots – This has been a homemade remedy for a while now, but it doesn’t really work all too well. While vitamin C does help treat hyperpigmentation, the correct way to apply it to your skin is through various serums. You need a high amount of vitamin C concentration to see results (at least 10%), and the percentage of it found on lemon juice alone is not enough to create any effects. In fact, lemon juice has a very low pH level and can actually damage your skin’s natural barrier.
  • Cucumbers for Under Eye Puffiness – Cucumbers contain a lot of water which can hydrate the sensitive skin under your eyes, but the effects are very short and extremely temporary.  To reduce under eye puffiness, you should opt for creams that contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides instead. Hyaluronic acid is a substance already found in your skin that helps hydrate and firm up your complexion. Ceramides boost your skin’s natural barrier, leading to less puffy skin and fewer instances of irritation.
  • Toothpaste for Pimples – This remedy has spread through various social media platforms over the years, and it’s not recommended at all by dermatologists. Toothpaste contains ingredients like alcohol and hydrogen peroxide which can dry out your skin, leading to more irritation. Not only that, but the pH level of toothpaste is way too basic (at a 9 at least) while your skin’s pH level is more of an acidic level (which is lower than a 7). The disruption in the pH of your skin can make you break out even more.