The trend of switching to completely natural products in skincare has been rising recently, and many people use home ingredients as cleansers, scrubs, or masks without knowing the potential side effects of some of these components. Here are several ingredients unsuitable for the face, according to the Times of India:
**Lemon**
Due to its rich antioxidant content, many people apply lemon directly to their faces to address pigmentation issues and lighten the skin. However, lemon is highly acidic by nature and can disrupt the skin's pH balance, leading to severe allergic reactions, excessive dryness, redness, and skin peeling. Symptoms may worsen if your skin is sensitive.
**White Sugar**
It is advised against using white sugar in homemade facial scrubs, as the sharp edges of sugar can damage the sensitive facial tissues. The tiny tears on the skin's surface caused by using regular white sugar scrubs can result in inflammation, irritation, redness, dryness, and other skin issues. People with acne issues should never use white sugar or salt to avoid scarring, redness, and further inflammation.
**Baking Soda**
Washing the face with baking soda or using it as a face mask or scrub can strip away the skin's protective oil barrier, making it vulnerable to infections and acne. In addition to negatively impacting healthy bacteria on the skin and the delicate balance of enzymes, using baking soda can increase sun sensitivity and hyperpigmentation.
**Cinnamon**
While cinnamon is an excellent spice due to its great taste and flavor, it should not be applied directly to the skin. This ingredient is rarely found in any beauty products because it can severely irritate the skin.
**Vegetable Oils**
Using vegetable oils can add some excess moisture to the surface of your skin, but it can also lead to pore clogging, acne, and excessive shine. Additionally, refined oils are heavily processed with chemicals, so their application on the face can significantly harm the skin.
