Now that we are all cooped up inside during this lockdown sans hairdressers, manicurists, aesteticians, sans everything, I know how tempting it can be to want to try DIY beauty treatments, but I am here to caution you about putting food on your face.
I know Priyanka Chopra does it and she looks fabulous and amazing and that is great, but she is more the exception than the rule.
Why do I caution people against putting food on their faces?
Before you whip up your egg white, avocado and lemon mask, read this:
Your Skin Doesn’t Have Digestive Enzymes
It is very true that certain foods are beneficial for your skin, but it is really better if they go into your bloodstream through the stomach where the acids can digest it first, then send the good stuff to where it needs to go and the bad stuff (bacteria) where it needs to go (the toilet). Raw eggs are notorious for containing salmonella, but there are many DIY mask recipes that tell you to put raw egg whites on your face. Sure, it might even pull out a few blackheads, but is it really worth having salmonella…. On your face? Try explaining that to a health care provider. I mean, yeah, you could cook the eggs first I guess but who wants scrambled eggs or fried eggs on their face? It just looks like you don’t know how to use a fork. If you wouldn’t consume raw eggs you shouldn’t put them on your face. At least stomach acids would have a fighting chance to break down salmonella. Your skin… no.
Do you know what else your face does with bacteria?
Turns it into acne, rashes, etc.
Also, mayonnaise contains egg. In case you forgot.
Highly Irritating
Have you ever forgot you had a cut on your finger and started slicing up a lemon or orange or various citrus food? It hurts like a bitch, so why would you put that on your face?
The citric acid is not only irritating, but can throw off skin’s Ph and make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
No one wants sunburn or aging. Plus, if you have just smeared a lemon on your face and you get a sunburn, it will likely blister because of the chemicals in it, namely psoralen. The lemon juice can work in as little as 10 minutes and last for up to 24 hours.
Brolley, Brittany. 11 August 2016. Thelist.com “Things you should never put on your face.”
A lot of people, myself included, are even sensitive to citrus essential oils. My face is like, “nope.” Just something to think about before you rub that lemon on your face.
Sugar and Salt Belong on the Rim of Your Cocktail Glass
I have read multiple DIY mask and scrub recipes containing sugar or salt. If you want to make one of these, make sure you only use it on your body or maybe your lips if they are really dry and chapped. Other than that, skip it. You may remember my other skin care blog post where I used a gif of Left Eye from TLC to pose a point that you don’t want no scrubs. The sentiment still applies.
Sugar and salt grains can be way too abrasive for the sensitive, thin skin on the face. When these small abrasions occur, they are basically inviting bacteria to settle in them. In case you skipped over the heading above, that is not good. Unless you want a round of antibiotic cream, don’t do it.
I am going to put honey in this category as well. Honey has been touted for centuries as having both antibacterial and emollient (moisturizing) benefits. This is actually true, and if I am not mistaken, Cleopatra used it. She was also married to her brother. (True story, look it up.) I also read about several pretty, young Hollywood actresses that wash their face with honey and I cringed. Why you ask?
Point #1.) Think about the bees. They are endangered. They don’t need to overwork themselves into an early grave so that you can wash your face when there are plenty of other effective alternatives.
Point #2.) You are supposed to use really expensive, raw, manuka honey, not just a honey bear from the shelf at your grocery store.
Point #3.) In times before modern medicine, people put honey on burns. Honey was actually effective at healing burns, but burns aren’t the same as acne and scarring. In fact, honey has no properties that make it effective at treating or healing acne or scars of any kind, including acne scars. Try pure aloe instead. (Technically, you can eat aloe, but it is an acquired taste and much more beneficial for skin concerns.)
Point #4.) Have ya’ll actually tried honey before? Have you actually put it on your skin? Because ya’ll, it is sticky. Some of it can be accredited to my OCD, but I do not like anything sticky on my skin. Even if you don’t have a problem with the texture or the fact that bees are endangered, think about this: the viscosity of honey can clog your pores.
Jacques, Renee. 17 August 2016. Allure.com “Here’s the truth about using honey as an acne treatment.”
Time is on Our Side
Also, it is the year 2020. We have so much technology. The vast majority of people have running water and electricity in our homes. We have phones that can tell us the weather, wake us up in the morning AND make calls. What a time to be alive! There are also skincare companies that make so many other potions that are even more effective than ever. I understand wanting to be more clean and eco-conscious with packaging and ingredients and you trust honey and avocados because they are organic and all, but there are also many companies in the skincare game that are trying to be more socially responsible that offer vegan, cruelty-free ingredients and recyclable or reusable packaging and consciously avoiding controversial ingredients and packaging that will damage the environment.
Brands to Try:
KORA Organics- moving toward being completely vegan, are cruelty-free and avoid any controversial chemicals.
Lush- I’ve heard mixed reviews about whether Lush is as green as they claim, but they do use little to no plastic packaging, so that is a good start.
Drunk Elephant- My face is very reactive and did not like marula oil, however, everyone else I know of that has tried Drunk Elephant has loved it, so it is probably just me.
Herbivore Botanicals- (beautiful) glass packaging, cruelty-free and vegan formulas
100% Pure- A full range of cosmetics, mainly vegan formulas, super clean and they make their makeup dyes out of fruits.
The Ordinary- Ok, the owner is as nutty as a squirrel turd and there have been some… PR problems, etc., but the products themselves are mainly vegan, cruelty-free, mostly clean (there are one or two controversial products) most packages are glass bottles and, ya’ll, they are AFFORDABLE! It is like getting a mid-range to high-end product for a drug store price.
Mad Hippie- Also a reasonably priced brand, they offer vegan formulas and sustainable packaging.
Honest Company- Stateside, actress Jessica Alba, has founded a mega business offering household supplies with clean formulas at a reasonable price. She has now branched into skin care, and ya’ll, the hydrogel cream moisturizer is magic!
These are only a few examples of many. There are plenty of companies out there working toward change. I urge you to do your research. Ask the companies questions before you buy from them. Ask them about ingredients that they use, where and how the ingredients are sourced, whether or not they test on animals or use animal byproducts in their formulas. There are websites such as crueltyfreekitty.com and logicalharmony.com that will ask and answer a lot of questions for you, and I know there several websites devoted to clean living and eco-friendly lifestyles that could also answer these questions for you. Don’t be fooled: just because a company ticks off one or two of these credentials, doesn’t mean they have all of them. A company can be cruelty-free but not vegan, vegan but not eco-friendly otherwise, etc.
It is all up to you.
I hope I have convinced you to think twice about using food products in your DIY, at-home, lockdown skincare regimens. Comment below on how you are handling the lockdown and any self-care you may be doing to keep yourself sane. Bonus points for pictures!
Stay Healthy,
Megan
