#preservatives are good in skincare. parabens dont cause cancer. youre fine

[cryhounds]

Bro leak your skin care routine and products

oh boy uhhhh ok so. i was gonna say my skincare routine is p minimal which is a fucking lie but it is pretty fast + easy. everything i use is under $20 and most of it is fragrance free as well. i have dry & acne prone skin but tbh this should work for most ppl. also ill say this i havent gotten my hands on a good sunscreen yet but PLEASE wear sunscreen im just v picky cause it breaks me out.

for cleanser i use the herbivore pink clay bar soap which is $12 and lasts me anywhere from 3-4 months (comparable to most drugstore cleansers!!!). they have 2 other facial bar soaps depending on ur skin type and i think theyre all kinda awesome and its nice that theyre almost completely waste free. i wouldnt recommend literally any other herbivore product but i like pink clay cleansers and this one is v good

i also use an acid toner/chemical exfoliant, ive used the silk naturals lactic acid toner which is i thiiink $12 and lasts me about 4months as well which is good if youre new to chemical exfoliation or if youre sensitive but lately ive been using the pixi glow tonic ($15 for a comparable size) which has glycolic acid instead and i honestly like it more (bc its stronger) but it also has fragrance which is :// not ideal

for moisturizer i use the ordinary's nmf + ha moisturizer which is like $7 for 100ml. this is a really great thick moisturizer, if youre oily you might find it too thick or greasy feeling but also moisturizer is good for you. i dont like using this in the winter tho bc northwoods winters are dry as hell and the hyaluronic acid in the moisturizer actually will dehydrate you if the climate is too dry but i havent found anything under my budget that doesnt have HA :( in the summer i also use the ordinary's marine hyaluronics serum which i dont remember the price of but its under $10 and will last me about a year. AND the ordinary also has a 100% argan oil for $7 that i use on my hair and face which is a crazy good price for a very very good hair/face oil and id highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good hair/face oil. i do go through about 1 bottle every 2-3 months tho esp in the winter.

a few notes: you will want to use exfoliating products or toners FIRST, preferably right after you cleanse, because they wont do anything over moisturizers. also, only use chemical exfoliants every 2-4 days depending on how sensitive your skin is, and remember that your skin will be more sun sensitive when you use one. id use serums next, then moisturizer, then an oil if you want to use one, then spf. also when you wear spf you will want to cleanse your skin at the end of the day, because it's designed to sit on top of your skin rather than soak in, so if you just leave it there it will break you out. stay away from products that use essential oils as active ingredients, and remember that as fragrances theyre no safer than their synthetic friends. try to stay away from physical exfoliants, there is a way to do it properly but it's finicky, and dont ever use salt or sugar scrubs on your face.

and remember you dont HAVE to do anything to your face, a good spf, cleanser, and moisturizer really will cover all your bases.

[autumnmariegrim]

The Dangers Of DIY Skincare:

1. Witch hazel: An anti-inflammatory commonly used as the main ingredient in DIY astringents. What most people don't know is that witch hazel is usually distilled by alcohol and or immersed in it to preserve it and can literally tear apart the skin's hydration barrier. Which leads dry and flaky skin.The natural fragrance in witch hazel is eugenol, a potent irritant. So if you have sensitive skin watch out.

2. Lemons: No more lemons! This citrus fruit is the star of DIY beauty projects, most dermatologists dread. Lemons have a pH of about 2 and when used on skin, ruins it’s natural pH balance of 4 - 5. Dermatologist don’t recommend using pure lemon juice on your face or used as an ingredient in diy projects, because it has to be mixed with the correct acids, chemicals, and other ingredients for the skin to truly benefit from it. Lemons are way too acidic and literally eat away at the skins protective barriers. Lemons also make skin more prone to the suns harmful rays, leading to blistering or terrible discoloration that can last for months.

3. Mayonnaise: It is in no way beneficial for your skin. Mayo consists mainly of oil and fat, causing cyst-like acne and clogging pores. These oils and fats found in mayonnaise encourage bacteria to grow; Supported by Dr. Rebecca Tung, dermatologist at Loyola University. However it does benefit the hair by hydrating, diminishing dead ends, and killing lice. So to sum this up: DONT USE. DONT EVEN DIY SKIN CARE IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING. It’s always best to do extensive research and consult a doctor before DIYing.

4. Eggs for tightening skin: The proteins in egg whites do improve skin tone and elasticity. Many Spas peovide facial treatments using egg whites.They increase glow and minimize fine lines — however when doing your own be cautious! Egg whites not only can contain salmonella(bacteria that causes deadly food poisoning).If by chance you happen to ingest raw egg while administrating it on your face, it will (80% of the time)contaminate your body, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and other painful symptoms. So, unless your willing to risk it, it’s best to avoid accidental ingestion by not doing DIY raw egg masks at all. It can contaminate you if it enters your eyes and nose as well.

5. Apple cider vinager used as a natural deodorant: OTC deodorants often are avoided because of their potential risk in causing breast cancer due to the ingredient aluminum chloride . Most if not all scientists have yet to discover data that links the two. Despite that, people continue creating DIY deodorants out of apple cider vinegar in an attempt to deccease their chances of getting breast cancer. Even I use all natural deoderant. Apple cider vinegar’s main utilization is using it as a base, due to the fact that it kills yeast and bacteria linked to B.O. Its know to absorb/neutralize displeasing scents. It shouldn’t be completely shunned from using on skin, the main problem is that it’s not an easy smell to mask, it’s ability to neutralize other cents does not last long, and it kills good bacteria. Adding essential oils, in an attempt to mask the smell does little to nothing in solving that dilemma. Additionally, it's in no way stops sweat. Summary: it isn’t bad for the skin it just doesn’t smell good or prevent even the smallest amount of sweat from forming and doesn’t last long at all regarding its ability to absorb other smells, rendering it useless. It’s best used as a primer befor applying natural, aluminum free deodorant. Some natural deodorants include: • Dr Teal's Aluminum Free Deodorant with Eucalyptus, is Paraben & Phthalate Free. Priced at a mear 13.95$ found on amazon. ( containing an actually decent amount unlike the deodorants sold at Sephora that come with the smallest ,short term use, deodorants. The are healthy but not worth the price). • Native Deodorant - Natural Deodorant - Vegan, Gluten Free, Cruelty Free - Free of Aluminum, Parabens & Sulfates, made in the USA and contains coconut and vanilla. Giving it a wonderfully sweet smell. Priced at 11.95$ found on amazon. • Old Spice Aluminum Free Deodorant for Men, Aqua Reef Scent. Priced at 14.97$ for a 3 oz ,3 pack on amazon. What a deal! • Kopari Coconut Deodorant. Priced at 14$ on Sephora. Their Gardenia scented deodorant is amazing . I own it. For me it really works and contains charcoal, cleansing your pores of toxins. I find myself having to reapply it half way through the day, on those extra sweaty days or after working out. The wonderful benefits of its ingredients are so worth it! • lululemons anti-stink deoderant. Spray on to avoid bacteria growth in the deoderant. Priced at 18$ on Sephora.

6. Cinnamon as a face scrub: It wreaks havoc on your skin . Causing irritation, blisters, and in some cases, burn scars. When ingested in large amounts daily, cinnamon can and does cause low blood sugar, increases risk of cancer, mouth sores, liver damage, breathing problems, and interacts with certain medications negatively. So try to stay away from ingesting large amounts of cinnamon and or using it in your amature DIY skincare routine. If you don’t know the science behind and chemical interactions of what your doing , don’t do it! Cinnamon in small amounts is plentiful in benefits when mixed with the correct ingredients at the right amounts. So many, infact, that I won’t list them.

7. Hydrogen peroxide on the skin: Everyones go-to product for cleaning small wounds. While it does a great job of cleansing/ closing wounds, it is known to be toxic on skin when used in amounts higher than 3%.If you apply it repetitively on a wound , the wound and the surrounding skin area won't heal . Your actually causing damage to the skin. So do not use your house hold hydrogen peroxide for skincare DIY’s unless you are a specialist that knows what you are doing.

When used occasionally,treats minor cases of:

•burns

•cuts

•infections

•scrapes

•seborrheic keratosis

Medical professionals cease to utilize this acid as a disinfecting agent because hydrogen peroxide damages essential cells needed for healing the affected area. A 2012 study showed negative side effect of using hydrogen peroxide on the skin. Tested on mice (sadly).

It’s said that its wound healing effects may be useful in treating acne and other skin issues, such as hyperpigmentation. However it’s dangers out way any potential benefits it may have on the skin. It can cause:

•dermatitis (eczema)

•burns

•blisters

•hives

•redness

•itchiness and irritation

It not only harms the skin, hydrogen peroxide causes:

•toxicity or fatality when inhaled at large amounts or swallowed in both small and large amounts.

•a potentially higher risk of cancer and

damage to your eyes

•internal organ damage

More serious risks occur when it is used long term and regularly.

If you must, when lightening skin use a concentration between 20 and 30 percent for results. (Or just use a Tamato. Tomato’s slowly but surely lighten skin and are safe to use!)However it is higher than the recommended use of only 3 percent on skin. Running the risk of burns and scars rather than obtaining any actual skin brightening effects. If you are in dire need of affordable skin brightening products try : •niacinamide 10% by the ordinary. Niacinamide is known for its potent ability to protect your skin from air pollutants, oxidants, and free radicals . Which is why I am purchasing it when I get my next pay check!

There are many more DIY DONTs than DOs. For your short term and long term skin health it’s best to invest in the right products that tackle what you need/want. If you must DIY then use light, healthy, and certified skin safe ingredients. Also be sure to read the ingredients of every product you buy. There are many things you should avoid. Check my previous posts to figure out what you should and should not find in care products. Check out my post Finding the right Deoderant for a list of more natural ingredients that can be used for more than just deodorants.