We know that homemade facials are a fun and money-saving activity for a girls’ night in. But what are the real benefits and drawbacks of homemade facials? We spoke with a top dermatologist to find out.
Dr. Debra Jaliman knows a thing or two about skin care. She’s a professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and the author of Skin Rules Trade Secrets of a Top New York Dermatologist. She told us a thing or two about why homemade facials can make a lot of sense and when excitable homemade facial chefs need to consider slowing down.
The benefits of homemade facials
For the most part, Dr. Jaliman was all for homemade facials. She provided us with the following reasons why they are a solid alternative to expensive treatments:
- They are inexpensive. Homemade facials cost pennies on the dollar when compared with commercially-produced products and treatments.
- They are all natural. “Homemade facials have no chemicals or preservatives, so they’re all natural,” Jaliman said. “People like to know exactly what they’re putting on their skin.”
- They are beneficial. As it turns out, homemade facials aren’t just relaxing. They can actually wipe out some of your skin care problems. The inexpensive ingredients you already have in your pantry — like honey or oatmeal — can work wonders on your skin.
- They are time saving and convenient. Most likely, you already have all the necessary ingredients in your cupboard. Plus, you won’t need to waste time going to the store or spa. Your treatment can be completed in just 10 minutes.
Potential drawbacks of homemade facials
Even though Dr. Jaliman said that homemade facials are usually safe and beneficial, she did provide us with a couple of cautions for would-be facial experimenters.
- They can spoil easily. The ingredients that women put in their homemade facials can only last for a couple of days in the fridge, at most. Toss your homemade facial before it goes bad.
- They lack high-tech ingredients. Even though ingredients from your pantry can benefit your skin, Dr. Jaliman indicated that high-tech ingredients still have a place in your skin care regimen. Homemade facials can’t always deliver the same benefits as scientifically-developed products.
- They aren’t for sensitive skin. “It’s best to use homemade facials if you have normal or oily skin as opposed to sensitive skin like eczema or rosacea,” Dr. Jaliman said. “Sensitive skin is more likely to become irritated with homemade ingredients.”
- They can hurt you if not prepared properly. Don’t add the wrong types of ingredients to your facial. “I’ve seen people add aspirin because of the salicylic acid, and they ended up with burns on their faces.”
By and large, Dr. Jaliman said that if you have normal skin and use normal ingredients, feel free to whip together a homemade facial for your next night in!
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