Learning about skincare is all about trial and error and watching other people do it. The problem is, no one actually taught us how to use skincare properly. So, more often than not, most of us end up turning to social media to learn how to use certain skincare and certain skincare hacks to improve our skin’s condition.
Now, more often than not, a lot of skincare hacks that you see online actually work. However, there are a lot that actually don’t. So, today on Sphere Medium we will discuss five social media hacks that you should definitely avoid.
Social media has a lot of good things about it; you end up learning a lot of new tricks and tips through social media like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok social media trends, especially when it comes to skincare that you should definitely avoid.
Five social media skincare hacks that you have to avoid
Skincare hack #1, Pore vacuum
Pore vacuum have been around for a long time. They are usually used in more professional settings where these pore vacuums are known as microdermabrasion.
It removes dead cells from skin using a negative suction to suck up and polish skin to remove dead cells. That particular suction can also help unclog your pores. However, these days there are a lot of affordable pore suctions that one can buy from e-commerce sites, and the problem with them is that it damages your skin instead of improving it.
Now, the negative pressure caused by these pore suction vacuums actually cause capillary breakage under your skin, so you have tiny micro bruises in your skin that your eyes can’t see, and over time it will actually cause skin irritation, causing you to have more acne and skin infections which might even lead to permanent scarring.
So the main difference between the pore vacuum suctions purchased online and the professional microdermabrasion is that professional microdermabrasion has a smart setting to understand pressure applied to skin and reduce the pressure automatically. However, the pore vacuum suctions that are purchased by oneself do not have such function, and more often than not, they end up damaging skin. So you should definitely avoid this skincare hack.
Skincare hack #2, exfoliating with abrasive tools:
Now, there are two types of exfoliation. Chemical exfoliation and the physical exfoliation. The chemical exfoliation uses acids like salicylic acid, and glycolic acid to do micro exfoliation whereas the physical exfoliation uses a either grains of shells, coffee or sugar. There are some trends out there that combine the physical exfoliants with a cleansing tool, like manual brushes or battery-operated brushes.
Now, the issue with battery-operated brushes is that they’re meant to be used with a regular cleanser. Combining a physical exfoliator with battery-operated brushes, does not clean your skin more thoroughly; instead, it causes a lot of micro abrasions that is small wound in skin that one can’t see but can feel it either painful skin or tingling sensation.
Now, the issue with micro abrasions or microtears in your skin is that it means that now your skin barrier is compromised, you’re skin get dehydrated and if you’re unlucky, the introduction of bacteria into your skin will cause you to have skin infections.
So if you’re looking to exfoliate, just exfoliate by itself.
- Do not use any battery-powered items or tools.
- Make sure you’re using a non-abrasive cleanser.
Skincare hack #3, Fruit-derived vitamin C
Vitamin C is great for your skin; it has a lot of different benefits. It protects skin against UV radiation, triggers more collagen, and even brightens skin.
However, one should avoid getting the vitamin C directly from a fruit, namely lemons or oranges. The reason why is because in lemons and oranges, the vitamin C has a very low pH, which means that it’s extremely acidic. When something extremely acidic is introduced to skin, it can burn the skin. The low pH can disrupt skin’s natural pH; it can also throw the entire flora bacterial balance on skin off balance, and on top of that, because it’s low pH, it can actually burn through the top layer of skin.
So the risk of using naturally derived vitamin C on skin is
- You’re going to end up with chemical burns on skin.
- your skin is going to be more irritated because the entire bacterial balance is really off balance
- It actually makes your skin more sensitive to UV light, which means that your skin will actually get darker over time.
So avoid using fruits to get your vitamin C.
Skincare hack #4, using Vaseline to remove blackheads
Now Vaseline or petroleum jelly has many uses for skin. Petroleum jelly can create a barrier on skin to lock in moisture and prevent microorganisms as well as environmental toxins from getting into skin. However, petroleum jelly or Vaseline cannot remove blackheads; instead, due to the nature of petroleum jelly it can end up clogging pores and create more blackheads or whiteheads.
So if you really want to remove your blackheads or whiteheads, use a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid or glycolic acid, once or twice a week.
Skincare hack #5, Peel off Blackhead Mask
I understand that blackheads are nasty-looking, and hence, people want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. But peel off Blackhead mask, is really just an adhesive sticker—something that is really, really sticky that it sticks to your blackhead and then yanks it off. Now the problem with this is that it not only sticks to blackheads but it also sticks to skin, so when we’re peeling off the pore strip or the blackhead mask, you’re not only removing blackheads but you’re also removing the top layer of skin cells, leading to a disrupted skin barrier. Putting your skin at risk of infection and skin sensitivity.
For more information on this topic, go ahead and read “Ultimate Guide to Tackling Blackheads: Are Pore Strips or Clay Masks More Effective?” at Spheremedium.
So these are five skincare hacks that you should definitely avoid and remember; shortcuts to healthier skin usually end up with more problems. Remember to always stay safe, stay healthy, and most importantly, stay informed.
FAQs
Using physical exfoliants as brushes on the face and applying lemon. These two are the most hyped-up social media hacks that need to be avoided for skin.
Yes, it can, and therefore it’s recommended not to use them on your own; seek the help of a professional.
Yes, skin becomes photosensitive that is it becomes sensitive to light and turns dark.
Yes, it does lead to clogged pores.
Clay mask is a far better option than a pore strip, as it doesn’t pull off the top layer of skin, which causes irritation and redness.
I am a dentist, baker, and fitness and health enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. I am foodie and explorer, always seeking new adventures and flavors. Currently working on my own skincare brand.
