Four dangerous beauty DIYs you should never try
There’s something therapeutic and empowering about using something you made yourself. I know we PV girls are not lacking in our own DIY experiments but some DIY inspirations we've found online are frankly irresponsible and can put your health at risk. If you're looking for a cheap alternative or just wanting to have a bit fun, please PASS on these four ideas - and we'll tell you why!
Screen capture of Kisu's Youtube tutorial
Eyeliner or mascara made from cookie crumbs
We’d love to be open-minded and let live, but we wouldn’t be a real beauty resource if we let you know about the dangers of DIY eyeliner or mascara. This particular tutorial uses cookie crumbs, which are obviously non-toxic but still not necessarily safe for cosmetic use (just like lemons and baking soda!) The risk is easy enough to spot: rigid or large crumbs of cookie pieces can get into the eyes and scratch the cornea.
Besides, putting anything that hasn’t been rigorously tested nor duly sanitized that close to the eye is just asking for an eye infection – which, when severe enough, can lead to blindness. There are other similar tutorials that use ashes to create the dark pigment but no matter how "natural" or "organic" it claims to be, fact is, it's not designed to be anywhere near your eyes. There are many great affordable eyeliners available in the market so just get one of those instead!
Lip tint made from crepe paper (papel de Hapon)
Our grandmas did it, so is it really such a bad idea? Unfortunately, it kind of is. Remember: these decorative papers are art crafting materials. They’re not meant to be used as cosmetics, so they use industrial-grade dyes that may contain toxins. Applying this bled-out dye to your lips and cheeks means there's a good chance of you ingesting some of it and creating prolonged contact with your skin. You can get a bad allergic reaction or possibly even poison yourself this way. For a cheap but fun way to get some color on your lips, suck on some good ol' Lipps candy instead.
Face masks and peel-off tints made from craft glue
Sure, the bottle of glue is usually labelled as non-toxic and you can technically ingest small amounts of it without landing yourself in the hospital but the problem with this DIY actually lies elsewhere. As an adhesive, it's not actually designed to be "peeled off" and certainly not to do so carefully and safely after being applied to more sensitive skin areas. It can cause wounds on thinner areas like the lips (if used as a peel-off lip tint), or actually leave clog-causing residue (if used as a peel-off nose strip) that worsens your pore situation. Stick to a regular lip tint (the peel-off action is just a novelty anyway) and check out better and safer alternatives for clearing out your pores.
Screen capture of Enjoy Phoenix's Youtube tutorial
Cinnamon mask
Food DIYs seem so harmless because it seems logical to think that if they're safe to eat and nutritious when consumed, they must be safe for topical application as well. If it’s good for the inside, it should definitely be good for the tougher outside, right? Not always. This honey-cinnamon mask shared by Youtube user EnjoyPhoenix got a lot heat when fans experienced a burning sensation after applying the mask on their skin. Despite the vlogger's claims that the mask had a "regenerating and purifying" effect, a dermatologist debunked this and explained that cinnamon is actually a dermocaustic (read: skin-irritating) substance and also potentially allegenic. Just because the vlogger herself didn't experience any discomfort with her usage, it doesn't mean her skin wasn't damaged by her DIY!
Don't get us wrong: there’s definitely nothing wrong with DIY-ing it but please do so responsibly. Here are some guidelines to keep you safe:
- Consider the source of the DIY tutorial. Are they credible, with a reputation or background in beauty expertise? Is the tutorial vetted by a dermatologist or cosmetic chemist?
- Do your research. Are the ingredients safe for the prescribed usage and stable enough to be mixed together?
- Work in a clean environment. Sanitize your area and tools, especially when working on projects with liquids because wet environments can breed bacteria.
- Patch test before doing a full application. Apply a small amount of the DIY mixture in the inner part of your arm and check if it causes a reaction to your skin within the next two hours.
- Stick to making small batches. Unless you have access to cosmetic-grade preservatives or use ingredients of that quality, your mixture will have a very short shelf life. Keeping them for longer than a few days may lead to spoilage and cause a skin irritation when applied.
There's always a risk involved in DIY-ing beauty products so always proceed with caution and as much knowledge as you can muster on the process. Done right, DIY beauty can be fun and possibly save you a bit of money along the way!
Have you ever tried a DIY that went horribly wrong? Share your horror stories in the comments!
