It’s not spring yet, but you may want to clean your closets a little earlier. While there are many beauty products that do wonders for your well-being, whether they give you soft skin like silk or shiny hair, there are also handfuls that have the potential to cause significant damage or are a total waste of money.
20 beauty products you should never use
Here are 20 beauty products to consider why you should never use them. You could be damaging your skin without realizing it.
Glitter
The glitter is starting to return, but it doesn’t belong anywhere near your body. While there’s nothing wrong with a little shine, the shiny substance, on the other hand, isn’t ideal for your skin or the environment. In addition to causing irritation, a 2014 study in the journal PLOS One found that micro plastics are made from most of the 270,000 tons of plastic in the ocean.
Cuticle cutters
Whether you’re giving yourself a manicure at home or in a beauty salon, it’s tempting to cut your cuticles for a more flawless look. The cuticle is there for a reason: it protects your body from potentially harmful bacteria and fungi that could lead to infection. Instead, just remove them, don’t delete them altogether.
Natural makeup brushes
While getting a set of natural makeup brushes can seem super luxurious, it’s actually quite unpleasant. Believe it or not, the actual hair they’re made of actually comes from animals like squirrels, minks, goats and horses, and it’s not taken in the nicest and kindest way, as you can imagine.
Instead, opt for synthetic options created with man-made fibers that feel just as smooth. You will save money on makeup because they do not keep so many products, and you can apply your makeup even more precisely with perfectly smooth bristles.
Labial scrubs
People use labial scrubs in the hope that they will get rid of dry, scaly skin, but because they are very rough and abrasive, they only cause damage. We all know what happens when we pull dead skin out of our lips when they are cracked.
Our lips become very sensitive. Then, when you use a lip scrub, this is essentially what’s happening: an abrasive scrub on the delicate skin of our lips can make them painful. A lip scrub exfoliates good and bad skin on the lips, then they become dry and eventually results in even more cracked skin.
Basically, it’s like using sandpaper on the lips, and that’s not beneficial to anyone. Instead, wear a non-alcoholic lip mask or balm.
Lip balm
Speaking of lip protector, there’s a reason it’s on this list. While some types are good, others do just right: dry and crack the lips. It sounds crazy, but many of the big brands on the market use ingredients in their products that keep their lips irritated enough not to keep buying anymore.
When you’re looking for a balm that really helps you with your problem and you don’t make it worse, take something that doesn’t contain alcohol.
Anti-aging shampoo
Sorry, but no anti-aging hair product is going to counteract the aging of your hair. Why? Well, mainly because once your hair comes out of your head, it’s already dead.
To be sure, there are ways you can make your hair look healthier and liver, but it’s impossible to prevent your hair from going gray or becoming “younger” no matter how compelling the commercials.
Creams for stretch marks
There are many creams on the market that say they can banish your stretch marks in minimal time. The only problem? These products for the beauty of the skin, do not really work. Not at all.
A 2015 study looked at stretch mark repair after pregnancy in particular and found that tropical treatments can do nothing to fix the problem, which are essentially altered elastic fibers that don’t allow your skin to return to its original, normal state after stretching.
Instead, University of Michigan dermatologist Frank Wang, MD, says your best option is to preserve your elastic tissues rather than try to repair them after the damage is done.
Shaving cream
Shaving cream may be less expensive than shaving gels, but saving money may not be worth it when it comes to your skin. Buy a gel instead, which doesn’t cost much more, by the way, but will offer more benefits, making it easier to soften your hair for a tighter and less irritated shaving.
Serum for the strut or split ends of the hair
The serums for the split ends of the hair always fly off the shelves promising to fix all that annoying hair that is ruining your hairstyle. Unfortunately, they are a total waste of money: first of all, you can’t repair them.
Because split ends are simply the splitting of your hair typically due to damage (you use too many hot tools or dye your hair too often), you can’t repair it again. There are hair beauty products that can strengthen your hair and temporarily hide the damage, but the only real way to get rid of them is to cut them.
Depilatory creams
Depilatory creams seem an easy way to remove unwanted hair (and much less painful than waxing). The problem, however, is that they are so full of chemicals that they can really irritate your skin, even burn it. You can always try your luck, but anything that literally melts your hair is probably something you don’t want in your body.
Deodorant with artificial fragrance
To make sure you don’t start smelling throughout the day, you’ll probably rely on your reliable deodorant with its strong floral aroma. And yes, it really works.
The problem is that the deodorants that use those powerful synthetic fragrances are full of chemicals that the Environmental Task Force (EWG) says have been associated with everything from allergies and skin conditions to respiratory distress and effects on the reproductive system. Instead, look for natural marks that help you smell good without the use of artificial material.
Lip dilator
The trend of thick lips is still strong and people make great efforts to achieve a perfect stew. Those who do not want to go the injection route often try alternative methods, one of them are the labial plumpers.
Some are simple plastic cup devices and others look more high-tech, but both are doing the same thing: making the lips swell by suction. And because swelling is the body’s reaction to an injury, that should be an immediate no, as they could cause scarring or disfigurement later on.
Eyebrow knives
You can shave somewhere else, so why not use a shaver to shape your eyebrows? Because it’s just a nightmare waiting for it to happen, that’s why. Small razors are cheap and seem easy to use, but they can be risky.
Instead of someone taking the time to cut your eyebrows as accurately as possible, you’re trying to shape your eyebrow with a tool that could ruin your appearance forever. Throw them away and leave your eyebrows to the professionals.
Acne extractors
As satisfying as it is to explode pimples, not even acne removal tools should be used at home. Whether it’s a pimple or a grain, taking the reins with your own hands when touching and pricking the skin can make the problem worse or cause permanent damage. That’s why it’s best to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist or beautician who is skilled in the procedure and can do the job well.
Creams for cellulite
If cellulite creams really worked, wouldn’t everyone be using them? While many skin beauty products are marketed to get rid of pesky dimples, no results are obtained with these: Some can cause a temporary dilation of the vessels causing swelling, which can mask cellulite, but, again, they cannot treat the underlying cause and therefore do not have a lasting or significant result.
Fortunately, losing weight can sometimes help reduce the amount that is visible, especially if you are building muscle in the process.
Alcohol-based toner
Toner has become a regular part of many skincare routines for people, giving them a shiny complexion. Unfortunately, when it is based on alcohol, it tends to have the opposite effect.
They’re supposed to help remove all the dirt on your face, but to do that, many skin products typically contain alcohol, which can completely dry out and irritate your skin. If you want to try it, just be sure to check the ingredient list to make sure you don’t grab something too dry.
Sunscreen over 50 SPF
Ready for a surprise? Getting a 100 SPF sunscreen may sound like a great way to protect your skin, but you really don’t need anything after 50 SPF. Values above 50 don’t really give you more protection, are often used incorrectly, aren’t applied as often (cause sun damage), and are usually not even as high as the label says.
Products that minimize pores
Just as nice it would be to put on a cream to reduce pores instantly, but that’s not the case. Although there are many products available, there is a problem with their claims: they can’t really be reduced. Dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, says pore size is genetically determined. So while some creams may make them look a little smaller, they’re not going to make any major changes.
Foot masks
Sorry, your foot doesn’t really need a mask. Sure, you can buy them if you really want to, but putting something expensive on your feet probably isn’t much more than spreading it with a lotion and a pair of comfortable socks. With that said, however, some have some that offer extravagant benefits if that’s something you’re interested in. Otherwise, save your money.
Neck cream
Buying a cream specifically for your neck can really cost what its worth, but do you really need it? According to experts, there’s no real reason to drain your bank account into a complete new product. Keeping your neck hydrated is a must, but you can simply do it through your usual body lotion, without the need for anything special. If you are looking for a natural product for beauty that is economical and that works, coconut oil throughout the body, works exceptionally to hydrate.
