The Worst DIY Beauty Hacks You Should NEVER Try

Over the years, the internet has brought us memes, cat videos, makeup tutorials....and A LOT of beauty hacks. But are all those hacks you see on TikTok and other social media platforms actually beneficial for your skin? According to dermatologists, some of them can be helpful for the skin, while others can be downright harmful.

Here are the worst DIY beauty hacks the web has presented us with.

#1: Lemon Juice Peels

You may have seen all those videos people dousing their skin in lemon juice. According to the derms, this at-home skincare hack is a HUGE no-no. While lemon juice does contain vitamin C, and vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that works wonders for your complexion, lemons themselves can be way too harsh for the skin.

Board-certified dermatologist Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD, saw the adverse effects first-hand after a patient tried the lemon juice skincare hack for herself.

"She created a severe skin allergy, with a blistering rash which she tried pacifying with Vaseline slugging, and that caused severe congestion of her pores and major pimple breakouts," explains Blyumin-Karasik. She added that the woman “had to undergo a brightening skin-care regimen with laser treatments to correct long-term consequential pigmentation."

While the citric acid in lemons is an exfoliant, it can cause skin inflammation and comprise the skin barrier, leaving you prone to redness, flaking, and dryness.

Next time you need a little skin brightening, turn to Rainbow’s Glow Serum. It’s formulated with glycolic acid and bakuchiol to smooth, diminish discoloration, prevent breakouts, and boost skin’s glow.

#2: Sharpie Eyeliner

Another DIY hack you should never try: using sharpies to create a winged eyeliner look. It might sound like a clever makeup hack, but using a sharpie in replacement of eyeliner is a recipe for burning eyes. And the biggest problem is, once it’s on, it’s hard to fully remove this permanent marker from your skin. You’ll literally need to scrub your skin for a couple of hours or more to get it off, equalling more irritation.

Instead of using sharpie to create a winged eyeliner look, always use a proper liner to do the job. With real eyeliner, you can easily remove it with a cleanser or makeup wipes. Plus, it’s a lot safer and won’t leave your peepers stinging.

#3: Sunscreen Contouring

Sunscreen contouring has been huge on TikTok, with countless influencers racking up millions of views for their tutorials on deepening your skin color quickly. This skin-unfriendly hack involves the application of SPF to certain areas of the face, such as the cheeks and forehead to allow those areas to bronze more swiftly.

While this technique can work, dermatologists and doctors do not recommend it. Leaving your skin exposed to UV rays can cause fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. When applying sunscreen, you should always apply it everywhere — or at least, on the areas of your body where skin is exposed. To achieve a sculpted look, try using makeup products instead — over your sunscreen.

#4: DIY Face Masks

Not all DIY face masks are created equal. Some can actually be very beneficial to the skin, provided that you’re using safe, gentle ingredients. Others, however, can cause temporary or long-lasting harm to your skin. Some example of homemade face masks that you should avoid include those containing baking soda, lemon juice, and coffee, as these can be irritating and cause small tears on the skin.

To be on the safe side, opt for a nourishing, hydrating face mask like Rainbow’s Hydrate Face Mask. Powered by hyaluronic acid, this juicy jelly mask drenches skin in long-lasting hydration while plumping out lines and wrinkles. Include it in your weekly skincare routine to replenish lost moisture in your skin.

#5: Blackhead Flossing

On social media, we’ve seen folks attempting to scrape away their blackheads using dental floss. Turns out that while it might be ultra satisfying to watch, it’s not the healthiest method of blackhead extraction. For starters, dragging dental floss across your skin can be irritating and much more abrasive than a scrub. It can also strip natural oils from the skin, causing an increase in oil production. If you’ve already got oily skin, this is exactly what you don’t want as it means you’ll only get oilier.

To keep your skin blemish-free, we recommend following a solid beauty routine containing acne-fighting products such as an exfoliating cleanser, clarifying toner, and topical spot treatment.

#6: Toothpaste Spot Treatment

Some people swear it works, but according to the derms, putting toothpaste on your pimples can spell trouble. The idea behind treating breakouts with toothpaste is that many toothpastes contain ingredients that can dry out pimples. That said, there are other ingredients in toothpaste, such as fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfate that could irritate the skin and cause allergies.

Especially if you have sensitive skin already, this hack could make your skin concerns even worse. You’d be better off using a beauty product especially formulated to treat breakouts.

#7: DIY Lash Lift

If you weren’t blessed with naturally long, curled lashes, you might be wondering whether to try the DIY lash lift. DON’T! You can try falsies, volumizing mascara, or professional eyelash perms. Just avoid those DIY lash lift sets you’ve been seeing around beauty stores.

“There is a high probability you will harm your eye or the structures around it with toxic ingredients that include ammonia, formaldehyde and lead,” says Optometrist Dhruvin Patel. “Blindness is highly possible if chemicals seep into eyes.” Ouch!!!

From nail polish hacks to DIY skincare treatments, the internet is definitely not short of skincare tips. The trouble is, some of these hacks can be downright dangerous, even causing issues like chemical burns and blindness. Next time you see a beauty hack that sounds a little suspicious, whether it involves hairspray, concealer, deodorant, or coconut oil, do your research before trying it at home.