DIY skincare 101: An expert-approved guide to safely using natural beauty ingredients

When I believe of Do it yourself skincare, I often come across myself sitting on the fence. While a component of me is familiar with the added benefits of a excellent haldi and honey mask, the other component of me also cringes every single time somebody applies lemon juice to their confront. I am torn. Right before I phase on any grandmother’s toes, permit me clarify—natural elements do host a myriad of magnificence gains for your hair and pores and skin. They are medicinal. But, someplace in between ‘age-aged standard remedies’ and ‘lockdown desperation’, we observed ourselves swimming in opposition to a existing of concoctions that weren’t just bizarre, but had been also very unsafe.

From employing unstable ingredients to layering and pairing the wrong ingredients together—the Do it yourself skincare environment grew to become a recipe for catastrophe. Does this necessarily mean you have to swear off pure beauty completely? No—you just have to find a safer way to do it. Dr Batul Patel, clinical director, The Bombay Skin Clinic tells us how!

“Skin being the major organ of the overall body absorbs the contents used on the surface area. Always be conscious of picking risk-free however helpful ingredients. With the arrival of social media and a plethora of influencer videos on pores and skin care Do-it-yourself recommendations, it can get too much to handle and at times baffling. Start with comprehension your pores and skin sort, get confirmed facts from professional medical experts, and constantly do a trial of the substances on your skin prior to working with it on your encounter,” Dr Patel advises.

Specialist-approved Do it yourself components

#1 – French clay

Aka environmentally friendly clay is a great foundation for a encounter mask, especially if you have acquired oily skin. It includes a total good deal of vitamins and minerals this kind of as magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, and manganese. It helps deep cleanse your pores, eliminates impurities, exfoliates dead skin cells, treats blemishes, and even soothes any insignificant irritations.

#2 – Cocoa powder

In accordance to Dr Patel cocoa powder performs as a excellent mask for dry pores and skin. Rich in antioxidants, the cocoa powder will help struggle totally free radical hurt, fights the indications of ageing and even brightens the pores and skin. 

#3 – Matcha tea powder

If you’re looking to brighten uninteresting pores and skin, then Dr Patel suggests that matcha tea powder is a good ingredient to do so. Also wealthy in anti-oxidants and methylxanthines, it can help fight no cost radical destruction, boosts microcirculation, and leaves your skin with a glow.

#5 – Hydrosols

The aromatic water made by steam when distilling crops and bouquets are regarded as hydrosols. They are uncomplicated to make at property and in accordance to Dr Patel comprise considerably less than 1 per cent of critical oil which tends to make them secure to use. “Suggested hydrosols incorporate lavender, rose, chamomile, rosemary, and cucumber. They can be made use of in masks and also as toners, make-up removers, and as chilly compression for puffy and exhausted eyes,” she adds.

#6 – Fruits, herbs, & greens

Another dermatologist-approved component to include to your Do it yourself checklist would have to be fresh fruits, herbs or greens. “Mostly fruits with high antioxidant qualities like orange, plum, guava, amla, and papaya are safe to use,” states Dr Patel. You can either smash them and utilize them, or incorporate them to your face mask. Herbs like fresh new thyme, neem, parsley, and rosemary are essentially somewhat soothing and therapeutic for the skin. But, this will come with a disclaimer. Dr Patel suggests, “Fresh herbs need to be utilized in just a week—once they produce dim spots or commence drying up, it’s most effective to prevent using it on the deal with.”

#7 – Carrier oils vs crucial oils

Important oils have established to be a somewhat well-liked Do it yourself component, however, Dr Patel warns that it wants to be utilized with warning. “Essential oils should really never ever be utilized undiluted to the skin. For delicate skin, the rations really should be much additional when compared to typical pores and skin. In any scenario, crucial oils require to be used with a large amount of caution—or it’s most effective to be averted as a Do-it-yourself at dwelling.”