Skincare that Should NOT Touch Your Face

Here are the main skincare products and procedures that you should avoid if you want to protect your skin from damage.

Many products and treatments are often marketed as miraculous, but they actually are very bad for your skin, and, unfortunately, you only find out after you try them. Instead of risking and wasting your money, invest it in safe and professional skincare products and tools, so you know you won’t have any bad surprises. Here are the main things to avoid:

1. Makeup wipes: although they are convenient, they often contain alcohol or ingredients that can be irritating and drying on the skin. Also, you shouldn’t be rubbing on your skin to remove makeup, because it contributes to more irritation and, potentially, over time it may lead to premature wrinkles. Instead, opt for an oil-based cleanser, cleansing balm or micellar water because they’re more gentle on the skin while effectively cleansing and removing everything that needs to be removed.
2. Collagen threads: it’s a pointless procedure, therefore a waste of money. It’s supposed to stimulate collagen underneath the skin, but it doesn’t actually do anything to the surface of the skin, so if you’re trying to target your scarring or your hyperpigmentation it’s not going to help you. It’s supposed to give you a lifting effect, but it only lasts as long as the swelling lasts (so a day or two). Instead of this, prefer micro needling tools and procedures, because they really stimulate collagen production, work on the skin texture, skin tone and scarring.
3. Harsh physical scrubs: they can cause damage to the skin surface. Instead, try a chemical exfoliant with ingredients like glycolic acid and salicylic acid that actually work and penetrate deeper into the skin and pores to remove dead skin cells, help with pore congestion and over time improve uneven skin texture and skin tone.
4. Pore strips: not only are pore strips bad for people with sensitive skin, but they may also worsen other skin conditions. Instead, pick a topical retinoid like adapalene or a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid, that can more effectively and more gently penetrate into the pores to remove buildup. The strips don’t actually remove blackheads but only tear away the sebaceous filaments, which you need for a healthy skin barrier.
5. Stretch marks and cellulite creams: they simply don’t work. To treat cellulite, you actually have to work on deeper layers of the skin, and these creams only work on the surface. So instead of investing in these creams, focus on maintaining skin hydration with moisturizers.
6. Luxury brand cleansers: while expensive cleansers may seem appealing, their price doesn’t necessarily correlate with effectiveness. Cleansers have a short contact time with your skin, so they really don’t have much action beyond the act of cleansing, removing sebum, makeup, sunscreen, debris and buildup from your skin. Focus on quality and suitability rather than price. It’s wiser to invest in facial or body tools to pair your skin products with.
7. Beware of home remedies. Toothpaste on pimples burns your skin, and doesn’t make them disappear at all. Coconut oil is not a makeup remover.
8. Red peeling is really strong, and if you get the timing wrong it could be dangerous.
9. Peel-off masks damage the skin barrier, since they pull out skin and hairs (which you need for protection).
10. Pure tea tree oil, just like any other essential oil, causes irritation if applied directly onto the skin. It’s better to choose products that contain these ingredients as diluted.
11. Products with 10% niacinamide can cause breakouts because that percentage is too high for the skin. Choose products with a lower concentration.