7 DIY beauty hacks that could actually harm you

Some homemade alternatives are doing more harm than good

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By now we’re all wise and old enough to know that a lot of information we find on the internet should be taken with a very large pinch of salt, especially when it comes to beauty.

Thanks to a rise in blogs and vlogs, we have become privy to a barrage of clever solutions and money saving tips, but this wealth of beauty advice could come with hidden dangers.

While we’re all for getting creative, some of these homemade alternatives are actually doing more harm than good with potentially dangerous consequences.

Zapping spots with toothpaste

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While toothpaste does have anti-bacterial properties, it’s important to remember that this formula has been developed to treat the hard surface of tooth enamel; not your delicate skin. Using this method means that you’re drying out the surrounding skin and disrupting the PH balance, which can result in a flaky and irritated complexion.

Plastic tape eye stencils

With a huge amount of beauty vloggers using stiletto heels, fast food and even knives to contour with, plastic tape might seem like the least of your problems, but it should be approached with caution. Using tape to create a defined eyeshadow wing or liner is definitely a quick fix but the skin around your eye is extremely fragile. Ripping off a piece of tape in this area is a serious no-no causing damage to your skin and leaving it red and tender.

Heating your eyelash curler

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There are plenty of specialised heated curlers on the market so if you’re looking to introduce heat into your routine make sure you invest in a suitable product. The trend for heating a standard eyelash curler using a hairdryer is ancient one but it’s also really risky. It may be stating the obvious but increasing the temperate can cause burns and if you leave it closed for too long it could result in losing your lashes altogether.

DIY lip plumping

The #kyliejennerchallenge dominated the beauty world for a brief moment with girls avidly trying to copy the reality stars celebrity pout without having surgery. The process often involved them sucking into a cup to create a pressure vacuum with the hopes that they would swell, but the results were often shocking. Many girls were left with burst blood vessels, scarred lips and bleeding.

Using Vaseline to grow longer, thicker lashes

While petroleum jelly can be used in a multitude of ways, putting it on your eyes is definitely not one of them. Applying it in this area can clog pores and potentially lead to acne or milia, which are small cysts that form along the lashline.

Setting your makeup with hairspray

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This age-old hack can cause some serious damage to your skin. Hairspray contains a lot of chemicals and a high alcohol content which can cause the skin to become dehydrated and sensitive. It can also lead to blocked pores and cause a red, bumpy irritation on your skin.

Hydrogen Peroxide teeth whitening

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Hydrogen Peroxide is a chemical found in whitening toothpastes but that doesn’t mean you should rinse your mouth with it, despite what some Vloggers suggest. Typically, any dental product that contains the chemical uses no more than 0.1 per cent and anything above this should only be used under the supervision of a dentist. If you use Hydrogen Peroxide that hasn’t been formulated properly or without the advice of a professional you run the risk of damaging your teeth and gums, or burning the soft tissue in your mouth.