Skincare Scams: which ones have you fallen for?
Okay, like many of you guys out there, I'm a sucker for new trends and good deals. But some of these deals aren't as great as they seem, and there's more than meets the eye when it comes to trends. So, which skincare scams have YOU fallen for? Here are mine:
Eye cream
Growing up, I’ve noticed that my mom has always been a diehard fan of eye creams. For 20+ years, it’s been a part of her regime. And don’t get me wrong, her skin looks fantastic. But as I got older and started experimenting with more skin care products, I realized the whole eye cream sector is a scam. Why? Eye cream is *JUST* moisturizer! Literally with the same ingredients and function — so why do people feel the need to splurge $80 on a tiny jar?
Here’s how we feel: unless you have an eye cream that has dimethicone in it (helps get rid of dead skin cells and for the skin to retain more moisture), you’re not doing your skin any additional favor by applying an eye cream. Unlike some skincare non-negotiables like makeup remover and daily sunscreen, there’s no conclusive scientific evidence that suggests eye cream should be a part of our routine.
Our thoughts? Go for a water or aloe-based face moisturizer that gives your skin a refreshing, uplifting feel without breaking the bank. One of our favorites is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream that’s known to deeply hydrate, protect and prevent water loss from skin.
Essential oils
Essential oils have been around since the late 80’s when natural medicine had started to gain interest and popularity, but it wasn’t until a few years back when it was everywhere, from juice bars to yoga studios to your best friend’s “chill out zen room.” What are they and why does the skin care industry have such a problem with them?
Well, simply put, they come from Mother Nature. Highly concentrated compounds from leaves, flowers, roots, bars and peels of plants get extracted through a CO2 extraction and cold pressing process, which then turns these compounds into oils.
The problem with essential oils is that much like vitamins and supplements, they are highly unregulated, meaning manufacturers can put in whatever ingredients they want and disclose very few of them, or using synthetic imitations of certain oils without disclosing the difference. And, most of the components found in these oils can cause irritation and damage your skin, especially super fragrant ones like limonene, citronellol and eugenol. If used improperly, the result can be red, puffy, sore complexions. As if 2020 hasn’t given us enough problems? The general guideline for usage on the face is 1% dilution, but those who have sensitive skin might want to steer away or only use gentler oils like lavender and chamomile roman.
We’ll leave you with 3 words — quality, quality quality! As with all supplements, herbs and vitamins, quality is of utmost importance. Always take a super close look and do your research on what products you’re buying. Make sure to aim for therapeutic-grade essential oils; so no, that 3 for $20 deal is a no go.
CBD beauty
Listen, we love a good CBD product. Taken orally, it can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and fight inflammation. (21+ only!) Topically though, we’re not so sure.
Skin care products containing CBD claim to reduce redness, banish acne, and repair free radical damage. We’ll give it this–CBD is a great anti-inflammatory ingredient. Is it worth your cash? No. Much like essential oils, the CBD market is largely unregulated and much of the CBD used in low-priced or mid-priced products is imported from overseas where it is used as a cover crop to clear soil of toxins before planting food crops. Ellipse Analytics conducted a study in 2019 of the top 240 CBD products from the wellness and beauty categories. Of those 240 products, 70% contained toxic levels of lead, arsenic, herbicides, BPA, and toxic mold. Um, ew.
If you’re itching to try a CBD skin care product, go for USDA Organic. If it’s not USDA certified, it’s not worth your money. If you want anti-inflammatory benefits without the price tag, go for turmeric, green tea, and resveratrol based products!
Facial devices
Ever seen a gorgeous Instabaddie applying her serums with a pink quartz jade roller and thought, “I need that on my vanity like now.” Trust us, we’ve been there. While facial massage tools are pretty and fun and glam, they’re totally not necessary.
Gua shas and jade rollers have been popular in Asia for decades, but the rise of social media influencers brought the trend to the USA. These facial massage tools are said to promote lymphatic drainage, reduce swelling, and tone sagging muscles. Why do we think it’s a scam? You’ve got some lovely massage tools attached to your arms already, and they’re free! Gentle facial massage using your fingertips allows you to regulate the pressure better and control direction. The key to facial massage is a gentle touch.
What about the other kinds of facial devices? Microneedling tools can be dangerous af. Without proper aftercare you can develop infections and damage your skin further! Save your skin and always get microneedling done by a professional.
As a general rule, we think it’s better to save up for a professional treatment. Whether it’s facial rejuvenation, microneedling, LED therapy, or injectibles, it’s always a better idea to seek professional care. They’ve got the training to not mess up your skin, and we promise their machines work better than the one you bought on Amazon.