With so many different skincare hacks out there, sometimes it’s difficult to determine which ones actually do and don’t work. I am here to debunk some skincare hacks that did not work for me and probably will not work for you. 

Toothpaste to remove blackheads

Obviously I had too much free time on my hands during COVID because when I had started getting into skincare, I was finding all these weird hacks online and trying to replicate them for results. One of these weird hacks that I did was to rub toothpaste on my nose and place a tissue over it to replicate a pore strip. Obviously you can only imagine where this went. First, it was very messy and there was toothpaste everywhere. Secondly, it didn’t even work. I did not see a difference in before or after, leading to a waste of perfectly good toothpaste. As you can see from these cons, this hack is not worth your time.

D.I.Y Sugar Scrub using Honey and Coffee Grinds

I didn’t start getting into sugar scrubs until after COVID when everything started to open back up and you could go to the stores and look at all the different beauty products. However, one of the biggest hacks that I was seeing around this time was a D.I.Y sugar scrub, which sounded incredibly fun to make. The ingredients that are meant to be placed in the sugar scrub included coffee grinds, honey, sugar, coconut oil, fragrance, etc.. and there were many different recipes that people came out with the more they started experimenting. First off, the ingredients that are used to make this scrub required precise measurements, or else you risk butchering the entire batch, which would be deemed wasteful. Then after I had made mine, I only had the scrub sitting out for two days when it started to mold. Overall, I found that the one I made had the same effects as the one I bought from Target; the only difference being that the one I bought was able to dissolve in water, whereas the one that I made left my shower and drain a mess. I simply wouldn’t recommend this hack, it’s worth it to just buy the scrub from the store.

Lemon Juice as a Toner

This is one of the only skincare hacks that I didn’t even bother to try, only because I felt that putting lemon juice on your face doesn’t sound like a good idea from the start. People were using lemon juice as a toner to tone and smooth the surface of their skin, however, this does more damage than it does good. Lemon juice disrupts the natural pH balance of the skin, leaving your skin irritated and dry, which will increase oil production and make you break out even more. While many individuals have lemon juice accessible in their cabinets, it’s much better to spend an extra buck on a toner that will actually give you the benefits that you need. 

Hairspray as setting spray

This is another hack that I didn’t bother trying, only because I was scared to spray my face with hairspray. This hack became popular as it was an alternative product to setting spray, a product that helps your makeup stay on your face longer. Needless to say, this hack isn’t as popular as it used to be, and for good reason too. Hairspray contains chemicals that are suitable for the hair on your head, but not for your face. The types of ingredients found in hairspray can cause clogged hair follicles and pores, dehydration of the skin and for some, an allergic reaction. I would call this hack and extreme flop and would rather just spend extra money on a good setting spray at Target, Ulta or Sephora. 

This is simply a reminder to NOT follow everything that you see online. While some beauty hacks may actually work, it’s sometimes better to stick with safer options, especially if it involves your skin. If you decide to try these hacks for yourself, just know that I warned you.