You can find all kinds of beauty hacks on the Internet, but pretty much everyone knows that they're not all going to work. Many people think that if one doesn't work, it's not a big deal, but a lot of the beauty hacks that have been making the rounds on Instagram are quite dangerous for your skin, so it's important to know the science behind them.
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00:00Beauty hacks are all over Instagram.
00:03From DIY makeup applicators to yogurt-exfoliating creams, there's certainly a variety of weird,
00:08wonderful, and wild suggestions out there.
00:10But not all hacks are good, or even safe.
00:13Here are six of the best, and six of the worst, beauty hacks online.
00:17While you may have thought your grandmother was crazy for placing tea bags over her eyes,
00:21she may have actually been onto something.
00:22This beauty hack is one that predates the internet, but it eventually found its way
00:26online.
00:27Despite so many beauty hacks that can be found on the World Wide Web, this one actually works.
00:32Dermatologist Sandra Lee, perhaps best known as Dr. Pimple Popper, told The Pretty Pimple
00:36why the antiquated tea bag hack is worth giving a go.
00:39The dermatologist revealed,
00:40"...this trick works because of the astringent nature of the tannins and caffeine in tea
00:45can help constrict blood vessels and capillaries under the eyes.
00:48It helps to minimize fluid retention and puffiness in the area.
00:51For puffiness below your eyes, black tea works best.
00:54Just make sure the tea bags you use are warm, not hot, when placing over such a sensitive
00:58area.
00:59After just a few minutes, the reduction in inflammation should be noticeable."
01:03There are some things in life you never think you'll have to say.
01:06Stuff like, don't put kitty litter on your face.
01:09But here we are.
01:10Thanks to the internet, these unusual — and nauseating — face masks have managed to
01:14become popular.
01:16Even more surprising is the fact that there's actually some science behind slathering your
01:20face in kitty litter.
01:22Dermatologist Jason Emmer told Allure magazine that cat litters that are clay-based often
01:26contain a couple of ingredients that are also used in common skincare products — silica
01:30and bentonite.
01:31Both ingredients absorb oils and hold in moisture, which is what many people are looking for
01:36in their facial products, as well as in their cat litter.
01:39While silica and bentonite are safe to use on your skin, dermatologist Joshua Zeichner
01:44told Allure magazine that it's all the other stuff in kitty litter that makes it a bad
01:48idea to rub on your face.
01:49Huh, who would've thought?
01:51According to both dermatologists, using a clay-based face mask is a much better alternative, especially
01:56because a clay-based face mask is actually meant to go on your face, unlike the stuff
02:00your cat uses to go to the bathroom.
02:02Argan oil is an ingredient you'll find in many beauty products, including body lotions,
02:06shampoo, and even makeup.
02:08The oil, which is made from the seeds of the fruit from argan trees, is especially beneficial
02:12to the skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
02:15Of course, how much argan oil is in these different beauty products varies.
02:19The good news is that you can skip the middleman and use argan oil all on its own.
02:23When speaking to Skincare.com, dermatologist Deval Banusali recommended using argan oil
02:28for dry skin.
02:29Dr. Banusali advised,
02:31"...use argan oil as a mask one to two times per week at night and go to sleep.
02:35It helps hydrate, leaving skin feeling soft and supple."
02:38Argan oil can even be used on acne-prone skin, according to New York City dermatologist Samer
02:43Jaber.
02:44While coconut oil can prove to be too much for this skin type, argan oil is much lighter,
02:48so it shouldn't cause breakouts.
02:50If you've ever used Mr. Clean magic eraser to remove scuffs on your walls, you know that
02:54it's, well, practically magic.
02:56However, that doesn't mean that it's wise to start using the product on yourself.
03:00Apparently, some people have discovered that it works to remove unwanted spray tan lines,
03:05but this hack is a dangerous one.
03:07Randy Schuller, a cosmetic chemist and co-founder of TheBeautyBrains.com, told Allure magazine,
03:11"...as a general rule, it's never a good idea to use a household product on your skin.
03:16They're not subject to the same safety testing requirements as personal care products."
03:20Although Mr. Clean magic erasers don't contain harsh chemicals, the product is made out of
03:24melamine foam, which is very abrasive.
03:27It could also trigger an allergic reaction.
03:29"...Oof, yeah, this is pretty bad."
03:33Others have found that the foam produced by the magic erasers can also whiten teeth, but
03:37a dazzling white smile isn't worth the harm this alleged beauty hack could cause.
03:42New York City dentist Mark Lowenberg told Allure magazine,
03:45Using a magic eraser on your teeth might remove stains, but the idea of putting a cleaning
03:49product in your mouth that isn't designed for oral use is total insanity.
03:54We wouldn't blame you if you were skeptical about the Silk Pillowcase Beauty Hack.
03:57However, it seems to be the real deal.
03:59Marnie Nussbaum, a New York City dermatologist, revealed to MSN,
04:03"...cotton pillowcases can potentially absorb moisture and hydration from skin and hair,
04:08leaving the skin dehydrated and increasing the appearance of fine lines."
04:11According to the skin expert, silk actually helps the skin stay hydrated, which can work
04:16to help protect against acne.
04:18Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin also recommends silk pillowcases if you want shinier, healthier
04:23hair.
04:24Atkin told MSN,
04:25"...with regular use, I've slept better, my hair is shinier, and it's less prone to breakage."
04:29Dr. Nussbaum agrees that silk pillowcases are best for keeping a healthy head of hair,
04:33adding,
04:34"...sleeping on a silk pillowcase also allows the hair to keep its natural oils and prevents
04:37frizz and dehydration."
04:39It turns out silk pillowcases may be just the perfect way to get some beauty sleep.
04:44In case no one has told you to never put diaper cream on your face, allow us.
04:48Never put diaper cream on your face.
04:50In a video she shared to Instagram beauty blogger Farah Dekai revealed what she called
04:55the best acne killer mask.
04:57Dekai captioned a video of herself applying the concoction,
05:00"...apply as a spot treatment to all your acne spots, let it dry and go to bed.
05:05Wash off in the morning.
05:06Or you can apply this all over your face as a nighttime sleeping mask and wash off
05:10in the morning."
05:11While Dekai promised that your face will be as smooth as a baby's butt, there's a little
05:15more to it than that.
05:16"...this is funky."
05:18New York City-based dermatologist Leslie Gertzman told InStyle that most diaper creams contain
05:24two main ingredients, zinc and petroleum.
05:26And while zinc is good for healing wounds, Gertzman explained that the mixture of zinc
05:30and petroleum is bad news for acne sufferers, as petroleum completely closes off pores.
05:35Like we said, never put diaper cream on your face.
05:38You've probably heard that using ice to treat a burn can make matters worse.
05:42While that's usually true, razor burn is an exception to the rule.
05:45This is because razor burn isn't actually a burn at all.
05:48Instead, it's a form of skin irritation that can cause redness and painful, itchy bumps
05:53on the affected area.
05:54And unfortunately, anyone who shaves is at risk for experiencing it.
05:57Thankfully, there's a way to get some quick relief from the pain.
06:01Dr. Deval Banusali told Skincare.com that icing razor burns is a worthwhile hack.
06:06To ease the discomfort of the burn, alternate between applying and removing ice from the
06:10inflamed area over the course of a few minutes.
06:13According to Dr. Banusali, this will help reduce the burn's appearance, at least until
06:17you can get to the store to find a product to heal the irritated skin.
06:20If you've ever had one of those pimples that more closely resembles Mount Vesuvius than
06:24your run-of-the-mill zit, we understand why you'd want to make it erupt.
06:28I had so much for breakfast I'm just about ready to pop."
06:32But whatever you do, don't stick a pin in it.
06:35It may sound like it'd bring instant relief to just shove a safety pin in that sucker,
06:39but it's only going to make everything worse.
06:41And that's true even if you thought to sanitize the pin first.
06:44Dermatologist Heidi Waldorf confirmed to Allure magazine that putting a pin in your pimple
06:48is a bad idea, saying,
06:50"...when you break the skin, the bacteria that's on your face can penetrate it, and
06:54the contents of the pimple get pushed deeper.
06:56All that irritation is going to take much longer to heal and can lead to scarring."
06:59Although popping pimples is almost never a good plan, dermatologist Jason Emmer offered
07:04up a safer alternative, telling Allure magazine,
07:07"...using two Q-tips against either side of the pimple will help limit any trauma to the
07:11surrounding skin.
07:12As always, be sure to disinfect and use antibiotic ointment after popping any pimple.
07:17Safety first."
07:18Cleaning makeup sponges and brushes may be one of those tasks you never feel like doing,
07:23but it's necessary.
07:24New York City-based dermatologist Susan Bard told Shape magazine,
07:28"...people almost never clean them, and they can transfer dangerous bacteria from your
07:32bathroom right to your face."
07:34While there's no hack that can get you out of cleaning your makeup tools completely,
07:37there are a couple hacks that make the process easier.
07:40For one, you can microwave your makeup sponges in a cup full of water and brush cleanser,
07:44though microwaving may reduce their lifespan.
07:46As for your makeup brushes, although you can't put them in the microwave, you can skip the
07:50expensive cleansers.
07:52Bard recommends rubbing the bristles into a simple cleaning agent such as bar soap.
07:56Lemon juice has made its way into all kinds of beauty hacks, from fading acne scars to
08:00treating dandruff to lightening dark spots.
08:02It's all been done.
08:03However, Mona Gohara, a Connecticut-based dermatologist and clinical faculty member
08:07at Yale-New Haven Hospital, warned when speaking to Women's Health that lemon juice should
08:12never be used on skin, explaining,
08:14"...lemon is acidic and can alter the pH of your skin, destroying the barrier, making
08:18it easily inflamed, irritated, and even scarred.
08:22When citrus juice interacts with ultraviolet light, it can cause a chemical reaction on
08:26your skin."
08:27Can you say, no thanks?
08:29There are countless numbers of beauty hacks out there, but honestly, just being mindful
08:33of what you eat is probably the best beauty hack you could ever try.
08:36Manish Shah, a board-certified plastic surgeon, told American Spa,
08:40"...fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants, which give glow to the skin."
08:44Registered dietician Lisa Moskovitz confirmed to Insider that a healthy diet of water, fruits,
08:49vegetables, protein, and healthy fats will encourage healthy skin.
08:52In particular, foods like blueberries, strawberries, avocados, and salmon can do a world of good
08:57for your skin.
08:58So next time you reach for the zinc-based diaper cream, why not reach for a healthy
09:02snack of zinc-rich food, like spinach?
09:05Moskovitz explained to Insider,
09:06"...zinc has a lot of wound-healing properties, and there's also some evidence showing that
09:10it can help with breakouts."
09:12And if you're looking to prevent signs of early aging like wrinkles, fine lines, and
09:16dry skin, Moskovitz recommends adding bone broth into your diet.
09:20It's a good source of natural collagen.
09:22Do-it-yourself natural lip plumping is a popular beauty hack that promises plump lips with
09:26the use of ground cinnamon.
09:28But just because the hack may work doesn't mean you should try it.
09:31As New York-based dermatologist Patricia Wexler explained to Self magazine,
09:35"...cinnamon actually plumps by being inflammatory.
09:38You're putting it on the lips to get inflammatory swelling."
09:41The best way to get lip plumping would be to use a hyaluronic acid or silicones.
09:45"...this?
09:46Oh, it's just a light saline injection.
09:50It's temporary."
09:51Even if you plan to use cinnamon more for its holistic properties than its cosmetic
09:55abilities, it's still not advised to put it on your skin.
09:58Dermatologist Doris Day told CNN,
10:00"...you wouldn't get enough of a concentration of cinnamon, and you can probably even get
10:04blisters.
10:05It's a spice.
10:06If you put pepper on your skin, you can burn your skin."
10:09In a nutshell, you only get one face, so be careful what you put on it.
10:13And in it.
10:14"...yeah, I can't really move.
10:15Can't really move my face."