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DIY Pore Strips: Why Experts Say To Avoid + What To Try Instead
If you’re a fan of clean beauty, you might be tempted to try your hand at DIY beauty products. After all, many natural products can be made from ingredients you already have at home. However, certain DIY endeavors come with warnings from experts, and one that stands out is the creation of DIY pore strips. You may have stumbled upon various tutorials showcasing before-and-after photos, but experts caution against this practice.
Why You Shouldn’t DIY a Pore Strip
It’s important to note that even commercial pore strips can be quite harsh. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King has pointed out that these strips, if not used carefully, can irritate the skin. She emphasizes, “The adhesive can traumatize the skin, so be sure to use them carefully and follow the instructions.” While it may feel satisfying to peel off a pore strip, it’s crucial to understand that they don’t address the root causes of blackheads. “Pore strips can temporarily remove the top layers of dead skin cells, but they won’t do anything to prevent the buildup of blackheads,” Dr. King explains. Instead, adopting a good exfoliation routine will yield better results.
Although pore strips can provide temporary relief by removing the surface layer of blackheads, many individuals have resorted to creating their own adhesive strips at home—especially during times when visiting a store is not an option. A quick online search reveals that ingredients like xanthan gum, gelatin, and even glue are often suggested for making DIY pore strips.
However, Marisa Plescia, a research scientist at the clean beauty retailer NakedPoppy, warns that these DIY ingredients can often cause more harm than good. She explains that these substances may irritate the skin and could even be borderline unsafe. “Harsh ingredients can lead to undesirable reactions when applied to the skin, especially if they harden too much and tear delicate skin upon removal.”
What About Gentler Options?
A closer inspection of DIY pore strip hacks reveals other common ingredients like honey, egg whites, and lemon being used. These gentler options may seem less irritating, but they often lack effectiveness. For example, the popular egg white and paper towel method requires multiple layers of whipped egg whites to achieve any adhesion, and the paper towel may not stick effectively. As a result, when attempted to peel off, very little debris may come along with it. So while it is a gentle method, its effectiveness is questionable.
Similarly, honey appears in various DIY projects, often mixed with sugar and lemon. Though honey has great exfoliating properties, it may not remove dead skin as effectively as hoped. Instead of attempting a DIY strip, a better option would be to use a honey face mask, allowing the gentle exfoliating properties of honey to work beneath the skin’s surface.
The Takeaway
While there’s no shortage of DIY beauty projects to explore, experts recommend leaving pore strips to professionals. Essentially, DIY pore strips fall into two categories: either they are too harsh on the skin, or they don’t work effectively at all. To avoid potential skin damage—and the embarrassment of a DIY mishap—it’s best to skip this beauty hack altogether. Trust the experts on this one: you’ll thank us later.
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