Goodbye for good
2023 has in many ways been an educational year when it comes to ingredients and measures that have flooded our SoMe. But sometimes, mistakes have to be made to learn from them. We’ve especially been noticing some, shall we say, questionable DIY procedures that have sent shivers down our spine. Here’re the DIY trends that we’d never expose our skin to ourselves.
Using abrasive scrubs
From applying certain body fluids to your face to at-home skin tech. While some skincare hacks can definitely save you some money and offer lovely benefits to your complexion, it’s ever-so important to be aware of what ingredients you’re choosing while opting out of harsh procedures that can end up harming your skin and disrupt its natural processes. Often, you can obtain the same desired result with a way gentler product specifically formulated to serve this purpose.
And homemade scrubs are no exception. Take for example scrubs of coffee grounds. You’ve probably heard of them and how they can act as a type of mechanical exfoliator to rid the skin of dead skin cells. And this is not wrong – however, the consequences can be substantial for your skin. Coffee grounds have sharp edges that can leave micro tears in the skin, thereby causing irritation and making the skin more exposed to harmful bacteria. As if that wasn’t enough, coffee grounds and other popular homemade scrub materials are known to be pore-clogging – meaning they can cause the opposite result of the intended. So, we’d say the possible benefits don’t surpass the downsides.
Facial steaming
We understand why it can sound tempting to channel the spa to your own bathroom with a facial steaming. But though the practice can feel relaxing to you, it can be very stressful for your skin. Facial steaming can actually contribute to both dryness and irritation because the steam can strip your skin of its natural oils. Furthermore, the heat lead to dilation of your blood vessels, causing excessive redness. So, we wouldn’t recommend incorporating this step into your spa-like rituals. Ever.
Using lemon or other citrus fruits directly on your skin
Lemon and other citrus fruits are good for many things – but going directly on your skin is not one of them. Lemon contains a rich source of vitamin C and citric acid, renowned for their detoxifying, brightening, and impurity-treating properties. These benefits are also what has led many to use them as a sort of homemade natural treatment – unfortunately, many aren’t aware of the possible side effects of adding e.g. lemon directly to your skin. These include skin irritation and increasing the risk of sun damage due to increased sensitivity to UV-rays.
In other words: If you want to obtain the benefits of citrus fruits, we’d recommend sticking to products specifically formulated to deliver the results you desire – with a safe concentration of the beneficial ingredients of citrus fruits.
Hello, happy and satisfied skin
We’re happy to say that there’s been a lot of good skincare that has gotten well-deserved attention throughout 2023, making it challenging to pick our winners. Some honorable mentions include the on-going craze about niacinamide, skinimalism (skincare minimalism), and collagen-promoting ingredients. However, we choose three "trends" we hope stay in the spotlight.
Cleanical skincare
The term may be new to you, but the philosophy behind it is definitely not. At woods_, we’re so fond of this approach that we dedicated a whole blogpost to it. In short, the term cleanical skincare describes a fusion of clean and science-backed ingredients that are both effective, safe, and perfectly healthy for your skin, inside out.
As what we put on our skin will eventually be absorbed and become part of our system, it’s important to always check ingredient lists to make sure you’re indulging your skin with only the best of ingredients – it deserves nothing less.
Multipurpose products
As the concept of minimalism is becoming more and more prominent in many people’s closets, skincare regimens, and overall lifestyles, multipurpose products have gained more and more popularity. In other words, the 12-step routine that once ruled has been replaced by a simple yet effective routine with power-packed products that offer multiple benefits.
And this may not only be for your skin – as it turns out, some skincare products also work wonders for your hair or as makeup-like solutions. Visit out blogpost Multipurpose skincare: Extend the benefits of your products to learn more about the secret properties of selected woods_ products.
The rise of retinols
Retinols, derived from vitamin A, are celebrated in the world of skincare for their remarkable benefits. They offer a multi-faceted approach to improving skin health by stimulating cellular renewal, boosting collagen production, counteracting the formation of impurities, and fading hyperpigmentation and dark spots. We’ve seen a lot of skincare influencers, experts, and enthusiasts talk us through the benefits of retinols, and we’re all ears! Have retinols gained a spot in your routine yet? Experience the many benefits of vitamin A with our Vitamin A Treatment Cream – read more about it in our blogpost Rejuvenating results incoming – welcome, Vitamin A Treatment Cream.
