Skin Brightening or Frightening? The Surprising Ingredients People Use for Skincare

It’s difficult to talk about appearance and body confidence without mentioning skincare. Your skin is your outer layer, the aspect that people tend to notice about us first and foremost. Good skin is synonymous with good health, which is why so many of us dedicate hours to beauty treatments and experimentation to give us the perfect glow.

The ads that surround us –  including the ones advertising skincare products – show an unrealistic portrayal of what our skin can look like. It’s no surprise that ads tend to lie and embellish, but it’s rarely more obvious than on the skin. Waistlines are nipped, legs are slimmed, hair is made more full – but skin? Skin becomes poreless, ageless, free of lines and almost translucent in how it glows from within.

It’s no wonder then that there are a thousand and one different ways people have suggested improving skin tone and texture. The ones that work tend to involve the help of a plastic and cosmetic surgeon, and if you want to go that route that you’re going to see results. The problem comes with the at-home suggestions.

A quick Google or Pinterest search will bring a range of suggestions to mind, ranging from the ineffective and right through to the dangerous. Then somewhere in the butter zone, there are the possibilities that might just work.

Dangerous: Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a useful cosmetic compound; there’s no doubt about that. But this is a product also recommended to help whiten the grout in your bathroom – should you really be putting that near your face?

Possible: Aspirin

Aspirin face masks have a basis in science, which is something at least. Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is a common ingredient in cosmetic procedures done by the pros. It might help brighten your complexion, but it also might cause discomfort if you don’t know what you’re doing. Those with sensitive skin should definitely avoid as it can cause irritation on the first application.

If you must try it, then start very slowly – both in terms of the amount of aspirin that you use and the length of time you leave it on your face. Five minutes is plenty for a first time, and to prevent irritation, ensure you use a good emollient moisturizer afterwards.

Ineffective: Coffee Grounds

We all know the blissful delight of a morning cup of coffee, so it seems someone decided… to rub it all over their face? Probably? This is a bizarre one and the oddity is only surpassed by how useless it would be as a skin brightener. There would be a mild exfoliating effect, but it would be cancelled out by the chances of staining from the coffee itself. If you want to exfoliate, then a simple fine grain of sea salt is far more effective.

Luminescent skin is not easy to attain, but there is one thing worth mentioning: diet. Drinking water and eating plenty of vegetables can make a big difference, so don’t discount the basics.