From raw garlic cloves to cayenne pepper: why ‘natural’ DIY skincare can leave you burnt, itchy – or worse
In the world of social media, beauty hacks and DIY skincare products have become increasingly popular. Baking-soda scrubs, garlic spot sticks, cayenne masks promise to tighten pores and banish dullness. But what looks sensible in a 30-second reel can translate into painful, sometimes dangerous, DIY disasters.
Just because it's edible doesn't mean it's safe to put on your skin. Professional cosmetic chemists isolate biologically active plant compounds, purify them and blend them at precisely calibrated doses suited to the skin's natural pH. A spoonful of cayenne or a pinch of bicarbonate of soda offers none of that control.
Slapping pantry powders on your face risks chemical burns, rashes or long-term damage. Concentration is the first stumbling block. A teaspoon of baking soda has nothing in common with a safety-tested cleanser that might contain less than 1% sodium bicarbonate balanced by humectants and acids.
Likewise, a swipe of raw cayenne delivers an unpredictable hit of capsaicin, the fiery molecule that dermatologists use in nerve-pain creams, but only at strictly managed strengths. Pure kitchen spices also arrive with their own microorganisms: they are agricultural products processed in bulk. Once mixed with water or oil to create a mask they can become bacterial broths, inviting infection rather than a healthy glow.
Baking Soda: more alkaline than your skin can handle
Baking soda illustrates how quickly a “harmless” staple can upset skin chemistry. Celebrated online for mild antibacterial and antifungal properties, sodium bicarbonate is, in fact, highly alkaline. Normal skin sits in the acidic range of 4.5 to 5.5.
Apply a thick alkaline paste and the pH shoots upward, disrupting friendly microbes and triggering irritation and breakouts. Studies in humans show a bicarbonate paste does not relieve psoriasis itch or redness.
The dangers of cayenne pepper
Capsaicin, the fiery molecule in chillies, is licensed for nerve-pain creams yet even pharmacists warn of burning, redness and swelling. Home kitchens, obviously, lack a pharmacist.
Cooks who handle chillies daily can develop Hunan hand, an intensely painful, burning dermatitis. Despite this, some beauty hacks still recommend cayenne masks for radiance.
Airborne or topical capsaicin stings the eyes, triggering involuntary spasms and long exposure can cause lasting corneal injury. Inhaling the dust provokes coughing fits and, over time, lung inflammation.
The risks of other spices
Spices thought to be milder are hardly innocent. Cinnamon is a trendy lip-plumper, yet dermatologists document contact dermatitis and chemical burns.
Ginger “glow” masks leave many users with red, irritated skin. Clove oil, hyped as a spot cure, has produced caustic injuries.
The importance of protecting the skin barrier
Dermatologists recommend patch-testing any new skincare product, even "pure" essential oils, on the inner arm for 48 hours. Powdered spices also wander: a cinnamon scrub can fill the air with irritant dust that settles in eyes or airways, leaving you sneezing and sore instead of glowing.
Protecting the skin barrier is crucial: gentle, pH-balanced cleansers and moisturisers help maintain the acid mantle that defends against germs. Your doctor or pharmacist can guide you toward proven plant-based ingredients like niacinamide, aloe vera, or colloidal oatmeal, all of which offer skin benefits without the sting.
A word of caution
Next time an influencer urges you to "ditch chemicals" or promote "clean beauty" and scoop your skincare out of a spice jar, remember, everything is a chemical. Some belong on your dinner plate – very few belong on your face.