7 skin care products that can harm your skin

The ancient Egyptians used oxidized copper paste for eye makeup. This dangerous ingredient will eventually lead to irritation and insomnia, but they were willing to suffer in the name of beauty. And while the cosmetics industry has changed a lot over the years, some of the products in your makeup bag can still sabotage your efforts to create healthy, flawless skin.

At Pictolic we set out to find out which popular skincare products can do more harm than good.

7 PHOTOS

1. Facial scrubs with coarse particles.

Regular exfoliation (daily or weekly) can damage your skin. Abrasive scrubs remove the outer layer of the skin and damage the barrier that protects it from the environment. After exfoliation, your skin may temporarily appear fat-free, but it will secrete even more oil, later on, to compensate for the dryness.

2. Some ways to treat acne.

Topical acne treatments can make your skin feel dry and irritated. While these symptoms are often temporary, your skin may itch, even flake, or burn. Some oral acne medications can have more serious side effects. For example, antibiotics can cause stomach upset or dizziness.

3. Guasha stones.

Massaging the skin with gua sha stones has many benefits, such as improving blood circulation and reducing neck pain. But because you rub the skin with a massage tool, tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface can burst. This can lead to bruising and slight bleeding.

4. Dry brush.

A dry brush is great for exfoliating skin, but may not work for everyone. It can irritate sensitive skin or make it too dry. People with inflamed skin, including those with eczema and psoriasis, should avoid dry brushing as this can lead to infection.

5. Alcohol wipes.

By wiping your face with alcohol wipes, you can feel cleaner as the skin becomes matte. But in reality, alcohol removes much-needed fats from the skin, causing sebum production and actually worsening acne.

6. Chemical exfoliants.

If you use a chemical exfoliator more than once a week, you can damage the natural fat protective film covering your skin. Using products with harmful ingredients can lead to inflammation and rashes. Harsh ingredients in chemical exfoliators can remove too many layers of skin, leaving the skin red and irritated.

7. Strips for cleansing pores.

Nasal strips can remove more than just blackheads by completely clearing pores of sebum and dead skin cells. These components inside the pores are designed to maintain a healthy balance of oil in the skin, and when they are removed, your pores can become irritated.