With many Aussies stuck at home due to lockdown restrictions, a lot of us have turned our attention to upping our beauty game.
WATCH BELOW: TikTok beauty trend 2021: Skinimalism
But, there are some major DIY beauty mistakes that are a risk, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Luckily for us, there are people who do know exactly what they’re doing, and that would be the professionals.
Take Dr Vivek Eranki for example, an Australian trained Cosmetic Surgeon, who has seen a quite a few DIY mishaps happen at home last year such as burns, infection and scarring.
Especially when many of us are getting our beauty tips from TikTok, which isn’t always a good idea.
So, to make sure people are putting their safety first, he’s shared a list of issues to be aware of when experimenting with new beauty treatments.
Overseas products
Shopping online is one of the greatest ways to pass the time, and there is no better feeling than getting that notification that your package has arrived.
But, while receiving packages gives us immense joy, sometimes what’s in them isn’t always good for us. Namely, beauty products that you’ve shipped from across the globe.
“Overseas products may not be safe. There is no other way to put it. If you order products or equipment online from overseas, there is no guarantee they are safe, in fact, they could be very unsafe,” Dr Eranki said.
“Often overseas products can be very good copies and come with fake endorsements and instructions that have been plagiarised from reputable brands.”
Best thing to do would be to check where you’re buying your products from, and if it’s made here in Australia, all the better.
Skin peels
While skin peels have many benefits – dewy skin we’re looking at you – doing them at home can do more damage than good, which is why it’s always best to leave it to the professionals.
“Skin peels delivered in a cosmetic clinical environment are applied under strict protocols by trained professionals. The mixture substance is also of high quality,” Dr Eranki said.
“If you order skin peels online, you have no idea what is in them. It could be acid and very dangerous for your skin.”
Again, try to avoid ordering them online and instead do your research and find a clinic that you trust who can do it for you.
Skin needling
This one is super important, as doing skin needling yourself can be really risky if you’re not taking all the right steps.
“Skin needling involves the use of engineered and steralised microneedles on a medical-grade roller or pen that is moved over the top layer of the skin to create tiny punctures on the skin,” Dr Eranki said.
“The treatment requires the skill of an experienced clinician as the micro punctures go through the skin creating a painless injury to the deeper dermal layer. This then triggers wound healing resulting in increased collagen and elastin production in the face.
“While a highly effective and relatively pain-free treatment, it can be quite dangerous if performed using non-sterile equipment or undertaken by someone that doesn’t know what they are doing. Infection and scarring is the biggest issue if not done properly,” he said.
Laser hair removal
If you’re in a state that’s currently in lockdown, many clinics are closed at the moment. And if you hate shaving, waxing, or any other type of hair removal treatments, then you’re probably looking at doing laser.
“Laser hair removal should only be performed by a highly trained clinician. It works by focusing concentrated light on the roots of hair follicles, essentially killing the follicles so they don’t grow back,” Dr Eranki said.
“While completely safe when undertaken in a controlled environment, laser hair removal is not something people should be trying at home. While there are at-home devices on the market, I have seen and heard of far too many incidents where women have been burnt and scarred. Devices purchased online from overseas are especially concerning,” he said.
His advice? Simply don’t do it.
“Please don’t be tempted to try DIY treatments at home. Be patient, speak to a trained professional and work out a solution. This is a better approach than risking your health.”
Want more fashion, beauty, health and pop culture news from Girlfriend?
Follow us on Instagram @girlfriendmag & turn ON our post notifications in the top right-hand corner of our IG profile so you never miss a post
Sign up to our weekly newsletter
Remember to add our homepage to your favourites https://www.girlfriend.com.au/
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
