Waste of money: 6 worst skincare products that damage the barrier

There is a stereotype that the more expensive the better. But this is not true at all as some skin care products are a waste of money.

"There is a high probability that using a large number of cosmetic chemicals can damage the skin barrier and microbiome. Then we look for more products to solve these problems, and the cycle repeats," says Dr. Rachel Westbay, a board-certified dermatologist. Huffpost found out which cosmetic products not only hit the wallet but can also harm the skin.

Expensive moisturizers

"There's no need to spend a lot of money on moisturizers," says Marisa Garshick, a certified dermatologist. "The ingredients are more important than the price. Look for key ingredients such as ceramides or hyaluronic acid to help nourish and moisturize the skin," she explained.

Cleansing wipes

"Even the gentlest facial wipes can irritate and weaken the skin's barrier, leaving redness. And to be honest, they're not really effective. They leave a lot of residue that you can't see with the naked eye," Westbay says.

Collagen

"It won't be effective because the collagen molecule is too large to penetrate the skin," Garshik said. "For this reason, it's better to spend money on products that are designed to stimulate collagen production, such as retinol or peptides," she added.

Alcohol-based toners

If you don't have oily skin, but combination, dry, or sensitive skin, toners are not something you should buy.

"Nowadays, most cleansers have a balanced pH and alcohol-based toners are rarely recommended," the expert says. "They can cause significant skin irritation and damage the skin's lipid barrier. And excessive drying will lead to a paradoxical increase in the amount of oil produced, which can trigger acne."

Facial oils

"They're not bad, but they're definitely unnecessary," Westbey says. "Oils alone don't moisturize, so they can't replace moisturizer.

Exfoliants

"Scrubbing can damage the skin's barrier, causing dryness, acne, redness, and irritation," Westbey explains. "Such products strip your skin of its natural moisturizing factor and increase water loss, causing dehydration.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA told you about the best and safest way to remove gel polish at home.

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