A better alternative to the unique ingredient, Hydrogen Peroxide. Read about the dangers of using hydrogen peroxide on your face and check out this safer alternative from Free + True
When I worked at Ulta Beauty and then eventually for myself seeing clients for facials, many customers came to see me for their skin concerns. One of the biggest issues I treated, besides acne, was sun damage and hyperpigmentation.
I would of course recommend a chemical peel series or some professional products they could use to help reverse some of the damage. You would be surprised at all of the stories I’ve heard that clients have tried first before coming to see me. Hydrogen Peroxide as a skincare mask, was not something I was expecting to hear!
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The point of DIY (do it yourself) is that it involves items you already have in your home and it will hopefully save you some money in the long run. Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide is not seen as a safe product to use on your skin anymore. It used to be recommended as a way to clean wounds, including acne.
Can you Apply Hydrogen Peroxide Directly to the Skin?
According to Dr. Jessica Regnaert, MD , a family medicine specialist from Mesa, Arizona, there are better options to help with wounds or acne instead of hydrogen peroxide. She goes on to say,
“Most people are shocked to hear that hydrogen peroxide should not be used on a wound, since it’s been used that way for many years. However, many patients who come in with a non-healing wound will be using hydrogen peroxide on it, and once they stop, the wound will heal. Hydrogen peroxide actually irritates the skin and inhibits wound healing. The advice about using it has changed because new research shows that the irritation it causes is not worth the antiseptic effect.”
-Dr. Jessica Regnaert, MD
Along with hydrogen peroxide being a bad option for acne healing, it is also a poor choice to help with sun damage and hyperpigmentation. The DIY mixture to make this mask is flour, milk, and 3% hydrogen peroxide. We already know at this point that hydrogen peroxide is irritating to your skin, but there is also another factor in why this is such a bad idea.
Skincare products are formulated, whether they are professional grade or over the counter, to have a timed release on the effectiveness of their ingredients and their products.
For example, when you put a clay mask on your face, the directions will say to leave it on your skin for 10-15 minutes. Once that time has passed, the effectiveness of the mask stops. Hydrogen peroxide does not have an end time for its effect on your skin.
What Happens if You Leave Hydrogen Peroxide on Too Long?
Even if you dilute hydrogen peroxide, you are still at risk of having bad side effects happening to your skin. Leaving hydrogen peroxide on your skin can cause whitening, bleaching, mild irritation, corrosion, severe burns, blisters, and permanent scarring. Not to mention, if this gets in your eyes, you could go permanently blind!! Please do not misuse hydrogen peroxide in this way!
What Skincare Product Should You Use Instead?
In this blog post, I would recommend using the Bright Side serum from Free +True. There are other great examples, but this is a product I would like to share with you. This is a potent Vitamin C serum that has been formulated with two clinically proven, stable, non-irritating Vitamin C, niacinamide, and botanical ingredient synergies.
It’s great for:
- Uneven skin tone
- Sunspots
- Acne scars
- Discoloration
- People with sensitive skin
How is the Bright Side Serum a Better Alternative to the Unique Ingredient, Hydrogen Peroxide?
Niacinamide helps to regulate sebum production, reduce the appearance of redness and inflammation. This is great because acne is a skin condition that causes a lot of inflammation in the areas where it shows up. This is also a great serum for those in their 30s who struggle with acne, pigmentation etc. while also wanting to add an anti-aging product to your routine.
Free + True was founded by Tami Blake, a licensed esthetician, certified cosmetics formulator, and eco-warrior. Her products are formulated in California using locally grown botanicals and boosted with high-tech, clean ingredients. If that wasn’t great enough, every product she formulates is tested and approved by her team of dedicated estheticians.
If you would like to read more on hydrogen peroxide, I have a blog post on honey and hydrogen peroxide. You can read it here.
Key ingredients
10% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is an oil-soluble form of Vitamin C that helps to penetrate the skin all the way into the dermis. This is great for those who are trying to reverse sun damage. The damage from the sun is very deep in your skin.
3% Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate is another form of Vitamin C that focuses on brightening your skin.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide helps with regulating sebum in your skin. This helps to lessen the amount of breakouts on your skin. It also helps with inflammation and rosacea. Acne and Rosacea are both skin conditions that cause inflammation in the skin, so this is a great ingredient for treating that. It also increases ceramides in the skin in the form of Vitamin B3 which helps retain moisture in the skin.
Bearberry
Bearberry helps with dark spots, discoloration, and age spots. It does this by stopping the production of melanin in your skin. It also helps with acne scarring, melisma, and helps to overall brighten your skin.
Amla Extract
Alma Extract comes from Gooseberries, as pictured above. This helps your skin by boosting collagen production and helping to protect your skin from further UV damage from the sun. It also helps with skin elasticity, hydration and helps fight wrinkles.
Mulberry Extract
Mulberry Extract helps with discoloration in your skin. It also helps with acne scars, sun damage and is anti-aging. It also has a lot of great benefits as a berry to eat!
Purple Corn Extract
Purple Corn Extract is not only a unique ingredient to put into skincare, but it also has a lot of great benefits for your skin. It is antioxidant-rich in anthocyanins (these help fight against UV damage), anti-inflammatory, and helps to support skin elasticity.
Witchy Tip
I have heard of some witches using hydrogen peroxide to rust nails for spells. Nails, themselves are not always necessary for the spell, but they serve their purpose symbolically. They can be used to cement or “nail down” your manifestations.
In witchcraft, you need three things: Words, Ways, and Will. Words are the spell, ways are the ingredients you use, and will is your inner most desire to see this into fruition. Why not just use manifestation? We need constant reminders of our power, of our connection to nature, of our desire, of our will. You are the creator of your own reality.
A better alternative to the unique ingredient, hydrogen peroxide is white vinegar. Its pH is very acidic and should be able to rust your nails for you. The cool thing is that it should only take a couple of minutes to your nails, but if you want them “extra rusty” you can always leave your nails in vinegar overnight is a closed container. Please make sure you are taking safety precautions while working with rust or any chemicals.
My Final Thoughts
A better alternative to the unique ingredient, Hydrogen Peroxide would be a vitamin c serum or product. Not only is this a much better option than using hydrogen peroxide on your face, but the Bright Side serum is a multitasking product that will save you money! The ingredients are great for those who are working on acne, acne scars, pigmentation, sun damage, rosacea, and anti-aging. With any kind of damage to your skin, it will take time to reverse it. Please make sure you are wearing sunblock to protect any progress you have made in your skincare journey. I know it can be frustrating, but it’s so worth it.
If you would like to try Bright Side from Free + True, you can click/tap my affiliate link here on the Paris Laundry website! If they are sold out, you can also find Free + True on the Laurel & Reed website here. I make a small commission when you make a purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Have you tried hydrogen peroxide on your face before? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments.
The images in this blog post belong to Canva and Free + True and have been used with permission by those sources.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed on this site are the author’s own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a doctor, dermatologist or suitable professional should you have any such concerns.
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