DIY Skin Care at Home or Buy Existing Skin Care Products on The Market
We all know that there are many industries that survive because of their profit margin, even if it seems excessive to consumers. It is not uncommon for someone to pay for a meal at a fancy upscale restaurant, only to think to themselves, “I could have made this at home for x amount of dollars,” or purchase a brand name clothing product only to regret it later, after realizing that it is now out of style and isn’t as sentimental or meaningful to you as other clothes that have more of a context in your life somehow.
Well, the same applies to skin care. Of course, there are a couple of key differences. First of all, while many people believe that home remedies are the answer to their skin problems, there is one aspect that must be considered: safety.
The truth is that products on the market have been tested and are (for the most part) safe, while experimenting at your home might end up exacerbating the problem even more. This could end up causing the kind of damage that isn’t easily reversed – however, for those who have the time, energy, and/or passion to research on their own, it might prove worth it.
However, if we are to look at the problem from the opposite perspective, there is certainly an argument to be made for the DIY method. At the end of the day, many of these products are a series of ingredients that can be replicated. It isn’t as if these products are made from exotic ingredients that cannot be secured or found. There are certain people who have actually ended up emulating the products on the market by finding the right ingredients. In fact, often times – this is how the skin care industry is disrupted.
We all know that there are amazing food brands that once started with an idea, whether it’s a baker who found a way to franchise bakeries off of their pastries or a world-class chef who started from a modest kitchen. Who’s to say that one cannot whip up the right skin care products through experimentation, and end up creating a superior product?
It is important to take into consideration your own schedule.
For example, a single mother with a new family and a career may not find the time to start whipping up their own creations, considering the list of priorities that any given day may consist of.
There are people who may like the idea of mixing ingredients, and waiting for bases to dissolve – but similarly to making pasta from scratch – it might only be the kind of experience that one wants to try once, before realizing that it might be too much effort. However, maybe there’s a compromise – you may not have the time to do EVERYTHING yourself, but what if a DIY kit is the kind of motivation that helped you customize your own skin care while not feeling overwhelmed?
You don’t need to be a world-class chemist, but you have to have some knowledge of the materials that you will be working with. If you don’t understand acidity, how will you know which ingredients will burn your skin, and at what percentage? No amount of money saved is ever worth damaged or burned skin, and this is the kind of risks that one takes when they decide to DIY without the proper knowledge.
One important thing to remember is that you might not even be copying the right products!
The skin care industry is constantly in the business of making consumers feel as if they are inadequate, and need the new and latest product. They have focus groups and extensive studies to ensure that the customer is constantly interested in purchasing their next product.
However, this does not mean that they have the best product. It is important to think independently, and not try to copy a certain product simply because of a celebrity endorsement, great packaging, or an amazing commercial.
It’s not just about damaged or burned skin – it’s also about bacteria! Bacteria and mold come into play whenever water is involved, so if you are going to go the DIY route, make sure that you are constantly going out of your way to ensure that bacteria is not growing, whether it is refrigeration or throwing out your DIY experiments.
Bacteria and mold isn’t visible to the naked eye – and there is no smell test for it. There might be all sorts of bacteria and mold growing that are only detectable through a microscope – and this risk isn’t worth it if your household is going to be a less safe one for you and your family. The average person who starts getting involved in DIY skin care may not want preservatives, but they must understand that preservatives need to be added in many cases to ensure their health.
It’s important to remember that there are obvious advantages to DIY – but that there is no magic formula!
Many people believe that they will find the product that will be magical and transform their life immediately. The truth is that it takes a while to find the right actives and customize them for your own needs, which is essentially one of the advantages of the DIY method. However, this doesn’t mean that your satisfaction will be guaranteed, or that you won’t have to adjust your ingredients.
If you are naturally interested and passionate, it might be the best method to start small when it comes to DIY. Ambition is great, but it’s important to take baby steps when it comes to understanding your skin, and the laws of nature that are applicable.
There is nothing wrong with personalization and customization. Every consumer wants to feel like a product is truly for them – and the DIY method is a great way to achieve this. However, it’s always important to have a knowledgeable context to start from, before anyone embarks on this journey. It’s also important that they start small, and slowly, until they truly understand exactly what they are doing.
