However, there are some ventures that experts say you shouldn’t do yourself (find all of them here). One that particularly garners a groan: DIY pore strips. You may have seen them peppered among newsfeeds, before-and-after photos and all, but experts say you probably should hold off on this one. Nonetheless, we realize pore strips can temporarily remove the surface layer of blackheads, a short-term relief for those pesky plugs, which is why some people have taken matters into their own hands (especially now, when it’s a touch more difficult to take a trip to the drugstore as soon as you notice a cluster of blackheads) to create their own adhesive strips. From a simple Google search, things like xanthan gum, gelatin, even glue (shudder) have been touted as effective pore strips. But according to Marisa Plescia, research scientist at clean beauty e-tailer NakedPoppy, these common DIY ingredients can do way more harm than good. “They can be quite irritating, and they are not great for the skin, bordering on unsafe,” she says. Why? They can contain harsh ingredients (especially that tub of paste), which can cause an irritating reaction when applied to the skin. Plus, these agents might harden too much, ripping the delicate skin if you pull too harshly. Same goes for honey: You might have seen people simmering some sugar, lemon, and honey, then slathering it on and letting it harden for a bit before peeling (similar to how a sugaring paste works). While honey is a great exfoliating ingredient, it might not effectively remove the top layer of dead skin as you’d hope. And again, you never know if peeling off the impromptu pore strip is too harsh on the delicate skin. You’d be much better off applying a honey face mask, letting the gentle chemical exfoliant do its job under the skin’s surface.
