When it comes to DIY solutions for skin woes such as acne-prone skin, there’s a plethora of information on the internet–from applying fresh aloe vera gel to vitamin E tablets to even applying lemon juice on your face (no, please don’t do that!). One of the most popular suggestions is applying apple cider vinegar on your face. But, does it actually do anything for our skin?
Can we apply apple cider vinegar on our face or is it one of those myths that need to be busted ASAP?!
We got in touch with Paula Begoun aka The Cosmetics Cop and fabulous founder of Paula’s Choice Skincare, who was kind enough to share her expert insight on whether we can apply this sour-tasting liquid on our faces! Caution: Her views will most definitely surprise you!
Apple Cider Vinegar: Can We Or Can We NOT Apply This On Our Face?
Apple cider vinegar is a popular vinegar type that’s made from fermented apple juice. Traditionally, it is used in salad dressings, chutneys, to add flavour to steaks and so on. It is also a common ingredient of choice in several face packs, face washes, and even shampoos.
But the question of the hour is, can we apply it on our face? Let’s read what Paula Begoun has to say!
“Do NOT apply apple cider vinegar to the skin as it provides no benefit, smells bad, and ends up being a skin irritant. There is no research showing apple cider vinegar is helpful for skin, especially not in comparison to other proven ingredients for acne breakouts or other skincare needs. It has no skin restoring properties and cannot protect from sun damage or pollution damage which skin needs desperately needs. Because apple cider vinegar ends up being a skin irritant more than anything else, it is bad for skin”, Paula says.
Well, this is an eye-opener! For years most of us believed (and probably applied) apple cider vinegar on our faces thinking that it might help us get the skin we always desired. Paula also adds that the purported benefits of apple cider vinegar are misleading, and there’s no proven research to prove otherwise. Since the entire process of making it involves fermentation, we should be cautious as fermentation produces acetic acid that can cause skin irritation, but may help a few people because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Paula also debunks another myth apple cider vinegar– that it helps maintain the pH levels of our skin. She says, “There is also talk about apple cider vinegar balancing the pH of the skin, but that’s an inherently flawed notion as apple cider vinegar has a pH of around 2 while the skin has a pH of around 4.5 to 5.5, which does the opposite of balancing skin’s pH. That much acidity on the skin is problematic and again causes irritation which hurts skin’s ability to heal and damages the skin’s barrier.”
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair
Who knew! Time to toss out all your apple cider vinegar facial products because trust Paula, they are doing nothing (or probably damaging) to your skin.
So, there you have it. Do not apply apple cider vinegar to your face as there are a plethora of other skincare or DIY options to explore!
Share this with someone who loves using ACV on their face!
Featured Image: Paula’s Choice Skincare/Pexels.com