Beauty Products You Shouldn't Use Too Much Of
If You Overuse These Beauty Products, It Could Actually Be Hazardous to Your Health
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When it comes to our favorite products, it can be easy to OD (hello, dry shampoo!), but can there ever be such a thing as too much when it comes to your favorite beauty formulas? According to experts, the answer is a big scary "yes!"
The pros we spoke to caution that some of our most beloved cosmetic, hair, and skin saviors actually have the potential to do more harm than good, with results ranging from hair loss to serious skin conditions.
Before you reach for your favorite lip balm or primer (there's also a reason we mentioned dry shampoo!), read on to see whether you're using anything on their "less is more" lists and to figure out exactly how much and how often you should be tapping them in order to reap the benefits without the havoc.
1 Gradual Tanning Lotions
"While not strong, the tanning ingredients in many of these lotions (DHA and erythrulose) are unpredictable. The color comes from a stain created by an enzymatic reaction to oxygen. If you apply the lotion daily, there isn't enough lead time before you stray into Oompa Loompa territory, so skip at least one day in between." — Ashleigh Ciucci
2 Primers
"Most primers are silicone-based and the silicone lays on top of your skin. It helps smooth over pores but can also trap sweat and oils in them, causing breakouts. Save them for special events or when you feel like your skin texture needs a bit of help. In addition, make sure that you use a great cleanser that will really help to dissolve the silicone (I like a double wash of a pore-refining cleaner like Biore Soda Liquid Cleanser)." — Allan Avendaño
3 Retinols
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"Retinols come in different formulas, and everywhere on the market you can find a company advertising for this skin care 'favorite.' However, if not advised by a board-certified dermatologist, retinols can be too strong for certain skin types and cause a reaction, such as burning or peeling. It's common for a person to flake or have dry skin when they first start a retinol. For new retinol users, I advise using a 0.5 retinol and applying only once or twice a week. Always consult with a board-certified dermatologist on which retinol may be appropriate for your skin." — Dr. Kim Nichols, Avon consulting dermatologist
4 Clarifying Shampoo
"I like using clarifying shampoo to detox and clear off all buildup and minerals that may dull hair's color or natural luster (my personal go-to is Kenra Clarifying Shampoo because it has chelating agents to remove almost all buildup in one shot). However, no matter what clarifying shampoo you choose, using a major cleanser too often can start to remove too many of the natural sebum your hair and scalp need to stay healthy. Without the sebum, your hair can start to get excessively dry and cause breakage. I recommend reserving it for twice a month — maybe once a week if absolutely needed, but no more than that." — Derek Yuen
5 Cleansing Brushes
"People love these facial brushes (such as Clarisonic) because they feel like they are getting their faces extra clean. That said, the soft brushes can actually be pretty rough on skin and may cause acne, dry skin, and even inflamed medical conditions and symptoms such as psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema. They are fine to use a few days a week, especially on nights when you've gone out and worn more makeup than usual, but don't use them every day." — Dr. Kim Nichols, Avon consulting dermatologist
6 Magnifying Mirrors
"While not technically a product, overuse of magnifying mirrors can definitely result in bad habits. Not only do they make you obsessive about every single flaw, but they promote overtweezing of the brows as well as picking and popping of blemishes. Stick to checking your brows for strays every three days and never, ever focus in on a zit!" — Ashleigh Ciucci
7 Petroleum Jelly
"Petroleum jelly is soothing to areas that have been irritated or chapped, but it doesn't actually absorb into the skin. It creates a barrier that keeps moisture locked in but also prevents additional moisture or air from penetrating. This can actually cause you to be drier in the end. Rely on it only in cases of extreme irritation and look into other remedies (such as coconut oil) for everyday moisture." — Allan Avendaño
8 Self-Tanner
"Self-tanner is awesome for times you want to bump up your color in a flash. However, you want to make sure you apply it sparingly, especially when it comes to hands and feet, because these areas tend to be drier than most parts of our body and they really soak up the tanner. Prevent the hands and feet from looking orange or too dark by using a little lotion on them prior, and pay close attention to heels and ankles and bends of the wrist. You'll also want to apply self-tanner on hands and feet last (when you don't have a lot of the solution on your mitt)." Bonus Tip: "Stick to applying self-tanner in general to once a week. If you do so more than that, your skin could start peeling." — Chasidy McDowell
9 Restorative Hair Masks
"These are great for rejuvenating and replenishing dry or damaged hair — my favorite is Bumble and Bumble Quenching Masque ($38). After you've clarified your hair, apply the masque and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing out. You'll notice immediately how rehydrated and soft your strands feel. Just be cautious, as using a mask more than once a week can start to leave your hair flat, weighed down, and harder to style." — Derek Yuen
10 Medicated Lip Ointments
"Medicated lip products work great if your lips are dry and chapped and you need a quick fix, but there's danger in becoming overreliant. After your lips have healed, your lips will become addicted to the medicated formula and will then start to depend on the lip conditioner to stay moisturized. I suggest using them only until healed and then switching to a different, nonmedicated lip conditioner to stay moisturized." — Joy Fennell
11 Liquid Longwear Matte Lipstick
"The pigment and staying power of the new liquid matte lipsticks are truly out of this world, but the same ingredients that make them stay put for what seems like forever are also drying out your pout and can put wear and tear on those lips! Remove the formulas with coconut oil for some extra TLC, and give lips a break every other day by going natural or opting for a tinted lip balm — I like the ones from Burt's Bees ($5)!" — Molly Greenwald
12 Bleach
"Clients don't usually realize that the pores on our scalp need to be treated as gently as the pores on our face. Bleach is a heavy chemical that can enlarge a scalp and pore size, causing your natural, beautiful hair to dehydrate and, unfortunately, even fall out. I recommend my clients opt for hair glazes rather than full bleach. Offering a brightening serum more frequently, rather than overly bleaching hair, may result in more visits to the salon but also greatly reduces your chances of accidental, salon-induced hair loss." — Dr. Kim Nichols, Avon consulting dermatologist
13 Conditioner
"A lot of people slather on conditioner in a rush, apply it root to tip, and rinse it out quickly. Conditioner can make hair heavy, oily, and dull. If not rinsed out properly, it will leave a product buildup behind. Keep a scrunchie in the shower and tie your hair in a low ponytail, then only condition the ponytail. This will keep it from hitting the roots (and getting oily!), while keeping hair shiny and manageable. Rinse your hair for at least one whole minute to avoid buildup." — Christian Wood
14 Eyelash Extensions
"Eyelash extensions look great for a big event, such as a wedding, but eyelash extensions (even if advertised as 'organic') have to be glued on to your real lashes, and that adhesion will eventually break off your real lashes. Limit use of extensions for special occasions only. You can also opt for one-use fake eyelashes for a dramatic evening." — Dr. Kim Nichols, Avon consulting dermatologist
15 Dry Shampoo
"Overusing dry shampoo ultimately causes buildup, making it more difficult to completely clean your scalp and hair when you get around to using regular shampoo. The more buildup you have, the less oxygen your scalp gets and it begins to suffocate, causing hair follicles to slowly dwindle. Eventually, the hair follicles could shut down and stop growing hair. Apply dry shampoo lightly when needed (ideally no more than once a week) and make sure to fully cleanse any buildup every time you shampoo — I love this Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo ($44) for a deep clean." — Taylor Brock
16 Scrubs
"Scrubs are often formulated with bead-like exfoliators inside them. These beads can be harmful, stripping away good, healthy collagen and exposing deeper layers of skin to be vulnerable to bacteria-causing acne, sun damage, or even scratches that result it spot-like bleeding or worse: scarring. Stick to using them only a few days a week or, even better, see a licensed medical esthetician or board-certified dermatologist for an exfoliation facial or chemical peel on your face or body." — Dr. Kim Nichols, Avon consulting dermatologist
