Do-it-yourself (DIY) beauty tutorials flood our Facebook pages and Instagram feeds. YouTube is the same story. Before you try the latest craze - charcoal masks - know they could be doing more harm then good.
"Exfoliation is important and I don't want to exclude the fact that charcoal is an amazing ingredient," said Shannon Melidis, an esthetician at FACE Nashville.
She's seen these videos and has one pro-tip.
"My initial gut reaction is, don't try this at home, of course. Go to a professional," she said.
For starters, she said it's impossible to know what ingredients are hiding in do-it-yourself home-kits.
"A lot of those masks have glue in them and that's ripping off your primary layer of skin," she said.
Losing layers of skin can lead to scarring, even infection.
"Essentially what's happening with those charcoal masks is you're stripping your skin of essential nutrients that your skin needs, oils. And you're pulling out hairs that are protecting your skin," she said.
Melidis said it's not a one-size fits-all market. Everyone's skin is different and self-diagnosis can lead you down the wrong road.
"The whole goal of our business is to protect your barrier function. And I think the primary thing that those masks are doing is destroying that barrier function."
She said these online channels will continue to tempt us with skin-care remedies and it's our job to be skeptical consumers.
"I can say that I think 'magnet masks' are going be the next trend. You can already see that happening," she said.
