Let’s face it—beauty trends haven’t always been, well, beautiful. Back in the day, people would try just about anything in the name of looking good, but some of these quirky beauty hacks are downright horrifying by today’s standards. What was once considered cutting-edge could now do some serious damage. Here are 13 beauty hacks from the past that would absolutely ruin someone’s face today. Proceed with caution!
1. Lemon Juice as a Skin Lightener
Rubbing lemon juice on your face for a “natural” glow sounds innocent, but the acidity in lemons can irritate the skin, causing burns, discoloration, and long-term damage. Also, mixing lemon and sunlight? Say hello to painful chemical burns!
2. Egg Whites for a Face Mask
Sure, eggs are great for breakfast, but slathering raw egg whites on your face to tighten your skin? Bad idea. Aside from smelling awful, raw eggs can carry salmonella, which is definitely not something you want near your face (or in your pores).
3. Rubbing Alcohol as a Toner
Back in the day, people swore by rubbing alcohol to zap oil and tighten pores. But in reality, it’s way too harsh. Using this on your face strips away all the good oils, leaving skin irritated, dry, and prone to breakouts. It’s a recipe for disaster.
4. Vaseline as a Moisturizer
Coating your face with Vaseline was once believed to lock in moisture. While it might give temporary softness, it also traps dirt and oil, clogging pores and causing breakouts. Not exactly the flawless look you’re going for!
5. DIY Toothpaste Acne Treatment
Ah, the old toothpaste trick to dry out a pimple overnight. In reality, the harsh ingredients in toothpaste can irritate and even burn your skin, leaving behind scars. Your teeth and face don’t need to share the same products.
6. Baby Powder as Setting Powder
Before translucent setting powders were a thing, people used baby powder to “mattify” their faces. The problem? Baby powder is often talc-based, and talc can clog pores and cause breakouts. Plus, you risk inhaling it, which is a whole other health concern.
7. Bleach for Freckles
Believe it or not, people used to apply diluted bleach to their faces to fade freckles. Not only is this a terrible idea for your skin’s health, but it can cause burns, peeling, and permanent discoloration. Freckles are beautiful—don’t bleach them away!
8. Raw Meat Face Mask
Yes, you read that right. In the past, some people believed laying raw meat on your face would help tighten skin and fight wrinkles. Aside from being super gross, this hack could expose you to bacteria like E. coli, which definitely won’t leave you looking youthful!
9. Honey and Cinnamon Acne Mask
While this might sound sweet, using raw honey and cinnamon to zap acne can backfire. Cinnamon is a strong irritant that can cause redness and burning, and combining it with honey can lead to allergic reactions. Sticky and painful? No thanks.
10. Mayonnaise Hair Mask
Sure, mayo is great for sandwiches, but putting it on your face as a moisturizing mask? Not so much. The oil and fats in mayo can clog your pores and leave your skin greasy. Plus, the smell—yikes!
11. Mercury-Based Creams
Once upon a time, mercury was a common ingredient in skin creams, especially for lightening skin or removing blemishes. Today, we know mercury is highly toxic and can lead to serious health issues, including skin discoloration, scarring, and neurological problems. A face-ruining hack if there ever was one.
12. Burning Your Eyelashes for a Curl
In the early 20th century, some women would burn the ends of their lashes to get them to curl up. Aside from being extremely dangerous, this hack could leave you lashless and with burns around your eyes. Eyelash curlers were invented for a reason, people.
13. Butter as a Sunblock
Back in the day, some people believed slathering butter on their skin would protect them from the sun. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t. Not only does butter offer zero SPF protection, but it also basically fries your skin in the sun, leading to burns, premature aging, and even skin cancer.
It’s wild to think that people actually tried these beauty hacks and thought they’d work! While some may seem harmless or quirky, most would do more harm than good. Let’s just be thankful for modern skincare and leave these face-ruining hacks in the past where they belong!
