The World Wide Web is a big and fascinating world, equally full of views you never asked for and advice you never realized you needed. Stradling that line? The millions upon hundreds of millions of Google search results for “products to never put on your face.”

As we are dealing with the internet here, opposing perspectives are to be anticipated. One individual swears by a specific exfoliant, while another swears it destroyed their skin. However, practically everyone on the internet appears to agree that these seven items are the ones to avoid.

The reasons why you may wish to remove the following scrubs, tools, and masks from your face care regimen vary – some are excessively harsh, others are useless, and some simply don’t live up to the hype.

But all seven have one very crucial thing in common: They have no business being near your skin.

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1. St. Ives Apricot Scrub

What’s missing from the fine print:

Has there ever been a fall from grace as far and as strong as that of the legendary St. Ives Apricot Scrub? We think not.

The gritty exfoliator was a cult favorite for years back in the day… until customers got onto the fact that it was damaging their skin more than improving it.

In 2016, a complaint was filed against St. Ives and its parent firm, Unilever, alleging that the crushed walnut particles the product depended on for exfoliating actually created microtears in the skin, leading to infection and general discomfort.

(Studies have shown trusted Source that fruit pits, which are structurally similar to walnuts, are too abrasive for fragile face skin — especially when it comes to acne treatments.)

The verdict

Dermatologists agree that crushed walnuts are a skincare no-no, and although the St. Ives case was eventually dropped, the internet still agrees: It’s better to be safe than sorry, no matter how delicious this product smells.

If you still need the freshly polished sensation of a physical exfoliator, search for hydrogenated jojoba beads or mild maize grains instead.

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2. Clarisonic Face Brush

What’s missing from the fine print:

The concerns of over-exfoliating are real, and physicians recommend that at most, you should be exfoliating one to two times per week.

Any more than that might cause serious irritation… which is just what occurred to more than a few former admirers of the Clarisonic Face Brush.

First thing first: The Clarisonic Face Brush is designated a “sonic cleanser” and not an exfoliant. However, because it’s equipped with very stiff bristles that vibrate to wash the skin, some exfoliation is certainly occurring there.

If you break out the Clarisonic morning and night, as many users do for that “deep clean” sensation, it’s conceivable it might contribute to discomfort. In 2012, one YouTube vlogger went so far as to label his Clarisonic experience “6 weeks from hell.”

The verdict

Sonic cleaning gadgets are derm-approved – but not for every skin type. More robust skin may be able to withstand them a couple of times each week, but sensitive, thinner skin will wish to forgo this completely.

Really want a good clean? Try the #60SecondRule.

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3. Face wipes

What’s missing from the fine print:

Face wipes have long been considered the ultimate lazy-girl trick. Magazines love to urge you to keep a pack by the side of your bed for simple makeup removal or place them in the center console of your vehicle for on-the-go emergencies. But sadly, obtaining a proper detox isn’t that simple.

Used every day, makeup removal wipes may actually create friction and even damage the skin. Plus, because they’re dampened, a lot of alcohol and preservatives are necessary to prevent the wipes from molding (gross, but true) – neither of which is helpful for sensitive skin.

On top of that, wet wipes — from face to bum — are thought to be a tremendous pollutant to the world. They’re mostly made from polyester, polypropylene, cotton, rayonTrusted Source, and more, which won’t decompose quickly.

If you’re using a wipe every night (and more), that’s a lot of nonbiodegradable clogging occurring.

The verdict

Even if your specific skin can tolerate the abrasiveness and alcohol content of face wipes, it may be time to ditch this eco-unfriendly habit.

That being said, you should never go to bed with your makeup on, so why not put a bottle of micellar water and a reusable cloth on your bedside for convenient access? The mixture is gentle on your skin and easy on the environment. (Just be sure to follow up with a thorough cleansing in the morning.)

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4. Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser

What’s missing from the fine print:

This may be the most contentious inclusion to the list, considering Cetaphil cleanser is routinely recognized by doctors as a must-have for sensitive skin. But a further glance at the ingredient list — and the internet’s complaints — indicates differently.

There are just eight components in Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser (water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben) (water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben).

Three of these are possibly carcinogenic parabens, while other studiesTrusted Sources say that little evidence exists to show parabens are a health threat.

In addition, five of them make the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen List of potential endocrine disruptors. Only one — water — comes with an unproblematic backdrop.

The verdict

If you’re a lover of clean beauty or are generally worried about the chemical content of your cosmetic products, Cetaphil definitely isn’t the cleanser for you.

To achieve a gentle wash without the hazardous chemicals, consider the oil cleansing approach using a pure, natural oil (such jojoba or olive oil) (like jojoba or olive oil).

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5. Bioré Pore Strips

What’s missing from the fine print:

Bioré Pore Strips, previously a popular blackhead-removing treatment, have been called out by skin-savvy internet sleuths and now there’s no going back.

First, let’s differentiate the rumors from the realness: Bioré Pore Strips don’t cause capillaries to burst, as many beauty aficionados assume. They do, however, have the potential to cause ripping (are you detecting a pattern, here?) or further irritate already-compromised skin (think: thin, dry, or acne-prone types) when removed.

This is owing to the tacky, sticky character of the strips, which comes courtesy of Polyquaternium-37: a major chemical in the Bioré product that’s more frequently found in hairspray.

The verdict

While there’s nothing like the ew-inducing and awe-inspiring experience of seeing at all of the “gunk” on a newly removed Bioré strip, your blackheads may be better off with a more conventional (and dermatologist-recommended) therapy.

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6. Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Peel-Off Mask

What’s missing from the fine print:

In 2017, the popularity of peel-off masks consisting of charcoal and real, literal glue (like the Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Peel-Off Mask) was off-the-charts… yet the love, mercifully, was short-lived.

After a YouTuber’s “Charcoal Face Mask Gone Wrong” video went viral, buyers began doubting the safety of those masks, and doctors and aestheticians stepped in to put the record straight.

Even while peel-off charcoal masks may help eliminate dirt and buildup from your pores, they also destroy valuable skin cells and even vellus hair, leaving skin raw and prone for irritation.

Charcoal doesn’t discriminate when it comes to “detoxifying.” In other words, the material destroys both healthy and harmful cells – thus the recommendation to avoid eating charcoal while taking drugs.

The verdict

Experts suggest that one application may not be the worst thing in the world, but the regular usage of any peel-off face mask might result in some unpleasant side effects. Instead, try for a clay mask (which you can easily DIY) to help absorb excess oil.

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7. Glamglow Glittermask Gravitymud Firming Treatment Mask

What’s missing from the fine print:

Chalk this one up to Instagram appeal. Glitter-infused face masks, like the Glamglow Glittermask Gravitymud Firming Treatment Mask, had their 15 minutes of fame a few years ago — but nowadays, it takes more than a little glitter to please skincare fans.

Besides being bad for the environment (glitter is a microplastic, meaning it’s too tiny to be filtered via water treatment facilities and ends up contaminating the water supply), scientists warn glitter particles may be irritating to the skin.

The verdict

Sparkly selfies aside, glitter offers zero aesthetic advantages. Mud, on the other hand, does — so if you’re searching for a cleaning, firming treatment, go no further than Dead Sea mud.

How do Keep your skin protected?

It’s in your skin’s best interest to keep away from abrasive exfoliating tools and substances, like crushed walnuts and glitter; anything with high alcohol, preservatives, or paraben content; and too-sticky products, such as pore strips and peel-off masks.