Does toothpaste really work on zits? We did the research so you don’t have to!
What do annoying exes, your period, and pimples have in common? They all seem to follow the same universal law, “Thou must make an appearance at the most inconvenient times!” We know you know what we’re talking about and while there isn’t much we can do about the exes and your period, we can help with the pimples. Chances are at some point you’ve heard the rumor about toothpaste being some kind of miracle zit remover. Sounds a little too good to be true so we decided to dig deeper. We reached out to the experts and did the research so you wouldn’t have to.
Here’s what we found. When asked if toothpaste really worked on zits, celebrity makeup artist, Loni Jones had this to say:
“It does have ingredients (baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, menthol, and essential oils) that may work as a temporary/quick fix to dry up a pimple. But what’s really happening is irritation. Toothpaste irritates the skin which is what causes that drying effect, in some cases even a bit of redness and peeling — which just makes everything worse.”
Quick, step away from the toothpaste!
VeryWell Magazine says, “If you’re looking for a way to make a monstrous blemish heal quickly, try an acne spot treatment instead. These products contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or sulfur, all of which can help reduce redness and speed healing.”
We’re not sure where the toothpaste rumor originated, but we do know not all home remedies are created equal.
If you’d prefer to use something more organic, Jones, who has done amazing work on America’s Next Top Model and blushing brides everywhere, went on to recommend a few alternative skin care methods:
– Raw Aloe as a mask, fresh from the plant (if available)
– Equal parts apple cider vinegar + distilled water as an astringent
– Any citrus fruit juice can help combat clogged pores. Simply dip a cotton ball and wipe affected areas.
– Cinnamon + honey mask
– Banana and tumeric scrub: mash half banana, add 1/2 tsp tumeric and 1 tbsp sugar.
HOWEVER, know that the above won’t work immediately. But that’s okay because we aren’t looking for quick fixes. We’re looking for long term glowing skin. Jones says, “After a few weeks you’ll see some improvements. And your skin definitely thank you!”
There you have it. Toothpaste is for your teeth, not your skin!
Save yourself the unnecessary hassle and pick up an actual spot treatment at your local drugstore. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid work great to clear acne — and help prevent it. Or play around with the organic methods to see what works best for you and your skin type.
And it NEVER, EVER hurts to check with your dermatologist!
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