We've all been trying all sorts of DIYs and hacks while we've been stuck in lockdown because when else are we going to get so much time to pamper ourselves, right? But while you might be willing to give new things a try, you need to be extra careful with ingredients that come into direct contact with your skin because they could turn out to be harmful. And because of the variety of recipes you might be using, you might not even realise you're putting in something dangerous in the recipe. So, if you're planning to make some scrubs at home, here are some harsh ingredients you absolutely must avoid putting in them.

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Salts including powders like baking soda contain jagged and rough edges that could create cuts in your skin if put in scrubs. Just because you can't see these edges through your naked eyes doesn't mean they don't exist. So, don't use anything that contains such a rough texture or it could end up doing a lot more damage to your skin than good.

As much as you might like to believe that sugar can work wonders for your skin, it's actually pretty harmful if you add it to your scrub. Sugar contains sharp and jagged edges which can cause tears in your skin and make it look raw and red. This inflammation might lead to extra melanin production in your skin which in turn can lead to hyperpigmentation.

How many times have you invested in scrubs that contain walnut shell and apricot pits because you think these will work wonders on your skin? Well, turns out these natural ingredients can be really bad for your skin. They happen to be extremely sharp and jagged and so can tear up your skin and make it even more delicate than it was before.

Essential oils might claim to work wonders for your skin but they still mustn't be used on your face. They contain loads of volatile fragrance compounds which can irritate your skin and lead to rashes. So imagine what they'll do if you put them into scrubs that are supposed to exfoliate your skin. You'll end up with a disastrous recipe.

Okay, let's just put it out there. Adding citrus fruits like lemons and limes to your facial scrubs are a huge no-no. They're highly acidic in nature and will end up stripping your skin off of its natural oils and will also lead to inflammation. What's more, it can make your skin even more prone to sun damage and you'll end up with patches on your skin if you use lemon on it.