5 Beauty Treatments You Can Do at Home—And 5 You Should Leave to the Pros

LED Light Treatments

New York dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, says that most LED treatments can be used to help improve the appearance of wrinkles and aged skin, inflammation and acne. “They aren’t as strong as an in-office light treatment, but they are a great adjunctive treatment to anything you might do at your doctor’s office.”

Medical aesthetician Amy Peterson agrees, noting that “one of the top at home treatments with incredible results and minimal effort are LED masks. These masks use specific wavelengths of light to target a wide range of skin concerns. They can be used safely from the comfort of your couch to address issues like acne, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. They also promote a clearer and more youthful complexion. When I recommend the Current Body LED Mask ($380) for my patients, they not only love how easy it is to use but how convenient it is to integrate into their regular skin-care routine at home.”

However, Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD cautions, “You shouldn’t use LED therapy if you have diabetes or certain eye diseases, so it’s best to consult with your board-certified dermatologist before starting a red-light therapy regimen.”

Light At-Home Chemical Peels and Exfoliation

We are huge fans of over-the-counter ultra-light chemical peel products, like Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads ($92), simply because they buff away dead skin and leave the skin looking super healthy and with a natural glow. Montclair, NJ, dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, explains that at home you should only use superficial peels and nothing that’s deep and reserved for use by a professional—even if you can buy it online—because they can lead to infections,
permanent discoloration and even scarring.

“Weekly enzyme peels done to maintain cell turnover and keep the pores clean are fairly safe,” says celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas. Peterson adds, “Exfoliation is a great way to maintain smooth, radiant skin from home. Regular exfoliation, whether physical or chemical, removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores and best of all, enhances the absorption of skin-care products which makes them more effective. It is also one of the best methods to promote cell turnover which helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in addition to hyperpigmentation.”

AHA Treatments

The word acid alone is enough to make some people hesitant to use products that
contain the ingredient. But, truth be told, treating your skin at home with
creams that contain alphahydroxyl acids like glycolic acid is totally fine.
“As long as what you are using is buffered (meaning it’s in cream form), isn’t
stronger than 10 percent and has a pH of 3.0 or higher, you can use it on a
daily basis,” says celebrity aesthetician Nerida Joy. “Anything unbuffered
(liquid and gels) that’s higher than 10 percent and with a low pH should only
be used in treatments performed by an aesthetician or dermatologist because they know how to work with these types of products best.” One to try: SkinCeuticals C AHA ($145).

Hair Glosses

When your color needs a quick refresher and you don’t have the time to make it to the salon, an at-home hair gloss can be your saving grace. Amy Errett, founder of Madison Reed hair color, says that glosses are a quick way to boost color-treated hair, even though you may think of them as only being available at the salon. “Recent innovations bring this salon trick to an at-home treatment to quickly and fearlessly enhance the hair’s tone and refresh color,” she says. Products like Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss ($25) take just 20 minutes to amp up color-treated hair.

Hair Detox

Sometimes, hair needs to be clarified and purified to remove oil, dirt, debris, dead skin and product buildup, all of which can hinder the functionality and manageability of the hair. Celebrity hairstylist Nelson Chan of Nelson J Natural Salon in Beverly Hills, says, “Hair detox treatments that remove mineral and styling product buildup can easily and safely be done at home.” Some to try: Davines Detoxifying Scrub Shampoo ($36), Brocato Peppermint Scrub ($22) and Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt ($54).

Multi-Step Facials

Even though you can exfoliate your skin at home and treat it with masks, Janel Luu, CEO of LeMieux Cosmetics and PurErb skincare, says that you’re better off leaving this one to an expert. “Extractions should be done by a professional instead of individuals picking at their face with their fingers or using extractor instruments that they may not be well-versed in.”

Another reason to trust your facials to an expert: They can professionally analyze your skin in a way that you can’t. New York aesthetician Shellie Goldstein adds that a facialist can make the right product and treatment recommendations. “And, vital facial steps, like deep exfoliation and peels, can burn or scar your skin if you attempt to do it yourself.”

Peterson agrees that it’s best to leave facials to the pros, especially ones that involve extraction. “One thing I continually remind my patients against is trying to pop their pimples or pick at their skin at home. I know it’s tempting, but the risks are not worth it. Improper technique can push bacteria deeper into the skin, leading to more breakouts and potential skin damage. Although it may feel like the right decision at the moment, popping pimples can cause inflammation and disrupt the healing process.”

Anything That’s Injected

Be it Botox Cosmetic, Dysport or Xeomin, a cortisone injection to take down a pimple, lip fillers or anything else that involves a needle, you always—and should only—seek out an expert. If you choose to take a needle to your face for any reason at all, you’re only putting yourself in danger—and on multiple levels. At-home injections consist of non FDA-approved materials that can cause major risks, deformities, infections and even death. There’s no reason to even consider plumping your cheeks yourself or trying DIY Botox.

“I’ve had patients purchase toxins and fillers from the Internet and have then had a cousin or their hairdresser inject them,” says Dr. Downie. “I have seen disasters from this. Toxins and fillers are for dermatologists and plastic surgeons to inject only and are not for the general public to use as at-home treatments ever.”

Microneedling

Microneedling is one of the most in-demand treatments at the moment. While there are plenty of at-home versions out there, Nashville dermatologist Michael Gold, MD, says that there are so many microneedling rollers that are sold on the Internet, which can cause problems. “If you get something from a source that’s not reliable, you risk having unsharp needles, the potential for sterility issues and a host of other concerns. Microneedling pens shouldn’t be bought on the Internet for the same reason.” Make sure you see a dermatologist or plastic surgeon for these treatments who is well-versed in the procedure and understands how to properly operate the device.

New York dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf, MD reiterates the importance of not microneedling at home, explaining that, “Microneedling by definition breaks the skin surface and are exposed to human body fluids. In a physician’s office, the sharp tips of a microneedling device are handled according to universal precautions—since you don’t know the status of every patient, you must treat all human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious. Even the most superficially penetrating needles can pick up and transmit human cells and fluids.”

Popping a Pimple

No matter how hard it may be to resist popping a pimple at home, you shouldn’t do it no matter what. Dr. Shah explains that when you do, the pimple can become worse rather than better. “You forcefully push the contents of the acne bump out, which can also be damaging to the skin as it is basically tearing it while increasing inflammation. Your dermatologist can safely and gently perform an extraction to remove the contents. Or, you can get a steroid injection to reduce redness, inflammation and makes the bump smaller.” Instead, opt for pimple patches, like Neutrogena’s Stubborn Acne Blemish Patches ($8).

Major Hair Color Changes

Achieving gorgeous color is tricky, which is why anything that’s complicated, like balayage, ombré and even highlights, should be done by someone who really knows what they are doing. Nicole Tresch, colorist at Rita Hazan salon in New York, says bleach is one thing you shouldn’t do yourself. “You want to have a colorist do your foils. If not, you can have bleed marks and a stripey look, as well as breakage. Also, drastic color changes should only be done at the salon.”