Although the majority of beauty addicts may stick to a reliable concealer to disguise the evidence of a late night out, a new YouTube tutorial suggests that baking soda may be an at-home alternative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B4YXQPz8Mg

In the four minute long video, a YouTube beauty vlogger named Darshika Patel mixes one to two teaspoons of baking soda (which is officially known as sodium bicarbonate) with water. The vlogger then advises her audience to carefully smear the formula on the undereye area, and to leave the baking soda in place for five to ten minutes. Next, she uses wipes to remove the baking soda formula from her visage.

Patel claims that her homemade remedy is an effective solution for concealing eye bags, and applies this paste to her skin using a spoon. However, the highly alkaline nature of baking soda also means that this kitchen ingredient can irritate and potentially harm the skin.

In an interview with Refinery29, Joshua Zeichner, MD, explained why this beauty solution can leave you with possible skincare woes.

“Baking soda has an alkaline pH, while the skin’s natural pH is slightly acidic, which is necessary for healthy skin-cell functioning. Increasing the pH can lead to irritation and impairment of the skin barrier,” said Zeichner to Refinery29.

Although baking soda may be a convenient and inexpensive fix, an irritated complexion and the thought of skin trouble is certainly not a pretty thought. For beauty addicts who are looking to achieve a flawless, wide-awake glow, it just may be worthwhile to invest in a quality product instead.

Photo: iStock