Do's and don'ts for DIY skin care

By Ann Hoevel, CNN

Updated 1552 GMT (2352 HKT) April 25, 2013

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Think twice before you follow just any DIY skin care method. Dermatologist Dr. Doris Day explained how some ingredients can help -- or hurt. For starters: Honey is an ancient treatment for wounds because it has antiseptic properties and creates a breathable, skin-like barrier. It is often used in recipes for acne treatment, reducing eye puffiness, exfoliating scrubs and eczema.

Photos: DIY beauty from your pantry

DIY beauty from your pantry – Think twice before you follow just any DIY skin care method. Dermatologist Dr. Doris Day explained how some ingredients can help -- or hurt. For starters: Honey is an ancient treatment for wounds because it has antiseptic properties and creates a breathable, skin-like barrier. It is often used in recipes for acne treatment, reducing eye puffiness, exfoliating scrubs and eczema.

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Vinegar is an effective deodorizer which kills yeast and bacteria that lead to body odor. But it has a pungent smell of its own. It's best used in solutions that include essential oils to mask the salad smell.

Photos: DIY beauty from your pantry

DIY beauty from your pantry – Vinegar is an effective deodorizer which kills yeast and bacteria that lead to body odor. But it has a pungent smell of its own. It's best used in solutions that include essential oils to mask the salad smell.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Aloe has anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties, so it's great for the pain associated with burns and poison ivy.

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Olive oil and coconut oil are effective hydrators. They're good for treating irritated skin because they are so gentle on their own, they are often used as a binder for sugar or salt scrubs.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Olive oil and coconut oil are effective hydrators. They're good for treating irritated skin because they are so gentle on their own, they are often used as a binder for sugar or salt scrubs.

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Salt and sugar are effective exfoliants and often the base of home scrub recipes. Baking soda works as a fine-grained exfoliant, and might have antiseptic and brightening qualities.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Salt and sugar are effective exfoliants and often the base of home scrub recipes. Baking soda works as a fine-grained exfoliant, and might have antiseptic and brightening qualities.

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Tea can deliver antioxidants and caffeine to the skin better than, say, crushed blueberries. White tea has the highest levels of both.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Tea can deliver antioxidants and caffeine to the skin better than, say, crushed blueberries. White tea has the highest levels of both.

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Recipes including papaya and kiwi fruit will exfoliate skin without over-drying it. While papaya is a little safer on the skin, both make skin cells less sticky.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Recipes including papaya and kiwi fruit will exfoliate skin without over-drying it. While papaya is a little safer on the skin, both make skin cells less sticky.

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The best dairy to use in any DIY beauty treatment is yogurt. Yogurt delivers enough lactic acid to treat skin, and is used in anti-aging recipes and keratosis pilaris treatments.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – The best dairy to use in any DIY beauty treatment is yogurt. Yogurt delivers enough lactic acid to treat skin, and is used in anti-aging recipes and keratosis pilaris treatments.

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Bananas have no effect on the skin, but it's a useful tool to ease the spread of helpful ingredients like honey, olive oil or aloe on your face.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Bananas have no effect on the skin, but it's a useful tool to ease the spread of helpful ingredients like honey, olive oil or aloe on your face.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Egg whites can have a temporary tightening effect on the skin, but using raw eggs can present a risk of salmonella.

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DIY beauty from your pantry – Spices can irritate and dye skin, but they have some healthful properties when they're ingested with food.

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