Banana Botox: the zero-cost treatment that they say takes 10 years under scrutiny

Botox, syringes and a big bill at the dermatologist? No thank you. To have smooth and relaxed skin it would be enough reach into the refrigerator, or rather, into the waste binrecover the package containing theonly fruit of loveand rub it on your face.

The only sustainable and zero-cost Botox

This is what the influencers of Tik Tok, the social platform on which the hashtag #bananabotox and #bananapeel they are depopulating.

Could it be the most sustainable and economical beauty breakthrough in history, or yet another useless, if not downright harmful, social stunt? We asked the expert.

Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber's make-up artist does banana botox

But first let's see how the alleged Botox version is done natures: to show it is Katie Jane Hughes, celebrity make-up artistsupporter of the bizarre practice.

Among his regular customers, Dua Lipa And Hailey Bieber: that the make-up artist also passed it on to them banana fever?

100% natural Botox: but does it work?

Very simple in short: just rub the inside of the banana peel on your face for a few minutes for an immediate lifting, hydrating and nourishing effect. And to remove a few more years from the middle, it would be sufficient to leave the residues on as a face mask.

Thanks, again according to the Tik Tok creators, to the roughness of the peel – avoid AHA and BHA exfoliants – and to the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that the perhaps precious and certainly slimy casing contains.

You can then do what you want with the fruit, eat it immediately or use it in one of these fantastic recipes. The important thing is not to throw it away…

When food and cosmetics are confused on Tik Tok

Certainly, this is not the first nor the last natural beauty hack, and of dubious effectiveness, born on Tik Tok: from freckles with broccoli, to the lifting effect linseed mask, to rosemary water for hair – nothing but perfumery, to be beautiful you just need to go… to the greengrocer.

Jokes aside, these trends are not without danger.

Using foods directly on skin and hair is risky

First of all, using food products as if they were cosmetics is risky in itself.

As he explains to us Federica Osti, Dermatologist and professor of Cosmetological Dermatology at the University of Ferrara: «Foods as we eat them in their entirety are not tested for direct use on the skin. There are various botanical extracts such as almond oil, avocado oil and others, which are cosmetic ingredients but are extracted and treated, verified and tested for topical use.”

If this rule applies to all foods, banana peel poses additional risks.

Banana peel, pesticides and dermatitis

As discovered by a 2002 study conducted by the Occupational Dermatology Social Security Bureau of Panamapesticides used in agriculture can remain on the banana peel and cause Atopic dermatitis whoever touches them.

Furthermore, Dr. Osti always explains, «Although rare, there is also an allergy to banana which can manifest itself with hives».

Just because something is rich in nutrients doesn't mean they can penetrate the skin

And for those who really don't want to give up trying banana botox, perhaps using an organic fruit, Dr. Osti replies: «The fact that beneficial substances are contained in the banana peel does not mean that by rubbing it on the face these substances penetrate our skin, which is a sort of barrier so it is not easy to let substances “enter”. This is why before putting topical drugs or topical medical devices on the market it is necessary to carry out efficacy tests and cosmetic companies carry out studies to show an objective improvement in the skin after prolonged use of the product.”

Bad news then: alas, no-cost Botox has yet to be invented.