What Our Aunties Got Right (and Wrong) About Skincare

For many of us, our first lessons in skincare didn’t come from estheticians or YouTube tutorials—they came from the aunties. Traditional remedies and recipes passed down through generations.

Some like the Cleopatra goat milk bath, rich in lactic acid and natural alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) gently exfoliates the skin were effective.

Others on the other hand, may be ineffective or even harmful for example the Central American practice of applying raw egg whites as a face mask may increase risk of bacterial contamination and some African shea butter preparations might be too heavy for acne-prone skin. 

Let’s take a look at what they got right and wrong:

What They Got Right

Sun Protection

While they may not have been layering on SPF 50 religiously, many aunties intuitively avoided harsh sun.

They also used wide brimmed hats or umbrellas during hot sunny days to avoid the harsh effects of the sun. 

The Diet-Skin Connection

You’d often hear, “You’re breaking out? Stop eating fried stuff!” 

The connection between what we eat and our skin's appearance is scientifically proven. Diet plays a role in inflammation and hormonal balance, which affects the skin.  Aunties also pushed water, fruits, and vegetables

The Power of Natural Oils

From coconut to castor, almond to mustard, our aunties trusted oils long before science caught up.

Honey has antimicrobial properties, turmeric reduces inflammation, and aloe soothes burns. Science has improved this concept by coming up with stable formulations for targeted treatments for more effectiveness

Less Is More

Aunties weren't using 12 step routines. Their routines were simple: cleanse, moisturize, maybe a home remedy or two. This minimalist approach helped avoid over-exfoliation, product layering errors, and irritation—a trap many fall into today.

What They Got Wrong

Harsh physical exfoliation

Our aunties believed harsh scrubs produced better results. Rough scrubs made of sugar, salt, or nutshells can create micro-tears in the skin. While the intention was good, modern dermatology now leans toward gentler, smarter options.

Chemical exfoliants like AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) work beneath the surface, breaking down dead skin cells without scratching the skin.

Popping Pimples

“Just pop it and get it over with!” was popular advice whenever we had breakouts. When you squeeze a pimple, you're not just pushing out the gunk. You're also pushing bacteria, oil, and debris deeper into the skin, which can cause more inflammation and even infection.

This leads to pimples that last longer, hurts more, and is more likely to leave a scar or dark mark behind.

One-Size-Fits-All Advice

Aunties often passed down the same advice to everyone—without accounting for skin types, conditions, or sensitivities. What worked for one person might not work for another, and sometimes the “miracle remedy” could backfire.

Questionable home remedies

Some of the most popular DIY hacks actually do more harm than good. Lemon juice directly on skin is too acidic and can disrupt the skin barrier. Toothpaste as a spot treatment contains ingredients like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, menthol, or alcohol, all of which can dry out and irritate the skin. 

Skipping Sunscreen

Aunties believed that darker skin tones were naturally protected from sun damage. While it’s true that melanin offers some protection, it’s not enough to block harmful UVA and UVB rays. Everyone—regardless of skin tone—benefits from daily sun protection.

Fairness Creams

The biggest challenge was lighter skin was equated to beauty often influenced by colorist messaging in media and advertising. Fairness creams, packed with bleach or harmful chemicals, were unfortunately common. Thankfully, the narrative is shifting today toward healthy, glowing skin—whatever your tone.