You know drinking Coca-Cola — or soda in general — isn't great for you, but it turns out, putting it on your skin is even worse. People have been slathering it on themselves for years now, with the belief that it'd help them tan faster. It sounds like the kind of wives'-tale-meets-beauty-hack your weird college roommate swore by — but it turns out there's truth to it. And the results are far more dangerous than you'd think.
Rubbing soda on your skin, like you would tanning oil, can make you think you're getting instant results. That's partially because the soft drink contains a caramel dye that could stain your skin, giving you a slight, faux-bronze glow you'd be better off getting from a bottle of self-tanner. What's worse, though, is how the combination of sunlight and soda can damage your skin, says Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Zeichner told Allure that, because the soda is acidic, "it may exfoliate dead cells, enhancing the ability of UV light penetrate into the skin."
It increases your risk of getting a sunburn, therefore increasing your risk of getting skin cancer.
The bottom line: Stick to a faux glow, courtesy of self tanner, and save the soda for sipping. Or making brisket nachos or Coca-Cola cupcakes.
Follow Delish on Instagram.
