You’ve just mastered a complicated hairdo for a night out, so you spritz it down with hair spray to keep it in place all night. The next day, up sprout some pimples on your forehead—what gives? As it turns out, there’s actually a correlation between zits and your go-to, keep-your-‘do-fresh product. (Sigh.)

According to a recent article by Glamour UK, hair spray—when it gets on your skin—can lead to breakouts, due to its not-so-complexion-friendly ingredients (believe it or not, the magazine reports that people were using it as a makeup setting spray). “Hairspray has repellants in it that could irritate your skin, leaving it itchy, red, and bumpy,” explains Amanda Von Dem Hagen, the international educator and skin-care expert at Glo Skin Beauty. “It also contains alcohol and lacquers that will dry out your skin, causing it to become dehydrated.” Even if you’re the kind who sprays into the air and then walks through the product, it’s getting on your skin as well as your locks.

This doesn’t help hairspray’s already not-so-good rep for containing aerosols, which aren’t exactly healthy for the environment. Though they may give your style some serious staying power, they’re most definitely not nourishing for your complexion—so it’s best to be careful when spritzing product through your tresses.

Of course, you could always opt for a styling balm or cream instead (so you have more control over where it goes), or skimp on the spray altogether. Or maybe you can apply it while wearing a visor. Whatever you gotta do, ya know?

Speaking of your locks, *this* is how often you should wash your hair in the summer. And if you’re looking for a new ‘do, this is the hot haircut of the moment: the bob.