Mythbusters: Skin Care Myths and Truths
In this article :
What are popular myths about skin and skin care and what are the facts?
On the journey to achieve perfect skin through skin care tips on the internet, some popular myths have sprung up and taken root as fact. From wives tales to poor advertising techniques to fallacies, we are busting twelve skin care myths today, so you can more effectively care for your beautiful skin.
Our top 12 skin myths debunked by our skincare experts
MYTH 1: Sunscreen is only for summer.
TRUTH: SPF is a critical part of year round skin care! We highly recommend you wear sunscreen every single day regardless of weather or sun coverage. Look for a sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF that block both UVA and UVB rays for optimum sun protection. We recommend an SPF of at least 15 every day (and definitely higher during the sunny months. And don’t forget to get your lips as well. Sun damage is a major contributing factor to dark spots on your décolletage area and can be quite stubborn to get rid of. When applying sunscreen to your face, don’t forget the neck and other areas that will be exposed!
MYTH 2: Certain only foods (and chocolate) make your skin oily.
TRUTH: Oily skin comes from the secretion of sebum created by your skin - there is actually no evidence that specific foods have an effect on oil production.
MYTH 3: Your pores grow and shrink.
TRUTH: Your pores actually stay the same size, however, clogged pores can have the appearance of looking larger. The myth also extends to thinking hot water or steam can open your pores or cold water can “close” them. That’s not to say steam doesn’t have other hydrating benefits, but it’s not going to change the size of your pores during your skin routine.
MYTH 4: Natural ingredients are better for your skin.
TRUTH 5: Beyond the label of “natural” being vague, there has been no substantiated study that synthetic ingredients are subpar in comparison to natural ones. In fact, “all natural products” may grow bacterial or go bad without the use of gentle preservatives. Likewise, when a natural ingredient is altered in the lab, it’s specially formulated to isolate only the beneficial parts of the ingredient with skin care specifically in mind. An untouched natural ingredient could have unintended consequences and not always a positive one.
MYTH 6: Some skincare routines are better than others.
TRUTH: This is partially true, in that some skincare routines are better than others for you. However, there is not one universally perfect skincare routine. You’ll find what your skin specifically needs and perfect a routine made just for your skin concerns. It is important to look at the end results of each product. Many first time buyers think deep anti-aging products that can be more expensive, or “heavy” are the best. If you are simply noticing the first signs of aging, many times there is no need to buy advanced anti-aging products, that can be too rich for younger skin cause breakouts. The key to a good routine is simply sticking to it! Healing and preventing aging is a marathon, not a sprint!
MYTH 7: Products work as advertised, always.
TRUTH: This myth is a disappointing one. We’d love to trust the products we shop for will work as advertised but that is not always the case. When shopping for a product, we recommend checking out the studies done behind the skin care claim. As a beauty technology company, the science behind our skin care is what drives us. We want you to learn about what powers our products, so you know how and why they work. We’d love to see every company take a similar approach!
MYTH 8: You don’t need to use anti-ageing products until you reach a certain age.
TRUTH: Preventing anti-ageing can start at any age (typically over 21). Instead of waiting until you see signs of ageing - it’s more important to address skin concerns as they arise. And while there is no magic bullet anti-ageing product to make you look younger, you can address the effects of ageing on your skin, like losing hydration, skin discoloration, dark spots or dulling, and even fine lines and wrinkles.
MYTH 9: More is more when it comes to exfoliation.
TRUTH: While we love a nice, deep exfoliation, your skin does have its limits. We recommend prioritizing being gentle as to not damage your skin. Don’t scrub too hard or overuse exfoliation products. It might be tempting to want to see instant results, but using products as directed over time will clean out your skin without the worry of causing damage to your skin.
MYTH 10: You don’t need to use moisturizer if you have oily skin.
TRUTH: Counterintuitively, a lack of moisture can lead to more oil production, making you appear shinier than if you skip the moisturizer. External factors like sun exposure can damage your skin’s moisture barrier, supercharging oil production in some. To keep a happy balance, we recommend not passing on the extra hydration, no matter your skin type. That said, if you struggle with oily skin, reach for a moisturizer that is water-based, instead of oil based, and you’ll want something lightweight and ideally has a matte finish. The right product for the right skin type is the key!
MYTH 11: Your skin adapts to products and eventually stops working.
TRUTH: Just like your body cannot adapt to good nutrition and become less effective at maintaining your health, your skin can’t adapt to a healthy skin care routine!
MYTH 12: Not washing your face is the reason you get acne.
TRUTH: While washing your face can certainly help clean up clogged pores from dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria that cause acne (and we are big advocates for an appropriate face washing routine!), not washing your face is not the sole source of acne. Many other factors, including hormones, play a role in acne development. This type of myth also leads folks to over-washing their face, thinking their acne is a sign they are not washing their face enough. Finding a skincare routine is different for everyone, but generally washing your face twice daily with skin care formulated face wash, followed up by hydration, will keep your skin clean and healthy enough to fight preventable acne.
