Myths on Skincare: Separating Fact from Fiction

We all want beautiful, glowing skin. But with so much conflicting advice out there, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to skincare. In this blog post, we’re going to debunk some of the most common myths.

Myth #1:

GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP WILL CURE THE BAGS UNDER THE EYES.

The answer to that is “it depends!” Dark circles making their appearance under your eyes regularly isn’t always due to lack of sleep though. It could very likely be from dehydration. So drink lots of water every day (which not only helps with bags under the eyes, but also helps with keeping your skin hydrated and healthy).

But dark circles can also be genetic, so if you notice that trait in family members, there likely isn’t going to be an easy fix.. However, if no one else in your family has dark circles, and you are sleeping enough hours most nights and if you are drinking lots of water, those annoying dark circles may warrant a trip to the doctor’s because anemia may also be the cause.

Myth #2

YOUR SKIN AGES LIKE YOUR MOM’S SKIN.

If your mom has beautiful skin, like my mom does, you may think that your skin is going to age just as well. However, that may not be the case. Good genes definitely help someone’s chances in having skin that ages well, but it’s definitely not a guarantee.

Dermatologists suggest that even more important than good genes, are lifestyle choices such as how much time you spend in the sun without sunscreen, if you smoke, if you drink excessive amounts of alcohol regularly, are you limiting sugar intake and how well you manage your stress, actually play a larger role in how your skin ages, then even good genes.

Myth #3:

THE MORE PRODUCTS YOU USE, THE BETTER YOUR SKIN WILL LOOK

Do you have a bathroom counter full of skincare products? I know I do, but I am also diligent about using them as directed. While it may be tempting to use every product under the sun, using too many products every day can actually harm your skin. Think of it like eating too much food at your favorite restaurant and feeling physically sick after dinner. Similarly, if you use all these products daily, your skin can get overwhelmed, irritated and break out.

Stick to the essentials, (cleanse, tone and moisturize with masking and exfoliating twice/per week) and use products that work best for your skin type. It is also perfectly fine for you to add in serum to target problematic areas, and if you have very dry skin, to add a facial oil after your night cream.

Myth #4:

YOU ONLY NEED TO WEAR SUNSCREEN ON SUNNY DAYS.

Have you ever skipped sunscreen on a cloudy day? We’ve all been there, but it’s important to wear sunscreen every day. UV rays can penetrate clouds and even car windows, resulting in the potential to damage your skin.

Protect your skin with SPF every day to keep it looking youthful and healthy. A super easy way to protect your skin, is to use good quality makeup products, including foundation and setting powder that have spf protection within.

Myth #5:

YOU SHOULD EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN EVERY DAY.

Exfoliating your skin can turn a dull, ruddy complexion to a gorgeous glow, but over-exfoliating can actually damage your skin. It’s like scrubbing a dirty pan with steel wool – it’s too abrasive and can cause irritation if you use the wrong exfoliator for your skin or if you over-exfoliate.

So stick to exfoliating once or twice a week to keep your skin smooth and healthy, and use more gentle exfoliators such as ones containing jojoba beads or sugar.

Myth #6:

YOU SHOULDN’T USE OIL ON YOUR SKIN

Many people believe that using oil on your skin will make it greasy and cause breakouts. But the truth is, using the right oils can actually be good for your skin.

Look for natural oils like jojoba oil, argan oil, and rosehip oil. These oils can help hydrate and nourish your skin without clogging your pores.

Myth #7:

DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A FACE ROLLER – THEY DON’T WORK!

Actually, they do! These little gadgets improve circulation in your face and neck which can actually make your skin look brighter. They also can reduce puffiness by draining the lymphatic system in your face, and they are great at distributing your serums and moisturizers across your face.

Don’t walk right past these little tools as they are an inexpensive way to give your skin a boost!

Myth #8:

THE HIGHER THE SPF, THE BETTER PROTECTED YOUR SKIN.

This is actually true up to a certain point, but after reaching a certain point, the incremental SPF protection is marginal. According to Dr. Hadley King , a dermatologist interviewed with Health.com, she explains that sunscreen with an SPF of 100, is able to protect 99% of harmful UV rays, whereas sunscreen with an SPF of 50, is able to protect 98%, and sunscreen with an SPF of 35, will protect your skin from harmful UV rays at about 97%.

Myth #9:

PREPARATION H HELPS REDUCE WRINKLES AND PUFFINESS AROUND THE EYES.

Well, this one is embarrassing, as I did try this a number of times in my younger years, but thankfully, I didn’t do it consistently because I couldn’t take the smell, and I thought it left the area around my eyes greasy. The idea was that Preparation H or other hemorrhoid products work by shrinking blood vessels and tightening the skin, so the logic was that these products must work the same way elsewhere on the body. Not necessarily true.

According to Healthline, there have not been any studies supporting these products help reduce wrinkles or puffiness around the eyes. In fact, given the eye is such a delicate and sensitive area, it could actually cause damage to the eyes if some were to get in your eye, and some studies suggest that with continued use it can actually cause thinning of the skin around the eyes, which would just make those dark circles more pronounced.

Plus, if you have skin conditions such as rosacea or acne, using these products has the potential to make them even worse. Yikes! Can we all agree to just stick to actual skincare products for our face?

Myth #10:

FACE EXERCISES WILL GIVE YOU A MORE YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE.

It seems the latest craze in our efforts to find the fountain of youth is to employ a variety of facial exercises. Some even call it face yoga! Unfortunately, Suzanne Olbricht, an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, says that there isn’t any scientific evidence that doing a facial workout has any real benefits, other than the possibility of toning the muscles in your face, which could theoretically, help skin from sagging.

But even with that, she suggests that the changes would be so slight that they would not likely be noticeable. However, there is some good news when it comes to facial exercise. There is evidence that if you have thick scarring on your face, facial massages and facial exercise can help reduce their appearance.

The Takeaway

We are all inundated with information, often conflicting, on what is good or not good for your skin, which can be incredibly confusing, but there are some universal truths. Staying hydrated and protecting yourself with sunscreen is good for your skin. At a minimum, having a consistent skincare regimen of cleansing, toning and moisturizing will improve the health of your skin as will using masks and exfoliators twice a week.

Limit your sugar, alcohol and nicotine intake and manage your stress will help your skin age better, and do your research, particularly from a reputable medical site, before buying the latest skin care gadget. I hope this helped clear some things up, and if you think this blog could help someone you know, be sure to forward this on to them.