10 of the biggest skincare myths, busted!
We all know that we should use SPF protection no matter the weather and that facials are a brilliant way of reinvigorating tired, dull-looking skin, but have you heard of these other “skincare rules”?
Or, better yet, are you guilty of believing any of them?
Skin Myth #1. Pores can open and close.
Nope. Pores stay the exact same size rain, hail or shine. Steaming your face or using clay soaps is great for loosening up dirt or oil that’s created a nice clog in your pore; it’s not your pore that’s widened that will allow it to come out more easily (refer to #6).
Skin Myth #2. Junk food gives you pimples.
Breakouts aren’t solely caused by certain food groups, no matter how healthy or unhealthy they are. Usually, the flare-up of pimples or redness is your body’s inflammatory response to high glycaemic foods, so foods with refined sugars and high carbohydrates.
Skin Myth #3. Use pore strips to get rid of blackheads.
Those friggin’ black peel masks that everyone’s going crazy for do more harm than good because they ravage your skin by stripping it of its natural oils. Don’t fall for it!
If your blackheads are driving you bonkers, you’re going to have to tackle the issue slowly, i.e. over a couple of weeks. Exfoliate your face (avoid bead-based exfoliants if your skin’s dry) once a week to remove dead skin cells and any crap that’s accumulated. Over time you’ll see a noticeable difference.
Skin Myth #4. The more expensive the skincare product, the better the result.
Don’t waste your money on fancy-schmancy products that promise the world and then some. Sure, expensive products will probably feel like a dream and smell fantastic, but the effect they have compared to a cheaper moisturizer from the is fairly similar. At the end of the day, skin is skin. It regulates itself. Humans have had it for centuries and it’s done just fine before we started meddling with it.
Skin Myth #5. Facial exercises tighten the face.
Wrong again, my friends. Unlike squats and lunges for firming up your booty and legs, doing facial exercises doesn’t tighten your facial muscles. In fact, it does the opposite. You’re basically encouraging the formation of wrinkles by continually creasing and flexing your facial skin.
Skin Myth #6 You should never squeeze a pimple.
Yes, yes, yes, we know we’re not meant to, but if you simply can’t bear it because your whitehead’s looking super juicy and you have places to be, reach for your beloved extractor à la Dr. Pimple Popper.
Get a sterilized needle so you don’t break the skin open, rather neatly create an opening, and gently have at that sucker after a good facial steam. Be sure to give your face a proper cleanse to keep the area clean so it heals quickly.
Better yet, try these Stylight editor-approved pimple patches: The acne stickers that made our breakouts disappear.
Skin Myth #7 Face wipes are a perfectly fine substitute for facial cleanser.
Nope. Wrong. While these wipes are handy in festival situations, they should not be your primary method of makeup removal. The chemicals they contain to keep them moist also coats your skin so gradually they can clog your pores. Try to stick with a gentle foam cleanser at night, and possibly a toner afterward if you’ve gone heavy on the makeup that day.
Skin Myth #8 Don’t use heavily moisturising products if you have oily skin.
Sometimes your skin is oily because it doesn’t have enough, so your oil glands go into overdrive to compensate for your dry skin, causing the excess oil and the super-fun breakouts that can accompany it. If this is you, try a slightly heavier moisturizer but apply a very light layer to your face and see if that helps to make a difference. Stick with it for a solid three weeks to give it a proper chance to make a difference, either way, you’ll have your answer as to whether your skin’s naturally oily or if it’s working overtime.
Skin Myth #9 Anti-aging products erase/minimise wrinkles.
Sure, a bit of regular moisturization of the dermis is great for general hydration and the appearance/feel of supple skin, however, these anti-aging topical creams do not promote collagen (despite claiming they do) formation within cells, which is what you want to not get lines. In short, don’t waste your money.
However, according to a celeb dermatologist, this is the essential trick to keeping your skin youthful: When to start using anti-aging products, according to Elle Macpherson’s facialist.
Skin Myth #10 A good way to tell how you’ll age is by looking at your mum.
Of course, genetics plays a massive role, but there are too many variables affecting your mum’s skin and yours. For example her sun protective measures during her youth (keeping in mind sunscreen was so not a thing back in the day), her dietary and drinking habits vs. yours, whether she smokes, etc. There are just too many factors.
