9 Beauty Myths Busted!

Beauty is full of old wives’ tales, but is there any truth in them? We take some of the biggest beauty myths and set the record straight.

1. IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN YOU SHOULDN'T USE OILS
Not true. People with oily skin tend to choose harsh products that strip-away oil from the skin – bad idea. This only causes your skin to over-compensate by producing more oil, which can lead to breakouts. What’s important is that you choose the right oil for oily skin.

2. AGE SPOTS ARE INEVITABLE - YOU'RE GETTING OLDER
A lot of factors cause “age spots” including genetics, hormonal fluctuations, sun exposure, and yes, age. The best thing you can do to prevent the formation of hyperpigmentation is to wear SPF daily and to treat it with specialised skin care products.

3. EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS ARE BETTER THAN CHEAP ONES
The truth is this: if a product is well formulated with effective ingredients, it’s a good product - the price is irrelevant. Some products are expensive to produce, which pushes up the price - take Fairtrade products that pay a fair price to workers, these may be more expensive than non-Fairtrade products. Is the product better? Maybe not. Is it worth the money? We say yes.

4. TRIM YOUR HAIR AND IT WILL GROW FASTER
Erm…no. Your hair grows from the root, not from its ends. Damaged hair tends to split at the bottom and then work its way to the top, so cutting off the ends will make your hair look fuller and healthier, but it won’t grow any faster.

5. IF A PRODUCT BURNS YOUR SKIN IT'S WORKING
Ouch, no! If your skin is burning it’s trying to tell you that it’s being irritated; wash the product off immediately.

6. YOU SHOULD CHOOSE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS BASED ON YOUR AGE
Wrong! You should choose skin care products based on the issues you want to address. Women of different ethnicities experience different signs of ageing at different times. Plus, your skin type will dictate what kind of products you should use – a 20year old with oily skin shouldn’t use the same skin care as a 20year old with very dry skin. Pick products based on your skin issues, not your age.

7. DRINKING WATER WILL CURE DRY SKIN
It’s true that water is good for your skin health (and you generally), but it’s not true that drinking lots of water will hydrate it (unless you’re VERY dehydrated). Add moisture to dry skin with a day and night cream, lotion or oil.

8. YOU SHOULD TEST YOUR FOUNDATION ON YOUR WRIST 
Unless you’re very pale, the skin on your wrist is likely to be a lot lighter than your face. Test your foundation on your jaw line if you want to match the shade exactly.

9. YOU CAN SHRINK YOUR PORES
You can’t open and close pores, or shrink them – sorry! What you can do is clear out any congestion within them, which makes them appear bigger. Cleanse with a cleansing device and they’ll look more refined.


Words by: Photographs by: Shutterstock