Melody Teh
Beauty & Style

7 beauty myths to stop believing

When it comes to the world of beauty, myths, rumours and hearsay can often abound. “XYZ’s sister’s friend’s cousin said that it worked fantastically,” is akin to a glowing and authenticated testimonial. It’s no wonder then that sometimes the advice or recommendations we receive aren’t all that crash hot. Here are 7 beauty myths to stop believing now.

  1. Plucking a grey hair will mean that 10 grow back in its place – It’s an old wives tale that’s done the rounds for years but research has shown that it’s actually impossible for more than one hair to grow out of the same follicle.
  2. Your pores can be “shrunk” using clever products – There are plenty of brand new products on the market that promise to ‘shrink’ your pores. Ultimately however, what they are doing is making them appear smaller after they’ve been unclogged. The actual size remains exactly the same.
  3. Oily skin needs oil-free, astringent based products – When skin is congested and oily, it can be tempting to want to strip away all the surface level muck and grease. Unfortunately, doing so is one of the worst things you can do for your skin type. Stripping your skin of its natural oils can dry the skin out which in turn causes it to produce more oil to compensate. Gentle, effective products are the best solution.
  4. The SPF in your foundation provides enough sun protection – The Australian sun is some of the harshest in the world. While an SPF enriched foundation isn’t a bad thing, it should always be augmented with a broad spectrum, SPF30+ formula.
  5. Hot showers are fine for your skin – They may feel fantastic but a piping hot shower can damage the delicate balance of natural oils in your skin, leaving you feeling dry and irritated. A warm shower using gentle products is always best.
  6. The best place to apply perfume is your neck – while it may leave you smelling wonderful, applying perfume to your neck is a sun safe no no. The majority of perfumes contain alcohol that can make skin more sensitive to the sun. The increased sensitivity can lead to sunburn and pigmentation. Stick to applying to your wrists and other pulse points.
  7. Eye cream is just a marketing gimmick – While many face creams promise the world these days, investing in a separate eye care product is important, especially as we age. The skin around your eyes is much more fragile than the skin on your face and may have a different tone and/or texture completely. A specific eye treatment product addresses your concerns and is also formulated to be extremely gentle and non-irritating.

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beauty, myths, Beauty and Style, Naomi Cotterill, Beauty myths