With the Internet at our finger tips and biases from family and friends looming at every corner, it can be hard to decipher fact from fiction, especially when it comes to skincare.
The fact of the matter is, there are a ton of claims made about what works and what doesn't - and with the vast majority of us willing to try ANYTHING to achieve flawless skin - we can really put our skin at risk with the wrong assumption.
Today we're debunking the 5 biggest skincare myths, so you can continue to take the best care of skin and avoid falling into the dreaded traps of unhelpful, time consumer, and money draining myths.
Myth #1: "The more expensive the skincare the better the results"
One of the biggest myths we've heard is that expensive skin care works better, and this is so far from the truth. Everyone's skin is different and reacts differently to certain ingredients. Although certain products might work for some, they can be unhelpful to others.
It's important to note that in most cases when you're purchasing skincare for a hefty price, you're paying for the brand name not the actual ingredients. Some of the most effective products on the market come at half the price of luxury skincare.
Before making any hefty purchases we highly recommend visiting a dermatologist or other skincare professional.
Myth #2: "Natural skincare is better for your skin"
As we stated in the first myth - everyones skin works differently - what works for some people might not work for you.
Natural skincare came in as a huge trend within the past couple years, but just because it is more popular now doesn't mean it is most effective for your skin type. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to "natural" and "un-natural" skincare - especially when it comes to parabens. According to a Dermstore interview with esthetician Shauna Rose Dermigny "there is no concrete evidence that parabens and preservatives in skin care are harmful to your skin or body. Without preservatives, skin care and cosmetics are more susceptible to the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast."
Again, before you make any purchases, make sure to check in with your dermatologist.
Myth #3: "High SPF = better protection"
With the summer season upon us, this is a myth we hear quite frequently. When it comes to sunscreen, people assume that if a skincare product says SPF 80 they don't have to worry about anything.
However, when choosing a sunscreen product it isn't about the number at all, but more so what the sunscreen protects you from. According to WebMD "UVA rays penetrate the skin fairly deeply, altering your pigmentation to produce a tan, while UVB rays are the primary sunburn rays that also damage your skin's DNA and cause photoaging, pigment changes, and carcinomas (cancerous tumors)." This means that when purchasing a sunscreen you should be looking for one that offers coverage for both of these, otherwise known as "broad spectrum" - a minimum of 15 SPF should do just fine.
Myth #4: "Popping pimples can relieve acne"
Okay we get it, nobody wants a white head on their chin all day, they're uncomfortable and make us feel insecure. But picking at them shouldn't be the answer! According to a WebMD interview with Sandy Johnson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist "even though it feels really good to release [the pus], a lot of it just goes in deeper, and when it goes in deeper, it causes more inflammation that can lead to scarring and spread under the skin. That's why you'll get another one a few days later close to the first one." Popping your pimples will just lead to more while also inflaming a good portion of your face - talk about uncomfortable. In addition, the more you pick at your face the more you spread bacteria that has been on your hands all day. Try and not think about the pimple or if you're in dyer need of a solution dry it out with some pimple cream!
Myth #5: "Acne can be fought off with alcohol"
Rubbing alcohol is an ingredient in many acne fighting cleansers and moisturizers - so it is understandable how one could assume it'd be a great acne fighter on its own. However, rubbing alcohol works because of it's combination with other ingredients. Rubbing plain alcohol on your skin can actually do more harm than good. It's drying properties are way too harsh to just apply on your skin and could even make your skin work harder to produce more oil and end up clogging your pores. It won't be fun.
Try sticking to a product with a light alcohol concentrate, or even better with Tea Tree oil concentrate.