20 Beauty Myths You Need To Stop Believing
You can find tons of beauty tips and tricks on the internet and you must have heard a lot of them growing up from your mom or grandma. But every tip you heard or read somewhere might not be as true as it seems. Myths and lies are all over the beauty industry and it's hard to distinguish the fact from the lies. Here are some common myths that have misguided you for too long and you need to stop believing them asap.
1. You Can Shrink and Expand Pores
You must have often heard that steaming or washing your face with warm water can open pores and using ice or cold water will shrink the pores. You must have heard and read this so many times that you have accepted it as a fact. In fact, we all have seen that using a face pack or getting a facial done often makes the pores appear smaller.
What actually happens is when we get a facial done all the dirt and oil that has been clogging the pores and have stretched them to look bigger is removed and this makes them appear the normal size not smaller. So, next time don’t look for ways to shrink your pores just keeping them clean would do the magic.
2. SPF Containing Makeup Can Protect You From The Sun
SPF containing makeup products such as foundation and compact are definitely great to provide additional protection from the sun but they are certainly not enough to protect you completely from UVA and UVB rays.
Even when we use sunscreen we need to reapply it every 2 hours but we don’t normally touch up our makeup every 2 hours. So, don’t ignore sunscreen even if your foundation has inbuilt SPF. Use SPF 15 or 30 daily if you do not stay out in the sun for long. For prolonged exposure use SPF 50.
Also Read: 15 Sunscreen Myths You Need To Stop Believing
3. Using Anti-ageing Cream Early Is Better For Skin
A lot of women start using anti-ageing products even in their 20’s. Although the marketing industry is hell-bent on selling you anti-ageing products in your youth, the fact is you don’t need them till your 30’s. Your skin naturally has the ability to produce collagen and elastin to keep your skin youthful till a certain age. It is only in your late 30’s that you need to take help from anti-ageing products.
Contrary to slowing down the appearance of wrinkles, using anti-ageing products too soon can cause skin irritation. The best anti-ageing precautions that you need to take in your youth is to stop smoking as it leads to premature wrinkling and reduces collagen production and protect your skin from the sun by using an SPF 30 sunscreen daily.
4. Toothpaste Is A Good Way To Get Rid Of Acne
This hack certainly works, using toothpaste can make you get rid of acne quickly but that does not automatically make it a good choice. Toothpaste contains xylitol (alcohol), triclosan (anti-bacterial agent) and fine abrasives to polish your teeth. Although these are the same products used in even pimple removing creams, these creams also contain ingredients to fight acne such as salicylic, glycolic or alpha-hydroxy acid and benzoyl peroxide. Continued use of toothpaste on the skin can cause irritation and inflammation. Use toothpaste only in an emergency and not on a regular basis.
5. Drinking Lots Of Water Keeps The Skin Moisturised
Don’t get me wrong here, drinking water is still great for your skin. But drinking water will not keep your skin moisturised that is done only by the natural oils produced by your skin. However, drinking ample amount of water ensures good digestion and health which will obviously reflect back on your skin too. That is why drinking plenty of water makes your skin appear radiant.
Also Read: Drinking Water Before, After Or During Meals
6. Trimming Hairs Regularly Makes Them Grow Faster
This is simply illogical because hairs grow at the roots and not the ends. So, cutting your hairs from the ends doesn't have any impact on its growth. Only your genetics, diet, and health can determine that. However deficiency of protein, Vitamin B complex, and zinc can certainly slow down your hair growth. Regular trimming is still good because it helps you get rid of the split ends and prevents breakage.
7. Pulling Out Grey Hair Leads To More Greys At The Same Spot
What actually happens is when you pull out hairs it can damage the hair follicles and result in a permanent bald patch in that area. So even though plucking grey hair might not result in more greys, pulling hairs is still a bad idea unless you want a bald patch sitting on top of your head.
Also Read: How to Stop Facial Sweating From Ruining Your Makeup
8. Never Put Oil On Oily Skin
It’s a complete myth that oily skin does not need moisturisation. Not only does oily skin need moisturisation but adding oil can actually help the skin produce less oil in the long run. This is because using cleansers rips off all the natural oil from your skin and your skin compensates for it by producing more oil. Using oil will not lead to overcompensation of oil.
9. Facial Exercises Tighten The Skin
Exercising does keep our body toned and tight but that only works on the muscles and not the skin. Facial exercises will not prove to be helpful if you plan on delaying saggy skin using them.
10. All Your Skincare Products Need To Be From The Same Brand
Almost all good skincare and makeup brands employ highly qualified chemists. So, different brands could have different products that are the best. No matter what the advertisements say using different products by different brands is not a crime.
11. Waxing Can Reduce Hair Growth Over Time
Even though waxing removes the hair from follicles it will never reduce hair growth over time. You will have the same number of hairs grow back at the end of the month. Laser and electrolysis are the only permanent hair reduction methods which are successful in the long run.
Also Read: Hair Removal- Which Is The Best Method For You?
12. Cellulite Can Be Removed Permanently
Permanent cellulite removal is not possible, at least not for now. Some products can definitely improve cellulite but no product has been developed which can completely remove it.
13. Lip Pencil Must Be Darker Than Lipstick
There was a time in the ’90s when women wore a dark liner with lighter lipsticks but we are no more in the ‘90s. The best way is to use a similar coloured lip liner and blend it with your lipstick so that it does not appear as an outline to your lips.
14. Primers Are Optional
Primers are perhaps the most overlooked makeup product. Primers are however necessary in your makeup routine as they help it stay on for longer. They also help in blurring fine lines, open pores, and creases.
15. More Mascara Means Longer Lashes
People put more and more mascara thinking that the more mascara they put the longer their lashes will look. However, this can make your lashes look thick and lumpy. So, don’t overdo the mascara.
Also Read: How To Reuse Your Dried And Flaky Mascara
16. Match The Foundation With Your Wrist
Don’t ever buy a foundation by matching its colour to your wrist. Your face is more exposed to the sun than your wrist. Tanning causes your face colour to differ from your wrist. So, apply the foundation on your face to choose the right shade.
17. The Lighter The Foundation The Fairer You Look
In order to look fair people often buy foundation that is two or three shades lighter than their skin colour. This will definitely not make you look fair but you will surely look ghostly and cakey. Buy the foundation by applying on your face and choose the shade that matches your skin.
18. You Can Repair Split Ends
No matter how much the expensive shampoo advertisements try to convince you, split ends cannot be repaired. The actual remedy that works perfectly for split ends is to cut your hairs.
19. Pumping Your Mascara Leads To Better Application
Pumping your mascara wand, again and again, to get more product won’t work. Pumping your mascara leads to air entering the tube and this causes your mascara to dry out a little too soon. To get more product don’t pump but swirl the mascara wand inside the tube.
Also Read: Do It Yourself Manicure (At Home)
20. White Spots On Nails Mean You Lack Calcium
I have practically grown up listening to this myth. No, the white spots don’t mean that you lack calcium they could be due to bumping your finger or nails on something or using excessive nail polish.
Have you been considering these myths to be true? Share with us.
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