Common Beauty Myths Busted

Natural ingredients are better for your skin, clean skin is squeaky and steam will open pores are all well-known beauty myths – but are they true?
The hair and beauty experts at online retailer Hairtrade.com have busted ten of the most common legendary tales in the world of cosmetics.
From a young age, we are told that if a product tingles or stings than it’s working and if you pluck a grey hair seven more will appear – but these are actually false. Also discovered to be untrue is that all make-up causes acne, more expensive products are better working and drinking more water will help cure dry skin.

By knowing what’s true or false, you can really be a clued-up hair and beauty fan while looking your absolute best.

Joanne Dodds, from Hairtrade.com said: “There are a whole load of beauty myths that are drilled in our heads from when we are young, some of which can be quite scary! We have debunked ten of the most well-known to uncover what is true and what is false. By taking these into account, you can really know how to treat and look after your hair and skin and keep them in top condition.”

The ten most common beauty myths are:

1. All make-up causes acne
False: If you’re taking your make-up off correctly and consistently, there is no evidence that backs up the myth that your products will give you spots. Make-up is designed to stay on top of the skin rather than melt into your pores. What can cause acne is by not taking your make-up off at night as this can cause breakouts.

2. Expensive products work better than cheaper items
False: It’s all about the formula and ingredients, not the price. Some luxury products may only contain basic ingredients and there’s nothing out there to prove that the cheaper items are harmful to your skin or hair.

3. Natural ingredients are better for your skin
False: The term ‘natural’ is used in the beauty industry so much that it’s meaning has become loosely regulated. This means that even if you think you are using natural ingredients, they could have just been extracted or purified rather than being totally organic. Also, just because a cosmetic ingredient is synthetic does not mean that it is bad for skin.

4. Drink more water for dry skin
False: Dry skin doesn’t mean that it’s calling out for water or moisture. When dry skin occurs, the skin cells become damaged or depleted and this can cause a flaky texture. As well as using moisturiser, to get rid of dry skin you must be careful about not causing any more harm to the outer layer such as sun damage. It’s also possible to drink too much water.

5. When a product tingles or stings – it’s working
False: Products what causes your skin to tingle are called counter-irritants, which means they work by causing inflammation in one area to reduce inflammation in deeper or fellow areas. This isn’t always beneficial to the skin as there is still minor damage taking place.

6. Clean skin squeaks
False: This is a myth that goes way back! The truth is that if your skin squeaks, it is too tight. This can happen by using the wrong skincare products for your skin type – always make sure to know what’s best for you before purchasing.

7. Choose products for your age
False: It’s not about the age of your skin; it’s about the type and your concerns. Whether you are 21 or 61, you can still have dry and dehydrated skin or oily skin. Not everyone in the same age group has the same skin so products cannot be tailored to a specific generation.

8. If you leave it long enough, your hair will clean itself
False: While it may sound disgusting, some believe that if you don’t wash your hair for long enough it will start to clean itself. This is not true – a freshly wash hair and scalp is best and healthier. If you don’t wash your hair often enough, you could find yourself getting an itchy and flaky scalp.

9. Use steam to open pores
False: While pores do open and close, they do not have muscles of their own and cannot simply open or close because of steam. What steam does is loosen the dirt inside, giving you a clearer complexion.

10. If you pluck a grey hair, seven more will appear
False: It is impossible to increase the number of hair follicles on your head from plucking out one. This myth first originated because when a grey hair follicle has formed, usually another one is forming nearby. This can cause mass hysteria when spotted in the bathroom mirror.