#BTExperts Cosmetics Cop Paula Begoun Busts The Top 10 Skincare Myths

There's a bunch of stuff out there that you often tend to fall for, skincare myths being one of them. From attempting to rid yourself off dryness through excess water intake, to relying on essential oils as a treatment for skin ailments, beauty mogul and skincare expert, Paula Begoun sheds some light on the most popular beauty myths that linger on in the realm of skincare.

Paula Begoun, Founder Paula's Choice Skincare

MYTH 1: “My skin repairs itself best at night.”

One often gets to hear of the ‘overnight magic’ when it comes to the three ‘R’s’ in skincare- repair, renew and rejuvenate. However, research has suggested otherwise, proving the opposite to be true. It is believed that the skin heals better during the day, owing to one’s continual movement and activity through the day. Consequently, this propels blood flow and oxygen, stimulating the healing process. Also, no specific research has proven that the skin requires selective ingredients at night, which aren’t essential during the day as well (barring sunscreen).

MYTH 2: “I’m allowed to skip sunscreen on a cloudy day or when indoors.”

We are all well-aware that sunlight exposure can cause serious damage to our skin. And yes, even on a cloudy day.  Despite the presence of water-laden clouds, the harmful UV rays are able to penetrate through them, getting into our skin. While the adverse impact of sun damage is mostly unnoticeable to the naked eye, it often becomes apparent later in one’s life, showing up as signs of ageing. Similarly, sharp, damaging rays of the sun can come through your window as well, entirely debunking the idea of ‘no need for sun-block when indoors’.  Practice applying and re-applying sunscreen, and your skin will thank you for it years from now.

MYTH 3: “A cool, tingling sensation suggests that a product is working.”

Contrary to popular belief, a cooling or tingling sensation in the skin post application of a product is your skin telling you that it’s irritated! Besides the uncomfortable feeling on the surface, considerable damage is occurring in the deeper layers of the skin as well, destroying support structures. These products are ones often infused with denatured or SD alcohol, menthol, menthyl lactate, peppermint oil, camphor, eucalyptus, and essential oils. It’s time to do your skin a big favor by dropping them once and for all.

MYTH 4: “Dry skin? Well, drink up!”

A recurring and persistent beauty myth that refuses to leave us, this one’s possibly the most common of them all. However, sooner or later you must get your facts in place. Yes, we agree that consuming 8-9 glasses of water a day is a good idea. But sadly it won’t automatically reverse your dry skin problem. If things were that simple, very few of us would be suffering from dryness today. The causes and solutions for dry skin are far more complex than just drinking water—that’s where good skincare comes to the rescue. The only study that showed significant skin improvement from drinking water, required drinking over a gallon of water (which we don’t recommend) not merely 8 glasses.

MYTH 5: “My skin will become immune to the benefits of a product after over-application.”

The skin doesn't adapt to skincare products any more than your body adapts to a healthy diet. The skin is just not built like that! Cruciferous veggies are healthy for you today and they’ll continue to be healthy for you months and years from now, even if you eat them every single day. The same logic must be applied in the realm of skincare. Additionally, this flawed notion is often confused with changing skin. It’s not that your skin has adapted to certain ingredients; rather it may be requiring more advanced formulae or higher concentrations of key ingredients over time.

MYTH 6: “My neck and chest area require special products.”

No research justifies that the neck and chest need any different product or ingredient than what the face does. Products claiming to be formulated specifically for the neck or chest area are at the top of the list when it comes to false claims. The same ingredients that you use on your face, work just fine on your neck and chest as well. This is true for sunscreens, serums, boosters, moisturizers, gentle leave-on exfoliants and anti-acne products.

MYTH 7: “Jar packaging is ideal for my anti-ageing cream”.

No matter how great a product’s formula is, jar packaging is always a deal-breaker if the product contains air-sensitive ingredients. As it turns out, almost every anti-oxidant and skin-restoring ingredient, especially natural ones, don’t like air. Jar packaging repeatedly exposes these beneficial, but inherently unstable ingredients to light and air, causing them to break-down and lose their effectiveness altogether.

MYTH 8: “Essential oils are my go-to treatment for my skin concerns”.

We do agree that some components of essential oils are indeed beneficial for the skin; for example, many of them are a rich source of potent anti-oxidants. However, essential oils are not good for the skin because most all of them contain volatile, fragrant compounds that can cause significant inflammation. You’re better off seeking non-fragrant plant oils such as jojoba, sunflower, argan, acacia, berry oils, and so on.

MYTH 9: “I can get rid of cellulite with just a cream”.

Only if things were so easy, really...85% of women in the world have cellulite (only 5% of men, which we know is unfair but these are the facts). If solely a cream would do the work, then the fitness industry wouldn’t be booming the way it is at the moment. While companies and individuals attempt to sell their products that claim to trim and tone you up, they simply cannot work on the complex structural elements that are responsible for cellulite!

MYTH 10: “Hypoallergenic products are better for my sensitive skin.”

The term 'hypoallergenic' is meant to imply that a product is unlikely or less likely to cause allergic reactions and therefore, is better for allergy-prone or sensitive skin types. However, there aren’t any specific ingredient restrictions or regulations for determining if a product qualifies as being hypoallergenic or not. So how does one really know which product reacts on your skin and how? Hypoallergenic aside, it is far better to stick to those skincare products that are gentle, fragrance-free, and are packed with soothing, skin-replenishing ingredients.