Part of the reason that I decided to start this blog and my accompanying YouTube Channel and Instagram Account was to help spread truthful information on beauty and skincare. I can’t tell you how many times I see so called “beauty gurus” spouting off misinformation when it comes to taking care of your skin.

So today I’m here to bust some of the top Skincare myths. It is time to talk about TRUTHS instead of TRENDS when it comes to beauty and your skin.

Myth 1 – I’m Too Young to Start Using Anti-aging Skincare

The truth is that it is never too soon to start focusing on using anti-aging skincare. In fact I’ve been taking care of my skin and using anti-aging products since I was 15. While that mean seem crazy that a 15 year old is worried about getting wrinkles, but it is more about prevention. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Find some great products with anti-aging benefits that are appropriate for your skin (not based on your age, See Myth 2). Retinols/Retinoids are my secret weapon in fighting the signs of aging. Two that I really love are the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Face Cream Serum and The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalene 

Myth 2 – Buying Skincare Based On Your Age

There used to be a trend in skincare to sell products based on your age. The truth is that is just a bunch of marketing hype. You should always look for skincare based on your individual skin type as well as your skin’s needs and concerns. And age is not a skin type. The truth is that someone in their 50s can still have problems with clogged pores and breakouts and a person who is in their 20s might need some anti-aging and corrective products due to sun damage, etc.

Remember to always look for skincare based on your current skin type (yes it changes over time) and the concerns that you have for your skin right now. Plus as mentioned in Myth 1, it’s never too early to start focusing on using anti-aging products.

Myth 3 – Opening and Closing Pores for a Deeper Clean

Contrary to popular belief, your pores DO NOT open and close. While using hot water to steam the face can make pores appear to be “open”, this is a total myth. The truth is that hot water can actually strip away your skin’s natural oils and cause your skin to dry out. It is best to use lukewarm water on your face when cleansing your skin.

Myth 4 – When It Comes to Exfoliating, Harder Means Better

Now this one is a big pet peeve of mine. The truth is harder does not mean better, it’s actually quite the opposite. I’m not a fan of what are called manual exfoliators. Manual exfoliators are the kind of scrubs that most people actually use. You know the kind, like the St. Ives Apricot Facial Scrub, with the big chunks of walnut shells?  Part of the problem with manual exfoliants is that people are just scrubbing way to hard. The other part is the exfoliating granules and the damage they can do to your skin.

These harsh exfoliants can cause micro-tears in the skin which can lead to inflammation, breakouts, increased sun exposure and damage as well as accelerating the aging process in your skin.

I’m much more of a fan of chemical exfoliants. Chemical exfoliants use, well chemicals, to gently exfoliate the skin. These include gylcolic, salicylic and lactic acids. You can read more about these in this post here.

Myth 5 – You Don’t Need Moisturizer if You Are An Oily Skin

This one is another myth that slightly annoys me. We have been trained for years now to think of oil as bad. That someone with an oily skin needs harsh cleansers to strip away the oils on the skin. Oily skin types are running around doing everything they can to prevent oil production, meanwhile stripping their skin and drying it out. It is actually possible for an oily skin to also be dehydrated.

If you are an oily skin type, please find a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin. Look for a light weight, oil free moisturizer. These are usually in the form of a gel moisturizer, so they won’t cause an oil slick on your face, but will keep your skin well hydrated. These moisturizers will help to keep your skin nourished and balanced. Also, try a more gentle cleanser that doesn’t dry your skin out, such as a micellar water cleanser.

I love the Pacifica Beauty Cactus Water Micellar Cleansing Tonic.

Myth 6 – You Don’t Need Sunscreen on an Overcast Day

Sorry, but this one makes me laugh. If you knew my husband, you’d know that man would wear sunscreen at night if he thought it would help. In fact, I lovingly joke with him that he’s really a vampire. Just because you can’t see the sun, doesn’t mean it is not there.

The truth is that the harmful rays of the sun can still penetrate the clouds. In fact 80% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays come through even on the cloudiest and rainiest of days. Even on these days it’s important to wear your sun protection to prevent sun damage.

I won’t go too much more into spf and sunscreen because that could be a whole other post, but here are the sunscreen products I swear by, Pacifica Beauty’s SPF 50 Spray Natural Mineral Sunscreen and the Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Brightening and Perfecting UV Protector.

Myth 7 – Miracle Product Claims

Miracle product claims! You know the kind…”Erase your wrinkles in as little as 30 days”, etc. This is all marketing hype by cosmetic brands to get you to buy their products. Don’t buy into the hype.

The truth is there are no magic or miracle products. While using good skincare can prevent the signs of aging, nothing can erase wrinkles. However, using the right products can help to reduce and minimize the signs of aging. But you are going to have to use products like Retinols, AHAs and BHAs that are more active to really see results. Again, to find out more on these great anti-aging products, read my post here.

Myth 8 – Natural Skincare is Better

Ok, now this one is controversial. While there are some ingredients we do need to look out for when using skincare and other beauty products, natural does not always mean better. Poison Ivy is natural, but I’m not going to be rubbing that all over my face. Nowadays, the terms “natural” and “organic” are used as marketing ploys to get people to buy into a brands products.

The truth here is that you really need to find out what products and ingredients work well for your skin and which ones don’t. A lot of sensitive types might need to avoid products with fragrances, etc. However, while essential oils are “natural” they can still irritate and inflame your skin.

On the flip side, products that may contain ingredients developed by scientists might actually be better for your skin. These products might be more effective and beneficial to your skin than so called “natural” products. The main takeaway here is to find what works best for YOUR skin and think about the efficacy of the products you are using.

Myth 9 – Drinking Plenty of Water Keeps the Skin Hydrated

The simple truth here is, “sorry, no.” but also “yes, it can help”. It is beneficial to drink water to help keep your organs hydrated and your skin is your largest organ. However, you still need a moisturizer to help protect the skin and keep your skin well hydrated.

Drinking water will help to keep your skin looking it’s best, especially because water is better for your skin than say coffee or soda. But you still need to take care of your skin with the right skincare products.

Myth 10 – You Can Use the Same Products for Day and Night

While you can use the same products for both day and night, it is not the best route to take.

The truth is that your skin does have different needs at different times of the day. In terms of products for the day think about protection and for night think about repairing and revitalizing. During the day use products that protect your skin from free radicals and sun damage. At night use products that help to revitalize and repair your skin such as ones with vitamins and peptides.

Also, my favorite anti-aging weapon is a Retinoid, which should only be used at night. Also, I’m a huge fan of facial oils for hydrating and repairing skin, but prefer to use these at night while I’m sleeping, as opposed to during the day because I don’t want to deal with my skin being too oily during the day. So think about what your skin needs during the day and what it needs at night and use products to address those needs.

I hope this post cleared up some of the questions you had as far as these skincare myths are concerned. If want more information, please watch the video below and if you have any skincare questions, leave those in the comments and I will be sure to address them.

Au revoir!