With all the information available online, you might be quick to think you’re pretty well-versed when it comes to skincare. But have you ever paused to check if your skincare information – all the tips and tricks you’ve learnt from various online sources – are true? You might be surprised that some of these might even cause more harm than good to your skin. Read on to debunk three common myths about skin and skincare!

MYTH #1: DRINKING WATER WILL CURE DRY SKIN

There’s no doubt that drinking plenty of water every day is good for your health. But some people have begun to equate hydrating their bodies with moisturizing their skin, which isn’t necessarily true. Although drinking water may indeed help your body, including your skin, to function properly, overdoing it isn’t likely to do your skin any good.

Instead, the best way to tackle dry skin is to moisturize from the outside. Use a high-quality daily moisturizer to improve skin dryness, or double-up with products offering both anti-aging ingredients and moisturizing ingredients.

MYTH #2: THE HIGHER THE SPF, THE BETTER

Given the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays on the skin, using daily sun protection is undeniably important for a healthy skincare routine. However, don’t be fooled by product claims that using higher SPF formulas will offer more protection than lower SPFs! Research has shown that anything higher than SPF 50 offers a negligible increase in sun protection. It may even give a false sense of security as people who use high SPF sunscreens may be less inclined to reapply the product as frequently as recommended, or use less sunscreen than they otherwise would with a lower SPF.

When in doubt, choose a sunscreen of SPF 30 to 50 and remember to reapply it throughout the day. Additionally, look for products labelled “broad-spectrum” or “UVA and UVB protection”.

MYTH #3: SCRUBBING WILL GET RID OF ACNE

It can be tempting to try to scrub away the acne from your skin, but in the long run, vigorous scrubbing may make matters worse by damaging or further inflaming your skin. It’s best to be patient with your skin and choose gentle, yet effective products with acne-fighting products.

There will always be new trends and myths regarding the “best” ways to care for your skin and improve skin conditions like acne, dry skin, or mature skin. But before incorporating any new products or methods into your skincare routine, don’t forget to check the facts behind each one so that you and your skin do not suffer in the long run!

References:

• https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/dont-fall-for-these-skin-myths
• https://skinbetter.com/5-common-skincare-myths-not-believe/