Debunking Beauty Facts (or should we say Myths?)

Debunking beauty facts -- or should I say myths? Which of these myths are ACTUAL myths, and which myths are actual FACTS?

We women would always have a knack at looking pretty, even if we say we want that sometimes. I mean, who wouldn’t? Now we have to set the record straight. Are we on the path of righteousness, or do we need to revisit our beauty beliefs?

Myth: Chocolate makes you break out.    

Fiction. Chocolate won't cause a breakout, but it is true that a poor diet can irritate your skin, so try to limit your chocolate cravings!

Myth: Cucumbers will help de-puff your eyes.    

Fact. Eye puffiness can be genetic, but there are definitely things you can do to reduce darkness and those puffy bags we loathe! Cucumbers can do the trick — and so can anything that's cold and can be easily applied to your eyes. The coldness restricts blood vessels which reduces swelling and puffiness. Just make sure to limit the application to about five minutes for optimal results.

Myth: 8 hours sleep can help me lose weight.

Fact. The experts tell us to aim for 8 hours a day, but if that just seems impossible, shoot for 6-8. Obviously we're not eating while we're sleeping, but in addition, not getting enough sleep can prevent us from burning as many calories as we should throughout the day...so get back in bed and rest up! (You don’t have to tell us twice!)

Myth: Your cell phone can make you break out. 

Fact. Okay this is gross, but...apparently cell phones are premiere breeding grounds for germs. Some experts say the average cell phone has more germs than doorknobs and even toilet seats — yuck! Make sure you take a clean cloth to your cell phone screen every so often to help get rid of any breakout-causing germs!

Myth: Waxing or shaving will make my hair grow back thicker. 

Fiction. Contrary to popular belief, shaving and waxing will not make hair grow back thicker. Most people think this is true because when hair grows back in after waxing/shaving, the hair is a bit shorter than normal, therefore seeming thicker and coarser while longer hair appears more fine.

Myth: Pumping the mascara wand helps to apply mascara better.

Fiction. This is a big no-no as far as mascaras are concerned. The only thing you get when you pump the mascara wand is extra air and bubbles in the mascara tube which dries it out and decreases its lasting power. If your mascara is running low but it's not time to toss it, just slowly twist the brush as you remove it to pick up more of the product.

Myth: Sharing makeup with your friends is like trading germs. 

Fact. As much as you'd love to try your friend's new lip gloss, makeup applicators and brushes pick up entirely too much bacteria. Just pick up your own makeup, and make sure the makeup stores you buy from clean the products they use to test on customers.

Myth: Popping a zit is fine if only done once in awhile. 

Fiction. Please try your hardest to leave your skin alone — especially during a breakout! Messing with a zit will spread oil and bacteria to the clean parts of your skin. Plus, popping a zit will undoubtedly aggravate your pores and won't leave you with the fresh-looking skin you were after in the first place!

Myth: Obsessive face washing can eliminate acne.    

Fiction. We know it seems backward, but over-washing your face will dry it out and remove natural oils, which will put your face into over-oil production mode. Stick to washing your face twice-daily, once in the morning and once at night.

Myth: Drinking tea can make my teeth look yellow. 

Fact. Red and white wine, soda, tea, and coffee can all contribute to the yellowing of tooth enamel. If you just can't give up your morning tea or latte, try to sip through a straw when possible to minimize contact with your tooth enamel.

Myth: Drinking lots of water will keep my skin healthy. 

Fact. Drinking water will definitely keep you hydrated and healthy and those benefits apply to your skin too! Next time you're craving a soda, reach for a tall glass of water instead — trust us, your skin will thank you!

Myth: The best place to apply perfume is on pulse points. 

Fact. Applying perfume to pulse points is the best way to make your scent last all day. Fragrances react with heat, so spritz your perfume on your wrists or the back of your neck and you won't need to worry about re-applying.

Myth: Cocoa butter will help get rid of stretch marks. 

Fiction. There are plenty of creams and lotions that claim to eliminate or at least minimize stretch marks. While we would love for all of these to work, stretch marks are caused by weight gain or loss, and usually can't be reversed.

 

Myth: Olive oil can be used to make an at-home cleanser. 

Fact. Believe it or not, olive oil really can be used to make a quick at-home cleanser — but only for normal complexions. Mix a quarter cup of olive oil with a teaspoon of brown sugar and dab onto dry or flaky areas to exfoliate the dry skin.

 

Myth: Split ends can be reversed. 

Fiction. Unfortunately, once split ends happen, the only way to get rid of them is by getting a haircut. The good news is that the right hair products can definitely make them less noticeable. Try a pomade like John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula. Also, try to limit the use of heated tools and appliances (hair dryers, flat irons, etc) for shinier, healthier locks.

Myth: Tanning in the sun clears up bad skin. 

Fiction. No way! Sun exposure just causes additional skin irritation and damage. Make sure to cover your face with a good oil-free sunblock to prevent any additional irritation if you're going to be out in the sun.

Myth: Spot reducing exercise works. 

Fiction. If this were true, we'd be the happiest people on earth! Sadly, you can't just pick one spot and do certain exercises to trim fat where you want. Aim for total body workouts like running or swimming with light free weight exercise to lose more weight and look fit and trim overall.

Myth: Avocados can make a great skin mask. 

Fact. Sounds weird, but it works! Mash one ripe avocado and mix it with a little bit of lemon juice. Apply this mask to your face and neck for an over-the-counter toner/firmer.

Myth: Certain cleansers can make your pores smaller. 

Fiction. Pore size is genetic, so although there are tons of products out there claiming to shrink the size of your pores, they don't work to minimize pores permanently. What they can do is temporarily make your pores appear smaller. Hey — we'll take what we can get!

Myth: Crossing your legs causes varicose veins.

Fiction. There are plenty of ways to potentially develop varicose veins, but none of them are related to crossing your legs (sigh of relief). Some examples of what could causes varicose veins include genetics, obesity, trauma to the skin, etc.

Myth: Toothpaste can zap a zit. 

Fact and fiction. Toothpaste contains ingredients that can dry out the skin, ultimately drying out/clearing up pimples. While this is true, drying out the skin can also cause irritation, so the benefits are short lived. Bottom line: Stick to your normal skin treatment or see a dermatologist if you are experiencing issues with your skin.

Myth: Matching eye shadow will make your eye color pop. 

Fiction. Actually, contrasting your eye makeup with your eye color is what will really stand out. Here are a couple recommendations based on your eye color:

Green/Hazel: Plum, deep browns, and light golden hues
Blue: Smoky charcoals, chocolate, and bright berry tones
Brown: Soft pinks, natural beige, and shades of bronze

Myth: White wine can stain teeth in addition to red wine.     

Fact. And all this time we thought red wine was the tooth's worst enemy. Turns out, white and red wine negatively affect the surfaces of your teeth which makes them more susceptible to tinting and discoloration. When it's all said and done, limit your wine intake to maintain your pearly whites!

Myth: Teeth whiteners can damage tooth enamel.

Fact. Make sure you follow the directions line by line when using teeth whitening products. If these products are used improperly or too frequently, it can result in permanent damage to your teeth.

Myth: I pluck one gray hair, multiple gray hairs will grow back in it's place.

Fiction. This isn't true — which is good because some of us were starting to worry! While plucking gray hairs won't make more grow back in its place, it's not a good habit to get into since it can damage the root.

Myth: Consistently wearing dark nail polish can turn your nails a yellowish hue.    

Fact. This was tough news to take since dark nail polish is definitely in this season, but not to worry — this yellowing is temporary, not harmful, and can also be avoided! Before painting your nails a deep dark hue, paint on a layer of clear base coat to protect your nails from any discoloration.

 

Myth: Sleeping on your back may prevent wrinkles. 

Fact. After hearing this, we're never sleeping on our sides again! The American Academy of Dermatology says that sleeping in certain positions may result in "sleep lines." After time, these lines can turn into deep-set wrinkles, so flip over and get your shut-eye on your back.

 

Myth: Brushing your hair 100 times every night will increase its shine. 

Fiction. We wish! Brushing your hair too much actually increases the potential for pulling out strands of hair. Instead, just brush your hair when drying or styling it and use a shine spray like Rusk Shining Sheen and Movement Myst if you're looking for more luster.

Myth: Cutting your hair will make hair grow faster.     

Fiction. While we wish this one were true, it seems your hair will grow at its own pace (usually about half an inch per month) no matter how many trim-ups you take. Don't do away with trimming your hair altogether though, since it will look much healthier without the split ends!

 

 

Myth: Beauty products have an expiration date.

Fact. That's right — just like groceries, your beauty and hair products have a shelf life, too. The expiration date depends on the beauty product. Here are a couple common ones:

Mascara and Liquid Eye Liners: 3 months
Liquid Face Makeup, Cream Eye Shadow: 6 months
Powder Face Makeup, Powder Eye Shadows, Pencil Eye Liners, Lipstick, Lip gloss: 2 years

 

Myth: Coconut oil is an effective skin hydrator.

 

Fact. Coconut oil contains natural moisturizers that will help breathe life into dull skin. If you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts, then steer clear!

Myth: You don't need sunscreen on a cloudy day. 

Fiction. The sun's damaging UV rays are still in full effect even on a cloudy day. In fact, the cloud cover sometimes gives a false sense of security, since some think that cooler temperatures and less sunshine can’t lead to skin damage.

Myth: Ignoring a need for glasses can lead to wrinkles.

Fact. Ignoring the need for glasses means more squinting, right? And more squinting leads to...you guessed it — wrinkles. In fact, any repetitive facial movement can lead to wrinkles so wear your glasses and sunglasses!

Source: realbeauty.com