30 Skin Care Misconceptions and explanations for each and every one of them:

A few months ago I posted 30 skin myths on Clin-Spa's Facebook from Environ skin care. You can read the Environ article HERE.

I've compiled the skin myth list with my explanation of each myth, and have included some new, updated information:

Skin Myth #1: Facial exercises tone facial muscles and make a person appear younger.

~ This is not true and the very reason I perform a very soothing and "light-touch" facial massage during the massage portion of the facial. 

~ Massaging skin care products on the neck or face in upward or circular movements is appropriate for good absorption of product into skin, but don't be fooled by claims that using upward movements on the neck will in any way help firm or tone the neck. 

Skin Myth #2: Vitamin E minimizes scaring.

~ Vitamin E is an antioxidant and when formulated by a skin care chemist to work into the skin, it's a valuable ingredient for anti-aging. 

~ Vitamin E does not minimize scaring. Massaging a scare several times a day with any cream or lotion may or may not help reduce the appearance of a scar by only about 2%.

Skin Myth #3: Cucumbers help reduce puffiness around the eyes.

~ Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory properties when eaten as food. I highly recommend snacking on cucumbers for this reason. When placed on the skin cucumbers don't have the same anti-inflammatory affect because the skin can't absorb "food-stuff" that way.

~ There are a few really good tricks to use to reduce puffiness around the eyes. The use of a cold compress soaked in baking soda works well as does a bag of frozen vegetables. Frozen peas in a bag are usually recommended because the bag can mold to your eye shape. If the frozen pea bag is too cold for you then wrap the bag with a few paper towels or a thin cotton cloth. 

Skin Myth #4: Skin pores open and close.

~ Nope, sorry.. pores don't open or close. Not even heat or steam can cause pores to open and/or close. If pores opened and close then our skin would be too exposed. The role of our skin is to protect our body from outside influences. Cosmetic companies are actually always trying to figure out new and safe ways to get good ingredients into our skin and protect our skin from harm.

Skin Myth #5: The higher the skin protection factor (SPF) rating, the better.

~ Not true. The trick to sun protection is to reapply it frequently (every 20-30 minutes), especially when outside. There's no SPF that is sweat-proof or waterproof, so you must reapply when outside. 

~ For everyday sun protection I recommend physical sun protection ingredients instead of chemical ingredients. I really love micronized zinc with antioxidants in the formulation. Antioxidants help sun protection work better and help fight free radical damage caused by the sun and the environment. Zinc is a wonderful skin care ingredient that helps acne and redness in the skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Skin Myth #6: Layering several products with SPF ratings increases protection.

~ Sun protection does not work that way. For everyday use, all you need is a SPF of 15 or 20. Adding makeup with or without SPF can help further protect your skin from environmental influences. If you're going to be outside all day then you need to reapply SPF every 20-30 minutes to ensure the SPF stays on your skin and does not sweat off or wear off.

Skin Myth #7: Topical creams containing collagen can replace collagen.

~ Collagen creams and collagen facials may be beneficial for temporary hydration to the skin, but they don't replace lost collagen. The two most beneficial skin care ingredients for helping the skin produce collagen are Vitamin A and C. 

Skin Myth #8: Natural and organic products are always better.

~ Skin care is normally derived from nature. Even synthetic ingredients are developed to mimic nature. 

~ Often, a 100% natural ingredient is not used alone in a skin care formulation because it would be too strong or active for skin and could cause redness or some kind of negative reaction to the skin. Synthetic compounds are added to skin care to help natural ingredients in the product work better.

~ A skin care product needs only to contain 2% of organic ingredients to be labeled organic

Skin Myth #9: Using larger quantities of a product will yield better results.

~ There's no need to use too much product as the skin can only absorb a certain amount of product. The amount of product used will depend on the amount of skin treated. For example, you may need more than a pea size amount of sun protection if you have a larger face, are using it on your neck, chest, ears or top of head.

Skin Myth #10: Mineral Oil is bad for your skin.

~ Thanks to modern science, skin care chemists and technology, mineral oil used in skin care is high end mineral oil made especially for the skin.

~ Mineral oil is fantastic for removing oil from pores because of the simple rule; oil attracts oil. Refined mineral oil used in skin care also has the added benefit of being able to simultaneously clean the skin of oil while hydrating the skin.

~ Mineral oil does not harm the skin or clog pores.

Skin Myth #11: Mineral Oil is Comedogenic.

~ Cosmetically grade mineral oil that is found in skin care is very different from the industrial grade mineral oil used for other purposes other than skin care.

~  Oil attracts oil. Mineral oil unclogs pores and removes dirt and oil from the skin while simultaneously hydrating the skin.

Skin Myth #12: Preservatives in skin care are bad.

~ Preservatives are needed to keep product fresh.

~ Products sold in large distribution channels such as drug store, department store and cosmetic counters sometimes use added preservatives not found in spa-type or clinical skin care with smaller distribution channels.

Skin Myth #13: Packaging is not important.

~ Good packaging, specifically airless pump packaging is important for certain ingredients to keep the ingredients fresh. Examples of ingredients where packaging is important are ingredients like Vitamin A and C which oxidize (turn color and loose effectiveness) when exposed to air.

Skin Myth #14: Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne.

~ Acne is caused by hormones, and all the factors like stress that affect hormone levels in the body. Oil can get stuck in skin cells that don't turn over (exfoliate) naturally.

~ Vitamin A applied topically (retinol) can help normalize oil and help speed up skin cell turnover so the over-abundance of oil produced in the skin doesn't get trapped in dead skin cells that are slow to exfoliate.

Skin Myth #15: Blackheads are caused by improperly cleansed skin.

~ Cleansing the skin in the morning and evening is important for keeping the skin clean and healthy.

~ To remove and prevent blackheads from appearing on the skin you'll need to use a good treatment product such as retinol in addition to your twice daily cleansing routine.

~ Bi-monthly or monthly facials which include a skin peel and professional blackhead removal is best for preventing and clearing blackheads from the pores of your skin.

Skin Myth #16: Drying problematic skin clears up acne.

~ The skin has its own natural process to even out oil and dryness. If you over dry your skin it will automatically send signals to produce more oil to compensate for the dryness which can cause more oil, leading to more acne blemishes.

~ Retinol is a treatment product known as the skin normalizer. When applied topically on your skin it will help your skin retail its natural balance and give your skin a natural glow.

Skin Myth #17: Get a base tan to prevent burning before going on vacation.

~ Any tanning or burning to the skin scares your skin and causes damage.

~ A tan makes the skin look older and is counter-productive to an anti-aging or healthy skin program. 

Skin Myth #18: All sun damage occurs before age 18.

~ Sun damage happens every time you expose your skin to the sun. 

Skin Myth #19: Indoor tanning is safe.

~ Tanning beds use UVA (aging rays) which are harmful and damaging to the skin and cells.

Skin Myth #20: Antioxidants reverse wrinkles.

~ Antioxidants help protect your skin from free radical damage which causes wrinkles and aging skin, but they do not reverse wrinkles.

Skin Myth #21: Skin damage and signs of aging can be cleared up easily.

~ Reversing skin damage and signs of aging is like dieting and exercise. It takes time to see results and should be a lifestyle commitment incorporating monthly facials, skin peels and clinical home care products customized for your individual skin needs.

Skin Myth #22: All alcohol in skin care is bad.

~ It really depends on the entire skin care formulation used. Some skin care products use forms of alcohol for emollient properties or to create pathways in the skin to assist in the performance of the product.

Skin Myth #23: Sun exposure will improve acne.

~ The sun thickens the skin and oil can get more easily trapped under thick skin, making the skin more acne prone.

Skin Myth #24: Alcohol abuse can cause your nose to become red and bulbous.

~ Alcohol intake can cause the skin to take on a red, flushed-like appearance for some skins. 

~ Alcohol can dehydrate the skin, causing lines and wrinkles to look more pronounced.

~ Alcohol can cause inflammation in the body, leading to less healthy skin.

~ A bulbous nose is caused by rosacea.

Skin Myth #25: Skin repair only happens at night.

~ Skin repair happens 24/7.

Skin Myth #26: Skin care products can last three or more years.

~ Most skin care lasts about a year. When skin care goes bad it will normally take on a different smell and change to a darker color.

Skin Myth #27: Strong scrubs, cleansers and abrasives are good for your skin.

~ For most skin types, using scrubs, abrasive buff-puffs or electronic cleansing devices every day can cause more damage than good. It's important to treat your skin with gently care. Use scrubs with caution-- 3 to 4 times per week. Some skin types may benefit from combining scrubs with cleanser to get a gentle, yet effective skin polishing effect.

Skin Myth #28: Vitamin A (retinol) thins the skin.

~ Vitamin A (retinol) builds up the skin's barrier function, increases collagen production, evens out oil and dryness in the skin, helps increase oxygen flow to the skin, and it does not thin the skin.

Skin Myth #29: The only form of Vitamin C that works is L-asorbic acid.

~ The truth is L-asorbic acid is a highly unstable form of vitamin C and oxidizes rather quickly when exposed to air, thus lessening the performance of the ingredient every time you open the packaging. There are better forms of Vitamin C that are more stable in an oil-based formula.

Skin Myth #30: There is one antioxidant ingredient that is the best.

~ Products which contain a variety of different antioxidants work best to protect your skin. There is not just one magic antioxidant, although new antioxidants are being discovered all the time.

Thanks for reading,

xoLK

Instant Gift Certificate