With so many skincare products saturating the market telling you what you should and shouldn’t do for your skin, it can be tricky to determine the correct way to care for your skin. Many myths may currently dictate your beauty routine and could also be the reason your skin isn’t reaching its health potential. Check out the following skincare do’s and don’ts to see if there’s something you should be incorporating, or leaving out, in order to achieve the best skin possible.
1. Washing Your Face With Hot Water Will Open Up Your Pores And Give You A Better Clean
Not true. Steam can work on opening up your pores to give you a better clean, but washing your face with hot water can actually damage it. If the water is too hot, it can strip your skin of its natural, protective barrier and also dry it out. For best cleansing results, stick to lukewarm water when washing your face.
2. Eating Chocolate Will Give You Breakouts
Not true. What you eat can definitely affect your overall health, including the look and feel of your skin, but eating chocolate is not the sole reason you’re breaking out. When you eat a chocolate bar, it’s not the cocoa that’s causing you to break out, but instead the amount of sugar found in the chocolate you’re ingesting. A diet high in fat and sugars can trigger your sebum production to increase, but that doesn’t correlate chocolate to breakouts. As women, we also tend to overindulge on our periods, but our breakouts are most likely coming from the hormonal increase in sebum production, rather than the chocolate we eat.
3. You Don’t Need To Moisturise If You Have Oily Skin
Not true. Many people confuse hydration and oil, but oil does not equal hydration. Dehydrated skin can lead to early signs of ageing, breakouts, and inflammation. If your skin becomes dry, it actually starts to produce more oil, which can clog your pores. If you have oily skin, try finding a lightweight moisturiser or serum, rather than heavy cream, to keep your skin hydrated.
4. Using Products Indicated As “Natural” Is Always The Best For My Skin
Not true. Skincare products that are “natural” can be good for your skin, but they tend to have a much quicker expiration date due to the lack of preservatives they contain. Without cosmetic preservatives, these products are more susceptible to the growth of bacteria, yeast and mould. So if you decide to use natural skincare products, it’s important to pay close attention to their expiration date and dispose of them when necessary.
5. Toners Are An Unnecessary Step In A Skincare Routine
Not true. Toners rebalance your skin’s pH, while also keeping it moisturized, which makes toning one of the most important steps in a skincare routine. Not every toner is alike, so be sure to find the right one that fits your skin type and needs. There are toners for calming your skin, clearing breakouts, evening skin tone, and so on.
6. Retinoid Products Should Only Be Used When You Have Wrinkles
Not true. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that boost collagen production, unclog pores, and speed up cell turnover. This means that using a retinoid can prevent fine lines, reduce acne, and help even out skin discolouration A retinoid can be a key to your anti-ageing skincare routine, while also giving your skin a fresh glow. Photo by STIL on Unsplash. Collaboration.