Will constantly wearing nail polish really make them turn yellow? Does chocolate really cause breakouts? (Let’s hope not). Luckily, there’s no need to wonder about lipstick legends and foundation fables any longer…
We sought help from some of the best in the (beauty) biz, to clear up some of the biggest beauty myths of all time.
Myth 1. Wearing your make-up to bed will give you pimples.
True.
“Not cleaning your makeup off at night is an absolute no-no. Leaving your skin unclean may well cause pimples as your face needs time to ‘breath’ and regenerate.” – Nicola Burford, make-up artist
Myth 2. Testing lipstick on the back of your hand is an accurate depiction of the shade.
False.
“Testing lipstick on the back of your hand will not give you the most accurate idea of how the lipstick will look on your lips. This is because the skin on your hand is a totally different texture and colour to your lips. Really, the only way to know how a lipstick will look is to try it on – just make sure you have the lipstick hygienically cleaned before application, and applied with a disposable brush.” – Nicola Burford, make-up artist
Myth 3. Soap is bad for your skin.
False.
“Soap is not bad for the skin. Most soaps contain surfactants, which are designed to remove oil from the skin. Some soaps may contain a higher concentration of surfactant than others, which can dramatically affect the PH level of our skin. This is why you may find some brands of soap more drying than others, and some that may not react well with your skin. If you notice that a particular soap leaves your skin feeling dry or even oily you need to discontinue use.” – Mahtab Newey, Dermadesign
Myth 4. Stick to one brand and line of products.
False.
“This is a very strong marketing tactic that companies use so we only buy their brand. You can mix as many different brands in your skincare routine as you like. I personally believe in getting the best of both worlds – my cleanser, toner and moisturisers are three completely different brands.” – Mahtab Newey, Dermadesign
Myth 5. You don’t need to use sunscreen on a cloudy day.
False.
“You need to use a sunscreen that protects you from UVA & UVB. Unfortunately UVA is around every day of the year even on a cloudy day. The best advice I have is to buy a moisturiser that contains a SPF 30
.” – Mahtab Newey, Dermadesign
Myth 6. Hypoallergenic products can’t cause allergic reactions
False.
“Strictly speaking, hypoallergenic products have less of a risk of allergy, but not zero risk. Our skin and body can react to absolutely anything and develop an allergy.” – Mahtab Newey, Dermadesign
Myth 7. It’s never too early to start using anti-ageing products
True and False.
“Some anti-ageing products can be irritating for a young skin. I believe that from the age of 25 plus you should start slowly. – Mahtab Newey, Dermadesign. Bh’s Olivia adds, “I use anti-ageing creams on my eyes (and I’m only 21), as I believe it’s never too early to start prevention – it is the best cure after all!’’
Myth 8. Chocolate causes breakouts.
False.
“It is a myth that chocolate causes breakouts, which is great news for chocolate lovers. But there is evidence to show what you eat does play a role in acne prevention. Research by RMIT showed a diet higher in protein and including low Glycemic Index (GI) foods had a positive effect on acne-prone skin. Chocolate has a moderate GI due to its fat content, so you can enjoy your chocolate if you want to and not worry about acne. But be careful not to go overboard as chocolate is still high in fat end energy. Instead make sure your diet includes more natural foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, lean red meat, seafood and whole grains and try to keep processed food and takeaway to a minimum.” – Megan Alsford, Accredited Practising Dietitian
Myth 9. Wearing nail polish all the time will make your nails turn yellow.
False.
“Quite frequently, the main cause of yellowing is from incorrect application of nail polish. The correct way to wear nail polish to avoid staining and increase wearability is to firstly apply a base coat, then two coats of enamel, followed by a top coat. Always use a good quality base coat (CND recommends Stickey Base Coat). This not only assists the polish to adhere better but will also help prevent nails from staining as it acts as a barrier between the polish and your natural nails.” – Danelle Barr, National Sales and Education Manager, Creative Nail Design
Christi Oster, International Master Educator for Orly agrees…
“Superficial yellow staining is most often caused by not using a base coat when applying nail lacquers and leaving nail lacquer on for a really long time (I’m talking to all the people who don’t remove existing lacquer before reapplying!) It can also be a result of smoking or a vitamin deficiency.”¨To prevent it, when applying lacquer, make sure you always use a base coat to seal the natural nail and remove lacquer between applications! A daily multi vitamin is great for natural nail health as well. To overcome stained nails, try soaking your nails in a whitener (Like Orly’s Nail Whitener) during a manicure.”
Myth 10. Brushing your hair 100 strokes a day will make it shine.
False.
“100 strokes a day is a lot of brushing and is likely to be more damaging than good. Shiny hair is the result of the hair cuticle lying flat thus creating a smooth surface. If your hair is lacking shine then I suggest that you may need to change your shampoo and conditioner, these days lots of brands have shine enhancing shampoos that go to work on the repairing the hairs cuticle.” – Barney Martin, Pantene’s Expert Stylist
Myth 11. Dotting on toothpaste can help get rid of pimples.
False.
“This is an old myth and the reason it sometimes works is because toothpaste is anti-bacterial. However, it can also have the adverse effect as unfortunately the fluoride used in most toothpaste can make our skin very irritated.” – Mahtab Newey, Dermadesign
Myth 12. Rinsing your hair with beer will make it thicker.
True.
“Apparently they used to use pure brewed beer to rinse hair. The reason for this is that the hops in the beer swells the hair shaft and therefore gives the hair the appearance of having more body. If you are going to try this at home I would suggest that you only do it in minor doses and be careful as the yeast can leave your hair feeling a bit crunchy – use a natural beer instead of a lager.” – Barney Martin, Pantene’s Expert Stylist
