It is time to set the record straight. Thanks to the internet and social media, there is a lot of skincare information and advice that is being shared online. This can be a good and a bad thing, as a lot of the information is conflicted or simply not true. Even with scientific information being more accessible, certain myths continue to pervade. Let us debunk the most common skincare myths, once and for all.

MYTH 1: Sensitive skin is the result of an allergic reaction.
FACT: Some cases of sensitive skin occur because of an allergy but, more frequently, it develops because the r skin is overreactive, not truly allergic. Skin reactivity may be caused by emotional factors, illness, medication, unsuitable products, major dehydration, or environmental pollutants.

MYTH 2: Sensitive skin only occurs with dry skin.
FACT: Dry skin is frequently sensitive. However, if the sensitivity is due to overactivity or an allergy, any skin type, dry, oily, or combination skin, can become sensitized.

MYTH 3: Sensitive skin should not be exfoliated.
FACT: You can still exfoliate your skin, but do not use abrasive products, such as beads or granules, and reduce the frequency.

MYTH 4: Only use products labelled hypoallergenic on sensitive skin, as they are specifically formulated for sensitive skin.
FACT: When a product is labelled hypoallergenic, it simply means that it does not contain ingredients known to be common allergens. An allergic reaction is, therefore, unlikely but still possible. Quality skincare brands would never use known allergens in their products, which makes this term inconsequential.

MYTH 5: Skin will adapt and become used to ingredients contained in products, and these will not work as well as they did initially.
FACT: That is like saying taking daily vitamins will cause your body to become immune to them so they will not work as well. The fact is that your skincare regimen should be changed according to your skin’s needs and when seasons change, as your skin will need different ingredients to target its precise requirements.

MYTH 6: Synthetic ingredients are bad for your skin; natural botanical extracts are better.
FACT: Actually, the opposite can also be true. Synthetic ingredients can be formulated without known allergenic components and have increased benefits for the skin due to their concentration. “Natural” or “organic” skincare products don’t have the same regulations and restrictions and, just because something is natural, like poison oak, for example, it doesn’t always make it better.

MYTH 7: Your skin is dehydrated because you do not drink enough water.
FACT: There is no evidence that shows increasing your water intake will hydrate your facial skin. When we drink water, it hydrates our bodies. However, it does not target our facial skin. Many factors can cause the skin to be dehydrated, like compromised barrier function, trans-epidermal water loss, certain medications, pollution, and harsh products, for example. To hydrate the skin, we need to apply daily moisturizers that contain hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, as well as nourishing ingredients to reinforce the hydro lipidic barrier.

MYTH 8: The more you cleanse skin, the quicker acne will clear up.
FACT: Cleansing the skin aggressively and frequently can actually worsen acne.

MYTH 9: Tanning clears acne on the skin.
FACT: A tan may temporarily mask acne, but tanning will not eliminate it.  

MYTH 10: Squeezing pimples will help them go away faster.
FACT: By squeezing pimples, you may push bacteria further into the skin, thus damaging the ostia and causing more swelling and redness. Permanent scarring may also occur.

MYTH 11: Anti-aging skin care products should only be used by people who are 40 years of age or older.
FACT: Anti-aging products generally target specific types of aging. Expression lines, for example, can begin to appear when you are in your 20s and require an “anti-aging” product that will assist to minimize their appearance and keep the skin looking youthful. Retinol is another great ingredient to use at a younger age, as it can delay skin aging and even assist with acne. Your aesthetician is always your best reference, as she/he will provide a skin analysis to ensure you are using the correct anti-aging products for your skin during your 20s, 30s, all the way to your 80s and 90s.

MYTH 12: I’ve never had a beauty routine because my mother never applied facial products and always had beautiful skin with few wrinkles.
FACT: Genetic aging is responsible for 10% of aging versus environmental aging, which is responsible for 90% of skin aging.

MYTH 13: It is possible to only use one product during the day and at night and still obtain excellent results.
FACT: Day and night products are formulated differently as the skin’s functions are not the same during the day and at night. During the day, the skin needs protection from airborne pollutants, bacteria, and increased hydration and nourishment to keep its hydro-lipidic barrier intact when exposed to the elements. At night, the skin goes into its “repair” cycle. Therefore, nighttime products should contain ingredients that assist the reparative actions of the skin.

MYTH 14: You don’t need an eye cream. You can just use a regular skin cream around the eyes.
FACT: Creams designed for the face do not have the ingredients that target the specific concerns of the eye area. Facial creams may be too lipidic for the eye contour and cause puffiness and even irritation around the eyes. Products for the eyes are generally more aqueous-based and contain specific ingredients to minimize puffiness, dark circles, expression lines, and wrinkles leaving the eyes looking youthful and radiant.