One thing I’ve learned from all these years online is that there’s a lot of false and unproven information floating around the internet about skincare and beauty. While some may seem harmless and can easily be proven wrong, others have the potential to harm people discovering beauty. Here we are going to talk about 10 beauty myths that turned out to be wrong!
1. Putting petroleum jelly on your eyelashes and eyebrows will help them grow longer and darker
There is no scientific evidence that confirms the benefits of Vaseline for hair growth and darkening. Some might claim that this method works wonders for them, but it’s probably the moisturizing properties of the product that can affect the appearance of the eyelashes or the temporary “lifted” effect you can achieve, similar to what happens when you put on some mascara. .
Other than that, Vaseline has emollient properties that lock in moisture, and it’s amazing for your eyelashes if you want them to look healthier and less dry and brittle. So, if you want to put Vaseline on your lashes, go for it! It may not make your eyelashes much longer and darker, but it will surely make them look healthier.
2. Toothpaste will make pimples disappear
This is one of the most harmful myths on this list. I have many friends who swear by this method, not knowing the long term effects that can occur if they keep doing it. Although it may temporarily relieve your acne by drying it out, toothpaste still irritates the skin.
Toothpaste is for the teeth, not for the skin! Eventually, the toothpaste will cause redness and flaking due to its abrasive properties. You don’t want that, do you? Instead, try to find an acne spot treatment that’s right for you. These are specifically designed to treat pimples, so it will work better than using something not intended for them.
3. Split ends can be repaired
If the ends of your hair are split and damaged, there’s no way to put them back together with products. The only way to make them go away is to cut off the damaged parts. Please don’t waste your money on products claiming to fix split ends, and don’t waste time mixing mayonnaise and eggs to create an “all-natural mask” to fix your damaged locks, because no of these will work. A little trimming for the health of your hair won’t hurt, will it?
4. Moisturizer is not necessary for oily skin
Those of you with oily skin might cringe at the thought of putting moisturizer on already shiny skin, but there’s a reason you have to! Your oily skin is the product of your skin’s lack of hydration. Overproduction of sebum is your skin’s way of telling you that it doesn’t feel very hydrated, so it compensates by producing oil. Since oily skin is mainly caused by genetic and environmental factors, it is not possible to change its condition, but you can help it meet its needs by moisturizing it.
For oily skin, the best moisturizers are those that are lightweight, non-comedogenic, and preferably water-based. It won’t add more oil to your already shiny skin, but it will leave it feeling refreshed and healthy with its need for hydration satisfied.
5. Acne face mapping is accurate
Have you ever seen an acne face map like the one above? This theory comes from ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, claiming that you can identify which intestine is causing your pimples. For example, acne on your cheek means there is a problem with your lungs, acne near your eyebrows means your heart has problems, and so on.
It’s a pretty interesting theory, but it equates to self-diagnosing your symptoms online and getting vaguely proven results that are often… too dramatic. There is no scientific evidence that supports this theory, just like with all other ancient medicinal theories. In conclusion, acne is not caused by organ problems, so face mapping is a myth.
6. Drinking water is the miracle solution to any beauty (and life) problem.
Do you have acne? Drink water. Want your hair to grow faster? Drink water. Dry skin? Drink water. Low self-esteem? Drink water. Constantly haunted by the fact that life is temporary and you’re just a speck of dust on the face of this earth? Drink water.
How often do you hear this? They’re all over Twitter’s self-care feeds. Don’t get me wrong, staying hydrated is very important! Your body is 60% water and it supports most of your bodily functions. You need water to live and maintaining your water of life and drinking the recommended daily amount will improve your overall health. Good health will make you even more beautiful, but it won’t miraculously turn you into a superhuman with perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect health, and perfect life.
Remember that drinking too much water will not help you either. It is as harmful as not drinking enough water. Just follow the recommended daily intake and you’ll be fine.
7. The skin can breathe
The skin has no lungs. He can’t breathe. Maybe what people mean by telling you to let your skin “breathe” is to not use products that will clog your pores. Clogged pores can lead to acne, blackheads, and other skin issues. It is therefore preferable to use non-comedogenic products.
8. Pores open when exposed to hot steam and cold water closes them
Pores don’t have muscles, so they can’t open and close. A more correct take on this theory is that hot steam helps loosen sebum stuck in your pores.
9. Coconut oil will help you with everything
Unfortunately, coconut oil is not a solution for everything, just like water. It moisturizes your body and hair quite well, but it is very harmful to your face and will not help you lose weight when consumed.
Coconut oil is high in capric acid that will clog your pores, ranking 4 (quite high) on the comedogenic scale (yes, there’s a scale for that). It’s also quite high in trans fat, so it won’t help you lose weight. It also increases cholesterol levels, both good and bad.
What I have personally found helpful with coconut oil is its ability to restore moisture to porous and damaged bleached hair. It doesn’t repair damage, but it does make hair softer and easier to brush.
10. Daily exfoliation is good for you
Too much exfoliation is bad. Anything overdone is bad. Experts recommend limiting exfoliation to 2-3 times per week. Exfoliation is meant to remove dry, dead skin cells, but overdoing it will cause the exact same problem it’s supposed to fix.
