By Nneoma N.
Ever heard that combing your hair many times a day makes it grow? or that washing with conditioner instead of shampoo is better or that putting toothpaste on your pimples clears it up?
While some of these are true, alot is junk and thats why we’re setting the record straight on 10 beauty myths that we’ve heard over time.
Myth 1: SUNSCREEN IS ONLY FOR FAIR or WHITE PEOPLE
FALSE: One beauty myth I’m sure you’ve heard too many times is that sunscreen is for only fair people. This is so wrong on all levels. There is no research or documentation validating this claim, every skin tone requires protection from the sun; fair,dark,caramel e.t.c. Although burning may not be obvious on dark skin, it doesn’t mean spending endless time in the sun is completely harmless. Sun damage is still the leading cause of premature aging and hyperpigmentation. If you’re going to have fun in the sun, be sure to wear your SPF!
Myth 2: EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS ARE BETTER/SAFER THAN CHEAP BEAUTY PRODUCTS
FALSE: The absolute truth is that there are good and bad products in all price categories. When buying skincare products you need to look at the formulation, checkout online reviews and ingredients used in production and not price tag. A good case study is Dudu Osun, popularly reviewed to as African black soap. This all natural native soap has been giving its expensive counterparts a run for their money. That a product costs an arm and a leg doesnt mean it is better to use. Spending less does not hurt your skin and spending more does not help it either.
Myth 3: BE GENTLE WHEN WASHING YOUR FACE
TRUE: Your face is not one of those pans lying in your kitchen that you need to scrub squeaky clean. Scrubbing your face with so much pressure can damage the blood vessels and lead to discoloration and bleeding , be sure to take it easy next time you scrub and buff.
Myth 4: MAKEUP MADE WITH SPF IS AS EFFECTIVE AS WEARING SUNSCREEN
FALSE: Let’s think about it this way, foundation, primer, or concealer are made with a lot of products and to get the proposed amount of sunscreen, you need about 14 times the actual amount of foundation you wear daily (which is virtually impossible). While it is advisable to use beauty products with SPF, it can also gives us a false sense of security. Sunscreen-infused products are convenient but relying on them does not guarantee full protection from the sun.
Myth 5: RINSING YOUR HAIR WITH BEER CAN MAKE YOUR HAIR STRONGER AND FULLER
TRUE: Now, don’t let the smell of beer stop you from trying this cheap, fool-proof technique. It has been discovered that Beer works to swell and widen the hair follicles due to its active ingredients of barley and hop. These ingredients help to make the hair thicker, stronger and shinier. Beer not only boosts the hair volume, it also penetrates deep and nourishes the scalp from inside, plus the alcohol in the beer contains B vitamins that load up your hair with shine. So next time you find yourself going out for drinks, remember to grab a bottle for your hair!
Myth 6: WHEN A PRODUCT MAKES YOUR SKIN TINGLE, IT’S A GOOD SIGN
FALSE: You know that hot tingling sensation you feel on your skin when you put a product on it? That’s your skins way of telling you it’s irritated and you should avoid using that product. Further use of the product might cause collagen and elastin breakdown and increase growth of bacteria that causes pimples. So next time a product makes your skin tingle, it’s time to do away with it.
Myth 7: APPLY MOISTURIZER ON DAMP SKIN
TRUE: This is one great beauty tip for ladies with dry skin. Moisturizing while your body is still damp helps seal in moisture and prevent dry, itchy skin.
Myth 8: DIRT HELPS THE HAIR
FALSE: This beauty myth is partly true. The hair is full of natural oils that help in making it healthy, and if over washed will result in the removal of these vital oils causing the hair to become brittle and dry. However, the myth that dirt makes your hair grow is in fact false. Product build-up and dirt clogs pores over time leading to dirty smelly hair which is in no way beneficial in keeping the scalp and hair in good condition.
Myth 9: YOU DONT NEED SUNSCREEN ON A CLOUDY DAY
FALSE: Do you know that the cloud only blocks 20% of sunrays? if you do your math well that should definitely tell you something. Putting on sunscreen should be a top priority for everyone, come rain or sunshine.
Myth 10: NATURAL INGREDIENTS ARE BETTER THAN CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS
FALSE: Just because a product grows out from the ground or is found in nature does not make it better for the skin and because a product has synthetic ingredients, does not make it bad for the skin either. Not only is the word “natural” hazy, its also thrown around by many cosmetic companies for pure marketing purposes.