Scroll your app o’choice or stroll down the beauty aisle and you’ll encounter a barrage of ingredients, techniques and opinions that make you feel like you’re doing things wrong. Double cleansing, humectants, retinoids – oh my! In an age when we’re all handing around beauty advice like pieces of gum and skincare myths run rife, things can get inaccurate – and harmful – very quickly.
So, we at GRAZIA have asked the experts to cut through all the skincare noise and debunk seven of the biggest skincare myths. You, and your face, can thank us later.
MYTH: ‘DOING THE MOST’ IS BEST
“You don’t need to use 15 products at a time to get results,” debunks Dr. Angelo Landriscina, aka DermAngelo.”The bare minimum is a cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen. Other products can be added for specific concerns. A skincare routine should be directed by what the end goal is. Using too many superfluous products can actually be counterproductive.”
Dr. Derrick Phillips, Consultant Dermatologist at Biolite, couldn’t agree more. “One of the biggest problems I encounter in clinic is overly complicated, multistep skincare routines. In the search for radiant, glowing skin, people try to squeeze too many actives into their routine, and this can be counterproductive, triggering breakouts and damaging the skin barrier, resulting in dry irritated skin, and the potential development of perioral dermatitis. Simplicity is key, and I always advise my patients to stick to three or four-step routines, with the choice of active dependent on the specific concern being addressed. The routine should allow ample time for the skin to recover after using harsh ingredients such as retinol and acids.”
MYTH: VITAMIN C SHOULD NOT BE USED DURING SUMMER
“Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant that boosts the efficacy of sunscreen, preventing sunburn, redness, sensitivity, and pigmentation. Apply your serum every morning, especially in summer, under sunscreen for enhanced protection,” advises Dr. Ecaterina Lica, Specialist Dermatologist at AEON Clinic.
MYTH: BACTERIA IS BAD
Our skin is essentially a large ‘eco-system’ of bacteria and fungi – known as the microbiome,” explains Dr. Sophie Shotter, Aesthetician at BioLite. “Microbiome skincare is huge at the moment, as many people are realising the importance of balancing this to support healthy skin. With healing properties, adding a microbiome-based product to your regime can support skin conditions such as eczema, wrinkles and ageing.”
MYTH: YOU DON’T NEED A SEPARATE CREAM FOR THE EYE AREA
“The delicate skin around the eyes requires special care. Eye creams contain ingredients to improve microcirculation, nourish and prevent wrinkles caused by muscle movement. Facial and eye skin differ significantly in thickness and gland density,” reveals Dr. Lica.
MYTH: DOUBLE CLEANSING IS FOR EVERYONE
“Double cleansing involves using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup, followed by a water-based cleanser to remove dirt and debris,” Dr Philllips tells us. “This is not suitable for people with oily, blemish-prone skin as additional oil can block the pores and cause further breakouts. If you have oily-blemish-prone skin, stick to a single cleanse or consider micellar water to remove stubborn makeup. Many of my patients with stubborn acne have seen a dramatic improvement by following this simple step.”
MYTH: NATURAL IS ALWAYS BEST
“While some natural ingredients can be beneficial, not all are suitable for every skin type, and some may even cause irritation or allergic reactions,” warns Dr. Halah Taha, Aesthetician at Dubai clinic Ouronyx. “It’s essential to consider the specific needs of your skin and seek professional guidance when choosing skincare products.”
MYTH: OILY SKIN BENEFITS FROM ALCOHOL-BASED LOTIONS
“Overuse of alcohol-based products can dehydrate the skin, disrupt the skin barrier and worsen oil production and inflammation,” explains Dr. Lica.
So, now we’ve set straight the biggest skincare myths, you can navigate the beauty world a little more easily and say hello to brighter, more beautiful skin.
This story originally appeared on GRAZIA Middle East