Busting Five Common Skincare Myths
Written by Danielle Horgan
Nowadays there are copious amounts of information about the ideal skincare routine to help gain a flawless complexion. But the truth is, there’s no one size fits all approach to perfect skin because it varies from one person to the next depending on the individual’s lifestyle & their genetics. Some say we must exfoliate regularly for clear, clean skin and others swear by cleansing morning and night. So which is it?
Here I’ve busted five of the most common myths that will help you navigate your own skincare routine with confidence.
1. Myth: The morning cleanse
It isn’t necessary to cleanse in the morning if you are cleansing properly in the evening before bed.
As the number one skincare rule, you absolutely should be removing all your make up and hydrating your skin before going to sleep so the skin can regenerate effectively overnight. Providing you’re doing this, just simply splash your face with warm water in the morning, using a cleanser again is just a waste. On waking up, if your skin feels greasy or has a build-up of product from the night before, use lighter products before bed rather than resorting to another cleanse in the morning to get that fresh-faced clean feeling.
2. Myth: Use harsh products to tackle acne-prone skin
If you suffer from breakouts, it feels like a no-brainer to try and dry blemishes out with strong ingredients. However, acne skin is inflamed and the skin is compromised, so we shouldn't be putting acids and alcohol onto inflamed broken skin; use gentle products to help soothe the skin whilst cleaning it.
Similarly, over-cleansing with a foaming cleanser that leaves skin squeaky clean encourages further oil production, increases inflammation, and can prevent skin from healing. Look for non-stripping cleansers, anti-inflammatory toners, and products that are kind to skin.
3. Myth: Stay away from oils if you have oily/acne-prone skin
Not the case! Oiliness can be caused by many different reasons such as stress, diet, and genetics; but it can also be caused by a lack of hydration.
Our skin naturally has an oily layer called the “acid mantle” which is our skin’s first line of defense. If we use harsh products to tackle blemishes and oily skin it can strip this vital acid mantle back, so then the skin sends signals to the sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
Using oils on oily skin can have the opposite effect, it can decrease oil production as the skin recognizes it is hydrated and doesn’t signal to produce more. Use something light like jojoba oil which you'll find in the Organic face and eye serum.
4. Myth: Leave a treatment mask on for longer to yield better results
Think again! Time limits on these products are set for a reason and leaving a mask on for longer could have damaging effects on the skin and cause irritations.
This applies mainly to masks that contain acids such as hyaluronic acid which helps to add moisture, glycolic acid to exfoliate and salicylic acid to treat blemished skin.
Similarly, leaving clay masks on for too long can dry out the skin, which is never a good look and defeats the object of treating your face to a mask in the first place.
Do your skin a favor and stick to the instructions for optimum results.
5. Myth: Burning means it’s working
No! It’s more likely that you are having a reaction to the product. It’s normal for skin to turn a little pink/flushed if applying stronger products, but if it turns red and starts looking angry then remove the product immediately. It’s important to remember that not every product suits every skin type. If you have sensitive skin, use more calming ingredients to prevent any flare-ups or irritations.
In Conclusion
One of the biggest skincare myths is the belief that organic or natural skincare is not as effective or results-oriented as synthetic skincare.
Whilst there are benefits to both, the holistic approach is becoming increasingly popular with many opting to “go green” with their skincare, because what goes onto our skin simply gets absorbed into our bodies. Chemical toxins are very destructive whereas natural products, made from flower and plant extracts, are designed to nourish our bodies and do nothing but good...and why wouldn’t you want anything but good for your skin!
Danielle Horgan
Danielle has over 10 years of experience as a Health and Wellness PR working for a range of high profile skincare brands. A certified Yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner, Danielle is passionate about a 360 approach to skincare routed in exercise, plant-based nutrition, and high-quality natural products that yield great results.
