Beauty myths!

I’ve tried my fair share of hacks and tip/tricks that have been swore by. What I never used to realise however, is that these people didn’t get good skin through these hacks, they had good skin beforehand, using expensive products, so if you want to find out what I’ve discovered are not true, then read on! Here are the beauty myths you need to stop believing!

Makeup makes you break out.

False false false! As long as you wash it all off before you go to bed, then your skin won’t suffer! For me personally, when I wear makeup after not wearing it for a while, my skin looks better after I’ve washed it off than it did before I put it on. If you’re still skeptical and worried about wearing makeup because of the effects on your skin then start out with a lighter base. Use a BB cream, and see how your skin is affected. Many however, have found that makeup doesn’t make you break out/make your breakouts worse.

Organic products are the best products for your skin.

Coconut oil, organic but also comedogenic. This means that it blocks the pores of your skin resulting in breakouts. It’s also not good for your hair as it can clog the opening that the follicle sprouts from. It may seem like an attractive option due to its inexpensive appeal but I’d recommend going to the drugstore. There you can find inexpensive products designed specifically for skin and skin types. You’ll definitely find something that works better. Coconut oil does have a multitude of beneficial uses but it’s not the best for your skin.

Don’t moisturise oily skin.

Sadly, this is a tip I used to follow religiously and it’s something I regret. I used to apply foundation without a moisturiser, and I shudder at the thought. My foundation was patchy and before I even left the house, my face would be an oily mess. This is because, when you don’t hydrate/moisturise your face, your skin is tricked into thinking it’s dry. It means more oils are made to compensate, therefore your skin gets oiler. I knew my skin was too oily for my own good but I never knew the reason. Then I heard that this was a myth. I was amazed at how much longer my makeup lasted when I reintroduced a moisturiser into my daily skincare and makeup routine.

Toothpaste helps with pimples.

I’m sure you’ve heard that this is false and I can confirm it. I used to apply toothpaste to my pimples every night and I’d always wake up with them being more inflamed and painful than that night. I used to think that it was just bringing the bad stuff to the surface and drawing it out but it really wasn’t. It was just my skin reacting badly to it. I’m glad that I figured it out rather than damaging my skin further and continuing its use. Not only is it bad for your skin, but it’s messy! They claim that you should apply it just before you go to bed, that means you rub it all over your pillow. Obviously you wash bedsheets regularly but it’s still not nice to have a pillow case smeared with sticky toothpaste!

More expensive products are better because you’re paying for quality.

This is one of the biggest beauty myths people need to stop believing! It’s so not the case. Many foundations and other products easily rival and often beat the high end brands. For example, I believe that L’Oréal Infallible total cover is miles better than Mac Studio Fix. I feel that it applies so much smoother and even and it’s only a fraction of the price. Drugstore formulas are rapidly improving and Revolution is always providing dupes for high-end products that most of the time beat the product that inspire them. If you’re on a budget, the drugstore is your best friend and no-one would be able to say that you’re not wearing a costly foundation! That’s not to say that you should never buy high end brands because they do have good products, I’m just saying they may have more affordable alternatives.

You need to have a full skincare routine for clear skin.

Different things work for different people. Some people only need to wash their face and apply moisturiser while others have to have a full 10 step routine to keep their skin in its best conditions. Sometimes skin needs to breathe and in order to do that, you may need to keep skincare to a minimal. For this one, you may just need to play around and see what works best for your skin. I’m in the middle, probably using 5 steps in my skincare routine and I’m happy with how my skin is right now.

Read my skincare routine here.

If a new product gives you spots then stop using it.

Now, this is one to be careful with. I’d recommend using a new product for 2 weeks, even if you spots at first. This is because, the product may cause you to purge, this just means it’s bringing all the spot-causing substances to the surface of your skin and making you break out before the product begins to work. This generally happens in products that are supposed to clear your pores, the ingredients get in there and bring all the nasty stuff to the top so your skin can be clear and pores can unblock. If you’re still breaking out after a couple of weeks then you should probably discontinue use as a skin purged generally don’t last long.

Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker.

Now, I always used to believe this simply because once I shaved my legs, it grew back more stubbly and darker but this is only because you’ve shaved the top of the hair so it’s now a flat surface at the top of the hair rather than coming to a fine point. It also only looks darker because it’s fresh hair. I’m glad I know this now though because I now shave my face. It’s not as scary as it sounds! I was unhappy with how my foundation looked because of my peach fuzz so I took the plunge and I now shave it off. It’s a game changer! My foundation looks so much better because of it! My hair also hasn’t grown back thicker either! It’s a win-win! If you want me to do a blog post on how and why I shave my face then let me know in the comments below!

What’s the beauty myths you used to live by but realised you need to stop believing?