Wrinkle Worries

Entering the world of skincare can be a minefield! Only a few years ago, good quality, effective skincare was reserved for the wealthy. Now, high-end ingredients are in some of the most affordable products. Due to this, there is an abundance of information about the ingredients, and what effects they have on the skin. The trick to understanding what you want, and how to tackle your skin concerns is research. The more you research, the more specific ingredients will be mentioned. Having some basic knowledge will also help A LOT!

There are several skincare myths and debunking these will also help you make more informed decisions.

Myth 1–Sleeping in makeup on the odd occasion is fine?

Under no circumstances should makeup be slept in. A thorough double cleanse is needed before going to bed. Foundation can clog the pores, and this could lead to breakouts and skin irritation. I have read some horror stories online about eye infections, skin infections, and even long term problems caused by sleeping in makeup! You are doing such good work with your skincare, so why ruin it by not taking off your makeup!

Myth 2–It's not sunny so why bother with SPF?

Jeeezzz! There are certain skincare products, which will make your skin more sensitive to the sun and increase the risk of sunburn–namely Vitamin C and Retinol. The sun doesn't need to be out for UVA and UVB to attack your skin. Personally, I do not leave the house without my SPF 30 or 50 (depending on the time of year). I know that I do not have to worry about damaging my skin whilst out and about. Remember that one application is not enough when you are sweating heavily, or going swimming.

Myth 3–Hot showers are good for your skin?

Who has heard the old wives tale–hot showers open up the pores! Let's get this straight–pores are always open! There is no door to close. Pores can be shrunk, and filled in with certain skincare products and blurring primers. However, these need to be removed from the skin at the end of the day to decrease the possibility of breakouts or irritation.

Hot showers are actually pretty bad for the skin. Hot water will strip the skin of its natural oils, which can cause dryness and irritation.

Myth 4–Why use a moisturizer if you have oily skin?

There is a huge difference between having oily skin, and having moisturized skin. Regardless of your skin type, your skin needs moisture in order to be healthy. Research online articles about moisturizers geared towards your specific skin type, and get more information. I have dry/sensitive skin, so I lean more towards moisturizers which contain ingredients to boost hydration. I also prefer a water-based moisturizer as I have found some oilier moisturizers to be too heavy.

Myth 5–You can't over-exfoliate?

Um! Over-exfoliating is bad! Not just for your skin, but also for the environment (in some cases). There are still some exfoliating cleansers, which use micro plastic beads. As we all know, plastic is bad for the environment!

I would recommend researching a good exfoliator for your skin type, or more geared towards your skin concerns. There are a lot of chemical exfoliators that are fantastic when used properly. I use an exfoliating glycolic acid toner instead of an abrasive cleanser. Every now and then, I will also use my AHA/BHA 10 min mask if a more intense exfoliation is needed.

Over-exfoliating can damage the skin by stripping your natural oils. This can lead to dryness, skin peeling and irritation.

Myth 6–Coconut oil is a good facial moisturizer?

Coconut oil is well known for clogging the pores, and reacting with sensitive skin. I keep as far away as possible! I found that coconut oil was too heavy, caused breakouts, and irritated my skin. Unfortunately, coconut is used in a lot of skincare and makeup products. Have a good read of the ingredients before purchasing. I would also recommend reading online product reviews to see if the product is for you.

Myth 7–Pore strips are great for removing blackheads?

False! Pore strips, and the well known black peel off charcoal masks (aka peel off your face) are bad for the skin. They strip oils, can remove the top layer of skin, and can cause irritation.

If you have a problem with blackheads, I would suggest investing in a good cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. My son has been suffering badly with hormonal breakouts. We have tackled the problem by using a Vitamin C Cleanser, 5% Glycolic Acid Toner followed by a 2-in-1 Serum, and moisturiser containing Chamomile and Nicinamide. Within a few days, his skin was so much clearer.

Myth 8–Foods eaten cannot affect my skin?

Wrong! I really notice when I eat too much salt, sugar, and fast food! Too much salt makes me look puffy. Too much sugar can break down the natural production of collagen and elastin, which in turn can cause skin irritation, dullness, and even fine lines/wrinkles!

Too much fast food can cause my skin to be oilier than normal, and has led to breakouts.

Eating healthy will affect your skin appearance and condition. Think twice before stuffing that Friday night kebab in your face!

Myth 9–A base tan protects me from sunburn?

Say what! This is just wrong! Having a base tan does not stop you from getting sunburnt! A base can be used to deepen a tan, but it offers you no protection! SPF should always be worn even when the sun is not shining! UVA and UVB rays are very damaging to both the skin's surface and deeper into the dermal layers. We all know that the sun is harmful and associated with numerous cancers. We also all know what sunburn is like, and the pain/blistering that can occur. Why spend all this time and money on looking after your skin to ruin it! Get yourself a good SPF!

Myth 10–SPF in makeup is enough to protect me?

Wrong! SPF in makeup is a good thing, but it should not be relied upon to protect you. It is also worth noting that the SPF rating on the bottle does not reflect the SPF actually going into your skin. I have been reading a lot of articles on this and found that a foundation containing SPF 15 will require you to put on 10-14 layers in order to truly be SPF 15! Unless you are doing some kind of makeup layers challenge, you will not be getting effective sun protection.

There are a lot of good facial SPF lotions on the market, and they are worth investing in. I use La Roche-Posay and it is not greasy, sticky, and does not leave a white residue. It sinks into the skin quickly, and it has not affected my foundation when I have layered it on top.

Myth 11–You get spots/acne from not washing your face?

Breakouts can occur for numerous reasons–hormones, stress, time of the month etc. Not removing dirt and grime will clog the pores, and that can lead to breakouts. It also comes down to basic personal hygiene.

Acne is usually caused by a build up of sebum (skin oils), and dead skin cells. Bacteria (namely, Propionibacterium acnes) can become trapped, and this is the start of acne.

Myth 12–If it burns, that means it's working?

Tingling and slight stinging are pretty normal when applying some skincare products. Burning is not a good sign, and you should remove the product with water immediately. When I first started using Retinol, I experienced slight tingling, which lasted a couple of minutes. When I first started using Vitamin C, I experienced a stinging sensation, which lasted quite a while.

On the odd occasion, I have felt stinging when using a glycolic acid toner on a sensitive dry patch of skin. Again, the sensation is pretty quick to dissipate.

Myth 13–Natural/Organic means it's good for your skin?

This is not always the case! A lot of today's skincare ingredients are created rather than grown. Chemical compounds are being mixed/merged to create stronger, more stable, and more effective ingredients. Natural and organic ingredients are always appealing, but not necessarily effective at targeting specific skin problems. Early in this post, I mentioned coconut oil and how it can clog pores and cause breakouts. This is a natural product, but not the greatest of ingredients to have in facial skincare products.

Research a product's ingredients, read product reviews, and make a more informed decision about a product before buying.

Myth 14 –There is no such thing as too much skincare?

Oh, but there can be too much! Again, researching your products is key. There are some ingredients, which should not be mixed like high strength Retinol and high strength Vitamin C. There is also an order in which products should be applied to ensure the maximum benefits are being achieved. I go more into the order of products in my posts about my morning and evening routines.

Myth 15–Go straight for the highest strength product. There is no point starting with something lower?

Start low and build up! We are all seeking instant results from our products, and unfortunately this is not the case for your skin. There are some quick fixes, but overall, I am looking at improving my skin in the long term. Products like Retinol can take up to 6 months before a real change can be seen. Whilst on the subject of Retinol, this is one product, which should be started at a lower dose and gradually built up. I am planning on writing a post about Retinol, the various strengths, and how to increase the strength over time.

Myth 16–Don't worry about your skincare order. Just slap everything on?

Order is key! A lot of it is common sense TBH! Start with cleansing, then toning, serums, eye cream, treatments and moisturizer. Water-based products should be used before applying oil-based products. Work out where additional treatments could be added like face masks.

Myth 17–Wearing a full face of makeup every day is bad for your skin?

Wearing a full face of makeup every day is not bad for your skin. Not removing a full face is! Remember to do a thorough double cleanse to ensure that all traces have been removed. As I have mentioned before, pores can become clogged, which could lead to breakouts. Personally, I do not wear a full face every day. I like to allow my skin some down time.

I hope that this post has cleared up some myths regarding skincare.

Thanks for reading!