One thing I've learned from all these years spending time online is that there are a lot of false, unproven information circulating the internet about skincare and beauty. While some might seem harmless and can easily be proven wrong, some others have the potential of harming people who are new to beauty. Here, we'll be talking about 10 beauty myths that have been proven wrong!
1. Putting Vaseline on your lashes and eyebrows will help them grow longer and darker
There is no scientific proof that confirms petroleum jelly's benefits for hair growth and darkening. Some might claim that this method works wonders for them, but it's probably just the moisturizing properties of the product that can affect the appearance of the lashes or the temporary "lifted" effect that you can get, similar to what happens when you put on mascara.
Aside from that, petroleum jelly has emollient properties that locks in moisture, and that's amazing for your lashes if you want them to be healthier and less dry and brittle. So, if you want to put Vaseline on your lashes, go ahead! It might not make your lashes dramatically longer and darker, but it'll surely make them healthier.
2. Toothpaste will make pimples go away
This is one of the most harmful myths on this list. I have many friends who swear by this method, not knowing the long term effects that can happen if they keep doing this. Even though this can provide temporary relief for your acne by drying it out, toothpaste still irritates the skin.
Toothpaste is for teeth, not for skin! Eventually, the toothpaste will cause redness and peeling because of its abrasive properties. You don't want that, right?
Instead of this, try finding an acne spot treatment that suits you. Those are made specifically for treating pimples, so it'll work better than using something that isn't meant for them.
3. Split ends can be repaired
If your hair's ends are split and damaged, there is no way to put them back together using products. The only way to have them gone is to trim the damaged parts. Please don't waste your money on products claiming to fix split ends, and don't waste time mixing mayonnaise and eggs to create an "all-natural mask" to repair your damaged locks, because none of these are going to work. A little trim for the health of your hair won't hurt, right?
4. Moisturizer isn't necessary for oily skin
Those of you with oily skin might cringe at the thought of putting on moisturizer on already shiny skin, but there's a reason why you must! Your oily skin is the product of the lack of moisture in your skin. The sebum overproduction is your skin's way of telling you that it's not feeling very hydrated, so it compensates by producing oil. Since oily skin is mostly brought by genetic and environmental factors, it's not possible to change the way it is, but you can help fulfill what it needs by moisturizing.
For oily skin, the best moisturizers are the ones that are light, non-comedogenic and preferably water-based. It won't add more oil to your already shiny skin, but it'll leave it feeling refreshed and healthy with its need for hydration fulfilled.
5. Acne face-mapping is accurate
Have you ever seen an acne face map like the one above? This theory originates from ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, claiming that you could pinpoint which gut is causing your pimples. For instance, acne on your cheek means that there's an issue with your lungs, acne near your eyebrows means that your heart is having problems, and so on.
This is a pretty interesting theory, but it's equivalent to self-diagnosing your symptoms online and getting loosely proven results that are oftentimes... overdramatic. There is no scientific proof that confirms this theory, just as with any other ancient medicinal theories. In conclusion, acne isn't caused by organ problems, so face mapping is a myth.
6. Drinking water is the miracle solution to any beauty problem (and life problems)
Have acne? Drink water.
Want your hair to grow faster?
Drink water. Dry skin? Drink water. Low self-esteem? Drink water. Constantly haunted by the fact that life is temporary and you're just a speck of dust on the face of this earth? Drink water.
How often do you hear this? They're all over Twitter's self-care threads. Don't get it wrong though, staying hydrated is very important!
Your body is made of 60% water, and it supports most of your bodily functions. You need water to live and to sustain your living and drinking water according to the daily recommended amount will improve your overall health. Good health will make you look even more beautiful, but it won't make you miraculously transcend into a superhuman with perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect health, and a perfect life.
Remember, drinking too much water isn't going to help you either. It's just as harmful as not drinking enough water. Just follow the recommended daily intake and you'll be fine.
7. Skin can breathe
Skin doesn't have lungs. It can't breathe. Perhaps what people mean by telling you to let your skin "breathe" is to not use products that will clog your pores. Clogged pores can lead to acne, comedones and other skin issues, so it's best to use noncomedogenic products.
8. Pores open when exposed to hot steam, and cold water closes them
Pores don't have muscles, so they can't open and close. A more correct approach to this theory is that hot steam does help loosen up sebum that is stuck in your pores.
9. Coconut oil will help you with everything
Coconut oil is, sadly, not a solution to everything, just like water. It does a pretty good job of moisturizing your body and hair, but it's very harmful to your face and it won't help you lose weight when consumed.
Coconut oil has a high capric acid content that will clog your pores, ranking 4 (fairly high) on the comedogenic scale (yes, there's a scale for that). It's also pretty high on trans fat, so it's not going to help you lose weight. It also raises cholesterol levels, both the good and the bad kind.
What I've personally found useful with coconut oil is its ability to restore moisture on porous and damaged bleached hair. It doesn't repair the damage, but it significantly makes the hair softer and easier to brush through.
10. Exfoliating daily is good for you
Too much exfoliation is bad. Anything that is overdone is bad. Experts recommend limiting exfoliation to 2-3 times a week. Exfoliation is meant to scrub away dry and dead skin cells, but overdoing it will cause the exact same problem that it's meant to solve.
