Skincare Myths, Mistakes And Misconceptions: What You Think You Know, And What You Should Now
Skincare is an undoubtedly important topic. Regardless of age, gender or race, the skin you’re in is one of the most important, and yet the most vulnerable organs we have – so it’s important to take care of it properly. Now that’s where the problems come in. There is so much misinformation around skin– perpetuated by businesses and traditions alike – and often, it’s easier to damage your skin than it is to help it, by committing these simple skincare mistakes. So what should you absolutely not do?
Overindulge in aloe-based moisturisers.
Is aloe good for redness, irritation and sunburns? Yes, absolutely.
Is it also going to dry your skin out if over-used? Yes, absolutely.
One of the common skincare mistakes is people believing that since aloe is good at healing, it should be good at everything else; and yes, aloe has an incredibly soothing and healing component. Theoretically, it is also incredibly good at moisturising (being almost 99% just water) but, in reality, it is not good at actually helping your skin retain the moisture it provides.
So while, yes, aloe is beneficial, it should not be the main source of hydration for your poor skin. Try not using it daily, or mixing it up with other moisturising substances.
Use walnut scrubs.
This is a no-no.
Scrubs work by, well, scrubbing away at the dead cells on the top layer of your skin, helping you shed it akin to a beautiful snake.
The problem here is, however, that the skin on your face is very sensitive – and walnut shells are just not good at accounting for that. The edges of walnut dust can be very sharp and abrasive; skincare mistakes are common and forgivable, but you don’t want micro-cuts and irritation all over the most visible part of your body.
In addition, walnuts are an incredibly widespread allergen – and is this really how you want to find out if you’re allergic to them?
Don’t do that to your face. Invest into (or make) a sugar-based scrub, or buy a chemical exfoliator instead.
Use clay if you have dry skin.
Clay. The supposed miracle worker of skincare, especially messy pores – the supposed godly unclogger, shine-control substance and exfoliator… will just join the list of skincare mistakes for skin types that are too sensitive or dry.
I know, you want those pores gone and invisible, but you don’t want your skin to dry out and start peeling. You also don’t want your face to burn for the remainder of the day because you weren’t aware of just how sensitive your skin is (guilty as charged).
Only use clay products for oily skin, and even then – don’t use them daily. Moderation is key.
Confuse blackheads with sebaceous filaments.
The most common struggle, and one of the most popular skincare mistakes that people make, is assuming that any instance of visible pores immediately signifies blackheads.
What most people think are blackheads are actually just sebaceous filaments. What’s the difference?
Blackheads are clogged hair follicles. They’re basically, really, just dirt – skin scum, basically, that actually looks black due to oxidising, hence the name. These villains do need to be cleared away – they serve no purpose and just stay there until you do.
Sebum, however, is just oil from the oil glands of your skin. It’s there to moisturise your skin, so removing it is just doing yourself a disservice – and a negligible one, too, because the oil will just come back.
If your pores are super visible and are giving you a hard time, then focus on minimising pores, and for the love of god – don’t squeeze them out.
Correlate skin problems with cleanliness.
Newsflash! Acne happens because of health issues, hormonal imbalances and many other things!
Do not tell people that they should go wash their faces, and do not try to excessively wash yours – you’ll just dry it out, which is among most common skincare mistakes most teenagers commit.
Read up on skin types and/or see a doctor. You will not solve this with extra soap.
