9 Common Skincare Myths Debunked

The beauty industry is on a roll, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. In the growing jungle of beauty and skincare, more and more beauty trends, makeup hacks, skincare products, and the like are popping up here and there, every day. Name a skin issue, no matter how obscure it is, and there’s definitely an item out there that can address your skin’s needs. 

This has resulted in numerous individuals curating a regular beauty routine, either based on their own skin types or skincare advice that they’ve heard over the years. Despite the trend, it’s actually surprising that a lot of information on skin care is actually wrong. Consumers end up absorbing information that turn out to be based on myths, and in the end, either practice a habit that’s damaging to the skin or buy a product to address a skin issue that has no basis at all. 

To help you and your skin, we’ve listed down several of the most common skincare myths out there and debunked them! Check them out!

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Myth 1: There’s no need to wear sunscreen when it’s cloudy.

Let’s start off with this one! It’s a common belief out there that if the sun’s hiding behind numerous clouds, there’s no need to wear sunscreen. Additionally, it’s also a common belief that it also isn’t necessary when staying indoors all the time. 

We’re breaking the news to you: you still need sunscreen even when it’s cloudy outside and even if you’re indoors. 

While the sun may not be visible to the naked eye, its UV rays still reach the earth and will definitely affect your skin in the long run. Unless you’re in a sealed room without any windows, UV rays can and will pass through glass, hence the need for sunblock even indoors. Sun protection is a must to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

Myth 2: The higher the SPF, the better.

On the tangent of sunscreens, there’s also this myth that the higher the SPF a sunscreen has, the better it can protect your skin. Sometimes, this myth even extends to a belief that having a higher SPF means there’s no need to reapply it throughout the day. 

There’s no sun protection out there that can completely block 100% of the sun’s UV rays. In addition, there’s no added benefit if you choose SPF 50 over SPF 30 as the difference between them is minimal. More than that, it’s important to choose one that offers broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays. It’s recommended to apply a sun product with SPF 15 or higher, and it’s also important to note to reapply, especially on peak hours of sun exposure.

Myth 3: All kinds of tanning is bad for the skin.

While we’re still on the sunscreen and SPF train, another myth we always hear is that tanning, any kind of tanning, is dangerous to the skin. It’s this belief that has led people to side-eye and shun sun-tanned individuals, as well as self-tanning machines on the market and places that offer tanning beds. 

It’s a common claim that tanning, whether from sun exposure or tanning beds can cause a load of skin problems including skin aging, skin cancer, and the like. 

The key here is to tan gradually and in careful moderation. Over exposing yourself to the sun and tanning without adequate protection is an invitation for the UV rays to damage your skin. A better way to tan is to consider the amount of time you’re exposing yourself to the sun, whether naturally or by the use of tan beds, avoid peak hours, and remember to reapply sunblock. It’s also good to take note of your skin type; if you’re one of those who sunburn easily, you may want to reconsider getting a tan.

Myth 4: Drink more water to moisturize and eliminate dry skin.

People who are of the dry skin type are often told to drink more water to eliminate dryness. While water is good — in fact, very good for our overall well-being, there’s really no scientific evidence to support that it will moisturize your skin. We’re not saying you shouldn’t drink water — you definitely should because it’s good for your health. We just mean that your skin needs more than just water for it to be moisturized. 

The only time that you’ll notice water moisturizing your skin is if you’re extremely dehydrated, and that’s not really a good thing to fall on. A better way to see a noticeable difference on your skin and lessen dryness is to apply a moisturizer, serum, or essence, whichever floats your boat.

Myth 5: Hot water is good for the skin and pores

There’s a couple of skin care myths surrounding hot water. We’ll get into the first one: a hot shower is good for the skin. While a hot shower is relaxing to the muscles, a scalding temperature does more harm than good to the skin. Hot water strips away a lot of the skin’s moisture, making it dry 

Instead, it’s actually more advisable to take a shower with a lukewarm temperature. That way, you don’t ruin your skin’s moisture barrier and you get to relax at the same time, too. Applying lotion after a shower ensures that you lock in the moisture that your skin needs.

Here’s the second age-old skincare myth about hot water that persists even now. It’s common to hear that washing your face with hot water will open up your pores, while washing it with cold water will close up all those pores. Guess what? All your pores are open all the time and that has nothing to do with the temperature at all.

Myth 6: There’s no need to use anti-aging skin care products when you’re young.

Are you in your early 20’s yet you’re already using anti-aging products to reduce the risk of fine lines and wrinkles? Fret not, for you’re actually on the right track! It’s commonly heard that younger people don’t need to include anti-aging products in their beauty routine until they’re well into their 30’s. The truth is, the earlier one incorporates an anti-aging product, the better! 

The important thing to be aware of is that you’re using the right product for your skin type. As with most beauty and skincare products, it’s a “your mileage may vary” thing. There may be anti-aging products out there with potent ingredients that may work well for others but may not work with your skin type. It’s important to research products thoroughly and consider if the ingredients they have will help and are worth adding into your skin care regimen.

While we’re talking about age, another myth is that one should consider their age when choosing skincare products. Just like with anti-aging products, instead of age, consider the skincare product’s ingredients and your skin type. 

Myth 7: Junk food is the main cause of acne and oily skin.

Here’s one of the most common skincare myths out there. People are commonly advised to reduce junk food intake in order to lessen acne and oily skin or to cut it out entirely to prevent breakouts. Truth is, there’s actually very little evidence to support the claim that specific food affects when and how acne chooses to appear on one’s face.

More than anything, acne is caused by sebum that’s made and secreted by our own skin! Modifying your diet is beneficial for your overall health, but keep in mind that it isn’t a magical fix to stop acne and other skin issues.

Myth 8: Sleeping without removing makeup is fine!

Ever had those nights where you’re just too tired to remove your makeup and so you collapse in bed and sleep in with your makeup instead? We’re here to let you know not to do that. The last thing anyone wants after a grueling day is to remove makeup, but trust us when we say it’s a must.

Sleeping with your makeup on allows the dirt and oils accumulated throughout the day to clog up your pores and causes not only acne but a host of other skin issues as well! We’re not even joking here, it can affect your skin badly. Whether you’re wearing full-face makeup or only a little bit of makeup, it’s still important to remove them before going off to dreamland.

Myth 9: Drugstore skincare isn’t as effective as expensive skincare.

The cost of skin care products doesn’t have anything to do with their effectiveness on a person’s skin. Drugstore and over-the-counter products work just as well as high-end products! In fact, both inexpensive and expensive beauty brands have their own hits and misses alike. 

The most important thing to take note of with beauty products are their ingredients and formulation. There may be an expensive product out there that offers natural ingredients such as plant extracts and the like and are free of alcohol and irritants. While it sounds like a dream, it may be way out of budget for a lot of people and instead seek out its inexpensive counterpart that could work just as well. 

Similarly, a more affordable product may promise better-looking skin but in the end, it could be a dud and buying its more expensive counterpart may not help either. Skincare isn’t defined by the cost of the product, it’s all down to the ingredients and the way the product is formulated. 

We hope that we’ve helped save your skin by busting these myths! Do you want to see more skincare and beauty myths debunked? Let us know!