2018: Skincare Myths Revealed

At Caring skin, our skin advisers and estheticians alike have come across a myriad of claims with the promise to give you better skin. Most of the time, these claims are correct to a certain degree, but not entirely the accurate.

We’ve had done a round-up of common beauty myths seen here. Unsurprisingly, the list is even longer now. Hopefully, this post will give you a better understanding on some of the current skincare myths.

Layering several products with SPF ratings increases protection.

SPF ratings don’t stack! For example, if you layer a foundation with an SPF of 10, a moisturizer with an SPF of 15, and a sunscreen with an SPF of 20, it does not give you the protection of a product with an SPF rating of 45. Regardless the SPF rating, it is recommended you re-apply your sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours.

Skin repair only happens at night.

While good night’s sleep is certainly helpful to skin health, skin repair is, in fact, an ongoing process. However, it is important to note that inadequate sleep can potentially stress the skin, causing puffiness, and can slow the natural development of collagen.

The skin needs to breathe.

We see many celebrities credit their healthy-looking skin to the minimal use of makeup, to allow their skin to breathe. Truth is, the skin can’t perform respiration, so it doesn’t breathe the way that we think it does. However, failing to remove makeup and or not cleansing your skin daily can lead to breakouts.

Skin care products can last three or more years.

It is best to use the entire contents within one year, for one main reason-product efficiency. The efficiency gets affected when the product gets in contact with air causing it to oxidize. This, coupled with sticking your fingers into the products, increases the chances of contaminating your skincare product with bacteria. Having said that, you can consider storing your skincare in the fridge for the extra benefits and a longer shelf life of its product efficiency. (Read more about it here: https://www.caringskin.com.sg/4-things-to-consider-before-storing-skincare-in-the-fridge/ )

I drink a lot of water.

Drinking plenty of water is undoubtedly good for your overall health, but while it’s good for you, it’s also proven to be the least effective way to hydrate the skin. This is because the water we drink, is filtered out of our bodies by our kidneys. The water we consume doesn’t actually reach the skin’s surface. It is important to understand that hydration levels of the skin have very little to do with physically drinking water but more to do with how you hydrate topically.

There is one antioxidant ingredient that is the best.

Every year, there will be articles on newly discovered antioxidants that are named the best antioxidant, but turns out to be untrue. In fact, it is a cocktail of antioxidants that provides better results. So when you are thinking of purchasing skincare products, get one that contains a plethora of antioxidant ingredients.