Common Skin Care Misconceptions

You've probably heard of makeup gurus say how good natural ingredients are, and how well they enhance the skin, and some may even have a live demo as they applied natural components on their face. A common misconception is that natural ingredients are always better. That is not always true.
Natural ingredients may come from nature, but some may have side effects once applied to the skin. 

Listed below are some of the most famous skin care misconceptions that have been revolving around the internet ever since I don't know when.

★Lemon and sugar combo are a good facial scrub.

Lemon is one of the most famous fruit that can be used for many purposes, such as teeth whitening, skin lightening, and more. But lemons are highly acidic. Adding sugar is worse and may cause damage to your skin, especially your delicate skin. It's better to be safe than sorry. 

★Baking soda is good for the skin. 

It is very famous as well. Some claim that applying a mixture of baking soda and water will clear your skin from spots, and acne marks. I fell for it and tried it for myself. Though I can clearly see results, I did a research wherein baking soda and water is actually alkaline, and can disrupt the skin's natural PH level. It's a Chemistry thing (which I am no expert in) but I know how important it is to balance the PH levels on your skin (that's why we use a toner.)

★Packaging is useless.

Packaging is very important. Why? Because who wouldn't want a cutely packaged sunscreen with pink hearts on it? Just kidding. Keeping cosmetics and skin care products safe is a must. Having your favorite facial cream in a wide-mouthed jar and clear containers will be pointless as it will be exposed to more air or sunlight, making it less beneficial or potent.

★A person with many acne on their skin means he/she is not cleaning them well. 

Honestly, we cannot control our face. No matter how much anti-acne cream we put on our face, we still get acne. Hormone is one of the main causes, and it cannot be stopped. However, it can be treated. A person with clear skin might seem like they have a good skin care regimen, yet some don't. They're just lucky enough to not acquire an oily and acne prone skin. If you have a pimple, don't fret. Find a product that contains salicylic acid and antibacterial or anti-inflammatory creams to help cure it. Don't use toothpaste. 

★Natural is always better than synthetic ingredients

Synthetic and natural. It revolves around us, and because of synthetic's infamous name, some people consider unnatural ingredients harmful to the skin. In reality, some of it are actually good for the skin, such as mineral oil. It helps keep oil from your skin at bay since oil attracts oil. Also, not all natural ingredients are beneficial. Paula's Choice Skincare website has a list of ingredients that showcase skin care ingredients and their benefits. 

Source

★Makeup causes acne. 

Nope. Makeup, however, temporarily clogs your pores since it is supposed to work like a layer of product like a blanket on your skin. It won't be absorbed by the skin. If you use your makeup quite often, chances are that if you don't keep them clean, the bacteria from your face might transfer to your makeup product through a brush or a sponge, then it will spread if you do not disinfect your makeup. Acne is caused by hormones, bacteria, and skin factors. Adding stress will only make your acne worse.

★Drinking water can hydrate the skin. 

It will hydrate the skin, but if you have dry skin, no matter how many gallons of water you drink, it's just not enough. Yes, it's important to make sure you get enough water, but also make sure you are using a moisturizer. 

★Blackheads are present because of dirt. 

Blackheads are caused by clogged oils on the skin, and oxidation of the trapped residue (dead skin cells included) on your pores. It is black in appearance because of oxidation, not because it is dirty. Another misconception is that scrubbing will help remove the blackhead. In reality, you need an exfoliant and ingredients like salicylic acid to deeply remove them. Some want blackheads removed by pinching, but it might break your skin capillaries. Comedo extractor may also help, but ask a dermatologist to do it for you just to be safe.

★Expensive skin care products are better! 

Actually, no. It depends on the product, its ingredients, and your skin type. Some products are only expensive because of the brand. Surprisingly, there are plenty of inexpensive beauty products out there that work just as good as expensive ones.

★Skin pores open and close.

There is no evident research claiming that pores can actually close and open due to high and low temperatures. Pores can shrink when you apply the right product, but they can never close or open.

★Skin will only repair itself at night.

Sleep is very important. We need to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep. Also, your skin is repairing itself at night. Skin can also repair during the daytime. 

These are only based on my research and experience. I am not forcing anyone to believe. If you do have any questions, feel free to comment down below. I shall happily address all your concerns.