We’ve all heard of some pretty wild myths, hacks or new TikTok routines for your skin. Here, we visit some very common skincare myths and bust them!
You shouldn’t moisturise if you have oily skin
Oily skin needs to be moisturised. Skipping this can lead to dehydration, resulting in your skin producing more oil; which ties in with the next myth…
Harsher cleansers, hot water and daily scrubs are best for clear skin
Sorry, but no. These things even by themselves are a recipe for disaster. You’re looking at irritation, severe dehydration, micro-abrasions (which can lead to infection). You’ll be stripping your skin of essential oils and damaging your skins natural, protective barrier. Use lukewarm water to wash your face and switch to a chemical exfoliator (they work much better) once a week.
Natural or organic products are safer
This one is a personal favourite and is one of the reasons I created Aki Sunday. Natural products are largely unregulated and can contain ingredients that will irritate your skin, cause asthma flare ups and are not safe during all stages of your life (pregnancy, breastfeeding etc). Lab made formulas (like our Universal Body Oil) are formulated with a chemist, under strict guidelines and regulations and can actually be gentler and more reliable. Don’t be tricked!
You only need sunscreen if it’s sunny
I’m speaking from Australia, where our lives are lived in the harsh sun, we grew up with slip, slip, slap ads on tv, no hat no play was enforced at school and a giraffe in a van taught us to be sun smart and we still have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. You need SPF every single day. UVA/UVB rays penetrate clouds and windows. Use a broad spectrum 50+SPF every day and reapply throughout the day.
Toothpaste kills pimples
I’m guilty of this one. I tried it after reading about it in Dolly Magazine and it burned!! DIYs like this one might help to dry out skin temporarily but they can also cause irritation, redness and worsen inflammation. They can also clog your pores leading to more pimples. Use a pimple cream instead.
Retinol thins your skin
Retinol is a great friend to have. It may feel thinner to begin with as it exfoliates so well and leaves you silky smooth, but actually, long-term use stimulates collagen production and strengthens skin! Yay retinol!
You can shrink pores
Pore size is mostly genetic and they cannot be shrunken or removed (sorry), though proper cleansing, exfoliation and daily sunscreen can help to minimise their appearance.
Acne only affects teenagers
Adult acne is very common due to hormones, stress, and diet. It could be on and off or if it has continued on from adolescence, it may need professional management.
What works:
- Use a gentle cleanser morning and night
- Apply a broad spectrum 50+SPF every day
- Moisturise with formulas for your skin type
- Exfoliate 1 to 2 times a week with AHA/BHA or enzymes
- Introduce active ingredients (retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide) gradually. But be make sure they’re safe to use together
Keep your skincare simple, science-backed and consistent. Be kind to your skin and to yourself. We are all beautiful in our own perfectly imperfect ways.