Shutterstock
You don’t have to be a dermatologist or an esthetician to have an opinion on skincare these days. Anybody with a platform — whether that’s a TikTok account or an Instagram following — can share their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about skincare routines, products, and hacks to thousands of people every single day.
But, while it’s great to hear from new voices in the beauty world, this tends to lead to skincare myths spreading like wildfire. Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t be curious about skincare hacks or urban legends you come across on the interwebs, but I tell you, you shouldn’t believe everything you read or hear.
From why you need sunscreen all year round to the benefits of moisturizer, here are some skincare myths you need to stop believing ASAP.
The beauty industry has told us for years that the more expensive a product is, the better it is. And honestly, that’s not true! Now don’t get me wrong, a handful of expensive products are worth the hefty price tag, but that’s not always the case. Some of the best skincare products are drugstore products, such as the CeraVe face wash and Cetaphil moisturizer.
There’s been a myth floating around for years claiming people with oily skin don’t need to be using moisturizers. Sorry folks, but that’s false. Even if you have oily skin, you still should be using a moisturizer every morning and every evening. Your skin may be oily because you’ve stopped using moisturizer, and it’s trying to overcompensate. Using a moisturizer every day will help your skin become less oily, especially if you are consistent.
Sunscreen shouldn’t just be a part of your skincare routine between May and September. Sunscreen should be a part of your skincare routine all 12 months of the year! While it may not seem like you need SPF in the dead of winter, you can still get sunburned all year round. Ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer or sun damage, are present even on cloudy days.
Retinol increases collagen and cell turnover, which helps to eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, while some people believe you only need to start using retinol when you begin to see wrinkles, the truth is you should start using it before wrinkles even develop! It’s a good idea to add retinol to your skincare routine in your mid-20s, as it’ll work to prevent wrinkles from even showing up in the first place.
