Common Skincare Myths

It's no secret that we're a country that thrives on myths and legends. Many of us still believe in monsters that supposedly lurk on trees, or to old wives' tales of your children taking after whatever food you've been consuming while pregnant. It's the same thing when it comes to our skin; many of us still believe on certain 'facts' that turn out to be more of fiction.

If you're still one of the many who thinks their beauty regimen 10 years ago should suffice now, or that beauty products work best when applied more than recommended, well, think again. Here, we bust common skin myths that you might still believe in.

It's okay to use the same products you used 10 years ago.
Unless you're a vampire and haven't aged, it's high time you reconsider the products you use. Your skin isn't the same as it was when you were younger—if by any chance you once sported oily skin in your teens you probably have normal or dry skin by your 30s or 40s. Reassess your skin type and what your current skin concerns are, and start building a new skincare product collection that's formulated for your current skin type.

Facial masks are more effective when you leave them on overnight.
Facial masks—even those facial sheets—contain potent ingredients and moisturizers that, if left longer than intended, could cause breakouts and irritation. It may be tempting to keep the mask on for longer than the recommended period, but it's best to follow the directions on the pack or bottle.

The more anti-wrinkle cream you use, the better the results.
Negative. The active ingredients in anti-aging or anti-wrinkle cream work well once a day, and slathering on an entire bottle at once won't make it more effective. Retinoid, one of the most popular anti-aging ingredients, only works well at night, since it's broken down by sunlight (which renders it useless during the day). Stick to the recommended dosage/application on your anti-wrinkle product, as applying too much or too often can cause redness, peeling, and inflammation.

(Read up on the key ingredients to look for in anti-aging products)

Sunscreen is only for the beach or the pool.
Does the sun only come out when you're near a body of water? Yeah, we didn't think so. Harmful UVA and UVB rays from sunlight can age your skin prematurely, giving you wrinkles—and worse, a higher chance of getting skin cancer. Slather on a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before stepping outside, regardless of your destination.

You still need to apply a moisturizer when putting on sunscreen.
There are some moisturizers in the market that already have SPF in their ingredients. But what about those that don't? Do you still need to apply sunscreen on top of your moisturizer? Apparently, you can just apply sunscreen and forget the moisturizer: the ingredients in sunscreen already add moisture to your skin.

Pimples are only for teenagers.
Sadly, acne can occur at any age. Pimples are caused by sebum, the oil produced by your sebaceous glands. When sebum clogs pores, it can attract bacteria, which causes the pore to become inflamed. Hormonal imbalance can cause an excess of sebum production, which is why pregnant women, those going through perimenopause, or women undergoing menopause seem to break out like high school teenagers. A quick fix is applying a product with benzoyl peroxide on the spot—but it's best to consult a dermatologist on the proper medication for adult acne.

(Find out how to treat acne scars and how to banish bacne)

Water is enough to hydrate my skin.
While it's true that water keeps your skin looking healthy, it's not enough to keep it from drying out. To keep your skin properly hydrated, you should still use a non-comedogenic moisturizer on top of guzzling eight to ten glasses a day.