True or false? 5 myths about skin care.

There are many different opinions about cosmetic components and their use in daily care for years across the Internet. Which of them are myths?

Myth 1. Cosmetics with vitamin C cause spots and blemishes and should not be used on sunny days.

If we do not take care of sun protection enough, pigmentation spots and discoloration may appear regardless of the cosmetic used, but certainly not the vitamin C contained in it.

Innovative, stable forms of vitamin C (e.g. sodium ascorbyl phosphate) are easily absorbed through the skin, gently brighten, neutralize free radicals, strengthen blood vessels, accelerate the regeneration process, even out the skin tone, and also prevent excessive melanin production, that inhibits the process of discoloration. In addition to sun protection, vitamin C also prevents water loss on hot days.

Myth 2. The skin gets used to cosmetic ingredients, so they stop working after some time.

There is no such mechanism. When we use properly selected cosmetics with moisturizing, nourishing properties, rich in active ingredients, beneficial oils or plant extracts, our skin is in great condition, looks good, has a healthy colour. When we stop using them, and stop providing such great substances to our skin, its overall condition and look will worsen with time. The exception is the process of skin getting used to retinol- this ingredient should be used slowly, starting with the lower concentration and frequency because the skin must get used to it. However, when this happens, it does not mean that retinol no longer works but that it will not irritate the skin.

Myth 3. Preservatives in cosmetics are harmful

It is much more dangerous to use products that contain water and do not contain any preservative that protects the product against bacteria and fungi (moulds, yeast). The use of unpreserved cosmetics carries the risk of, among others, conjunctivitis, mycosis or even sepsis. Currently, there are many preservatives on the market, obtained from plants and approved for use in natural and organic cosmetics. They do not pose a threat to our skin, and thanks to them the cosmetic that we apply to our largest organ- the skin, is microbiologically clean and safe. As always, I encourage you to read labels, check the ingredients, including the type of preservative used, and its place on the INCI list (the higher it is, the more there is).

Myth 4.     Oily and acne prone skin should be mattified and dried

Cosmetics with high concentration of alcohol give people with oily and acne skin a feeling of clean and disinfected skin. Unfortunately, this is only a false effect. Alcohol and matting cosmetics dry the skin out and disturb its natural barrier, which in effect leads to even greater sebum production, irritation, redness and inflammation. Oily skin should be treated gently using delicate cleansing and moisturizing products. True or false? 5 myths about skin care.

Myth 5. Alcohol in cosmetics is harmful.

We overthrew this half-myth in a recent blog post. I strongly advise against some 'bad' alcohols (Ethyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat, Isopropyl Alcohol). These are ingredients drying out and irritating the skin. On Inci lists, however, you will find a lot of 'good' alcohols that perform as emollients, nourish the skin and prevent its drying. You can read more about it here

I hope you found this article interesting

Have a lovely day

Sylwia

author: Sylwia Marchewka