The words of family, friends and the media… they’re not always the most reliable, and can lead to beliefs about skincare that are far from the real, scientific truth. There are so many common misconceptions that we can spend years following skincare regimes that do more harm than good. It’s time to check the facts. We’ve delved into 8 of the most widely heard skincare myths to shed some light on the reality - giving you the clarity you need to get your skin looking more youthful and radiant than ever before.

“Don’t use oil on oily skin”

It may seem hard to believe that putting oil on oily skin could do anything but make the skin more oily. Instead, those with this skin type often use harsh ingredients to try and strip the skin. The logic’s there - but it doesn’t actually work this way. It’s these harsh ingredients that cause the most damage. Jenny Scragg, Clinical Training Manager at Aestheticare, notes “using the correct essential oils on the skin, such as ylang ylang, will actually help to balance the sebaceous gland and reduce the oiliness.” Look out for these ingredients and choose oily products carefully.

“You don’t need to put suncream on when its cloudy”

UVA, visible light and infra-red are present every day of the year - meaning whenever you’re exposed to daylight, their harmful effects are at work. The sun’s rays are responsible for a monumental fraction of skin ageing - a crazy 80% to be exact. This speeding up of the ageing process is largely achieved by how they accelerate the breakdown of collagen. So, don’t skip on the SPF year-round - it’s one of the kindest things you can do for your skin.

“You don’t need a special product for around the eyes”

The skin around your eyes is a tenth of the thickness of the rest of your face, and requires treatment reflective of its unique, delicate nature. Jenny Scragg recommends using “products that are much lighter and more easily absorbed in this area. We also need to use ingredients that target hydration and help to reduce puffiness, as well as perhaps anti-ageing”. Being gentler with the application of these products is another factor that will make a difference.

“Steam from hot water opens up your pores”

It’s often claimed that by having a scorching hot bath or shower, you’re opening up your pores and preparing them for the products that you lather on afterwards. This isn’t true - our pores are open all the time! Steam does have its benefits for our skin, but try not to over-do the hot baths - they can actually be harmful to our skin by drying it out too much.

“Washing your face too much can’t be bad for your skin”

The simple answer is that it really depends on which products we use. “Every time we cleanse our skin with too harsh a product, or we’re too rough with our skin, it damages the pH and it can take up to eight hours for the skin to repair itself”, Jenny says. “It’s essential we’re using gentle cleansers which are going to protect the skin and leave that barrier film in good condition”. So keep your eye on the list of ingredients, and be gentle as you wash to give your skin the care it deserves.

“Wearing makeup every day makes you age faster”

Again, it all comes down to the specific formulas you’re putting on your skin. Quality makeup should nourish and protect your skin, as well as covering any imperfections. But the most important part is making sure you remove it at the end of each day - taking with it the dirt, oil and toxins that have accumulated. These are far from detrimental to our long-term glow.

“You don’t need to use anti-ageing products until you’re seeing the signs of ageing”

While prevention is better than cure, revolving a skincare regime around anti-ageing at too young an age can raise some eyebrows. At what age does it become necessary? Jenny advises introducing these products at around the age of 30 - although SPF should be used by all ages daily. This is one of the most important preventive measures against wrinkles, pigmentation and the thickening of the skin.

“Skin tightening treatments are only available in clinic”

This myth is very much untrue. The NEWA home-use device enables you to achieve fantastic skin tightening results from the comfort of your own home. It utilises professional 3DEEP radiofrequency technology to stimulate collagen production and rejuvenate, lift and tighten the skin. Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Christopher Inglefield, tells us “I’m confident that you won’t get a more effective skin tightening treatment outside of an aesthetic clinic.” For more information about how NEWA works, click here.  

How have these myths affected your skincare routine? Remember to check your facts, check your technique, and check the ingredient-list - it’s small changes that make a big difference to your skin in the long term.