These days, thanks to social media and our favourite influencers, it may seem easy to get answers to the many questions you have about beauty products and routines. However, with so much content, opinion, and advice out there, it is possible to get lost or even confused trying to do the right thing. Let's take a moment to demystify five popular misconceptions and myths in the world of skin care.
Creams with collagen are the best
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is found, for example, in your bones, tissues, muscles and even skin. It is responsible for the elasticity, firming and regeneration of skin tissue. As you age, collagen production declines, meaning the signs of aging become increasingly visible. Collagen is too large a protein to be absorbed topically. Therefore, a cream that says it contains this famous protein will not be beneficial. You need to look for a product with active ingredients that boost collagen production. These offer a challenge to your skin to regenerate collagen. That's the difference and the right choice to make!
The sun is good for acne
Regardless of your skin type and condition, sun exposure will damage your skin over the long term. Yes, you may notice that a tan will dry out your skin and imperfections. You may like having a tanned complexion to blur your pimples and scars. Unfortunately, drying out your skin by spending time in the sun will cause it to react by thickening and producing more sebum. As a result, your pores will become even more clogged, and inflammation will increase.
Sleeping on your side or with your face on the pillow causes wrinkles
It's a fact of life! We spend about a third of our lives asleep, so if you're one of those who sleep with your face flat on your pillow or on your side, it's only natural that gravity will play a role on your face. It may not be the most comfortable position for some, but sleeping on your back is the best way to avoid wrinkles and facial sagging.
Your face needs a day cream and an evening cream
True and false. In a nutshell, you should be wearing sun protection during the day. You may opt for an evening cream with ingredients best used at night, such as vitamin A or retinol. If your creams don't contain sun protection or treatments with which you should avoid the sun, day and night creams are relatively similar. It’s a question of marketing more than anything else.
You can make pores become smaller and even disappear
Unfortunately, no magic eraser will make your pores disappear over the long term. They may expand or shrink, but pores will always return to their original size. Once again, marketing will use specific words in their campaigns to hook you into buying products, such as "will reduce the appearance of pores." The word to remember is "appearance"; it's the appearance that will be affected—not your pores.
Sometimes, you must dig a little deeper to find all the information you need to make the right buying decisions. Hopefully, we've shed some light on the myths and realities surrounding skin care.
By Jean-François Casselman-Dupont in collaboration with Familiprix.
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