Everyone thinks they are skincare experts. So, you’ll find a lot of incorrect information circulating about how to best take care of skin. As professionals in the beauty industry, we need to do our best to set the record straight. The better we educate our clients, the more beautiful their skin will remain for years to come.
Here are 5 misconceptions about skincare that do more harm than good!
Skincare Myth #1: The SPF in your foundation is enough for daily protection
This is incorrect on several levels. First, you’d have to heavily apply the foundation to get the promised SPF coverage, which few people actually do. Secondly, the SPF in most foundations only protect against UVB radiation—the type that causes sunburn and nonmelanoma skin cancer. But we also need to protect against UVA radiation, which causes wrinkles and aging skin. Enter: Broad-spectrum protection!
Broad-spectrum SPF will protect your clients from both UVA and UVB radiation. It should be worn every day—yes, even in the winter! This leads me to my next point…
Skincare Myth #2: You only need to wear sunscreen in the summer and on sunny days
Sun exposure is the number one contributor to aging skin. Yet few take the smallest precaution to slow the process. The ultraviolet rays that cause skin damage and skin cancer are always there, in winter, rain, and overcast days. Heavy clouds can partially block visible rays, but the dangerous UVB rays will still be doing their damage. Encourage your clients to develop a habit of applying broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. It’ll keep their skin youthful and protected.
Skincare Myth #3: Using harsh scrubs is a great way to keep skin soft and smooth
Physical scrubs are not evil. They just tend to be misused. The biggest offenders are scrubs containing walnut shells, apricot shells, and chunks of sea salt. On their own, these natural ingredients are harsh and abrasive. Even using them gently can cause micro-tears on the surface of the skin. This damages the skins protective barrier layer, resulting in skin sensitization, broken capillaries, dryness/dehydration, and accelerated aging.
And most people don’t use physical exfoliants correctly. Many use them for too long, too often, and usually press too hard, drastically enhancing the negative effects. The best physical exfoliants should be used with a light touch and should contain ingredients such as papaya or pineapple enzymes and rice bran.
Skincare Myth #4: Coconut oil is a perfect skin moisturizer
Coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties make it seem like the ideal, do-it-all skincare product. But that is far from the truth! Coconut oil is a saturated fat, so its amazing properties are great for the body, but not the face. Coconut oil is comedogenic, which means it cannot penetrate the pores. It will sit on top of the skin like a wax layer, resulting in clogged pores, breakouts, and even sensitization. For daily use, encourage your clients to use a non-comedogenic oil like argan oil for the face. And when they come in for a makeup trial, choose a moisturizer formulated for their skin type.
Skincare Myth #5: Toothpaste is a great spot treatment for breakouts
Unfortunately, many skincare brands include harsh drying and oil-absorbing ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, and calcium carbonate in their acne products. So many DIYers have turned to toothpaste as a quick and easy home remedy to banish breakouts. But because toothpaste isn’t formulated specifically for skin, it can be far too strong, potentially causing more harm than good.
Toothpaste ingredients aren’t balanced for delicate facial skin. Prolonged use can see irritated skin and dry patches that will take longer to go away than the pimple would have. And your clients with deeper skin tones who try this “miracle cure” may aggravate existing pigmentation issues, resulting in dark spots that take a long time to go away. The best way to deal with pimples is a targeted treatment. A great ingredient to look for in a skincare product is salicylic acid.
As skincare consultants and makeup artists, we owe it to our clients to have the correct information. The more we know about skincare, products, and ingredients, the better we can serve those around us.
