Body & beauty

6 Beauty Myths Busted

Not sure what beauty advice to follow? We’ve got you covered with a look at some of the most common misconceptions

In an industry flooded with experts, it can be hard to sift through and find the advice that’s right for you, especially when it comes to formulating your natural beauty routine. Do I need an SPF during winter? Do I need to use a special cleanser for my oily skin? Will natural beauty products keep me safe from irritation? We’ve uncovered the facts behind the myths, so you can get back to your self care with confidence.

1. You need different products to cleanse and moisturise with

“Your skin uses lipids (oils) to seal in moisture, thereby moisturising skin,” says Vicky Lyons, founder and CEO of Lyonsleaf. “Dirt and make-up on your face are mixed with those natural lipids, so it’s an oily concoction. We love the oil cleansing method, which works on the principle that ‘like dissolves like’, so you use an oil that’s very similar to your skin’s oils, to dissolve dirt and grime. Many natural plant oils are made from the same fatty acids that make up your skin’s oils, so they’re perfect for moisturising!” Try the Beauty Balm – it’s ideal for both cleansing and moisturising, £14.99, lyonsleaf.co.uk.

2. Vitamin C makes your skin more sensitive to the sun

“Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it soaks up free radical damage,” says Sarah Zimmer, Founder of NAYA Skincare. “Free radicals are very reactive substances with unpaired electrons that cause skin cell damage – in fact, the harmful effects of sun exposure come from UV rays which subsequently create free radicals in the skin. Vitamin C can help to reverse this damage whilst also providing protection throughout the day. Other antioxidants can help too, thus a combination can truly strengthen these positive effects – it’s one of the many reasons why vitamin C is often found with antioxidants such as vitamin E – a super-powerful synergistic duo.” Try NAYA’s topical Vitamin C Powder – Antioxidant Defence Booster, £45, nayaglow.com

3. You can skip sunscreen when the sun isn’t shining

During the winter months, some of us tend to reduce the amount of sunscreen we use. After all, rainy, cloudy days in Britain don’t make you think of sunscreen, do they? However, if you thought SPF was only a necessity for use on holidays in the sun or for English summer days, then it’s time to get your head out of the clouds. “The biggest skincare goal for most people is anti-ageing, so if you want to slow down the ageing process and keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay, you should wear broadspectrum SPF every day – even when the skies are grey,” says Beth Coldrick, founder of Bao Skincare. “Spending time out in the sun or even just walking around outside (yes, that includes popping to the shops) without sun protection can lead to skin damage later on in life. When it comes to sunscreen, I always choose one that’s formulated with broad-spectrum SPF, since it’ll help protect your skin against both UVA and UVB rays. The Food and Drug Administration agency (FDA) recommends using an SPF of 15 or higher every day. Sunscreen should always be the last step in your skincare routine (done before applying make-up) and this means using a separate sunscreen, not one that is built into your make-up or day cream as they just don’t do the job! And remember to apply the sunsceen at least 15 minutes prior to sun exposure.”

4. Natural ingredients in skincare cannot cause irritation

“Some natural ingredients can cause irritation no matter what your skin type is,” says Dr Anna Baker, cosmetic and dermatology nurse practitioner. “Essential oils such as lavender, tea-tree and jasmine are common in natural formulations – they are fantastic antioxidants and contain a vast array of benefits, but can still be irritating to the skin of some people and cause redness, itchiness or even burning.” So whilst natural products are better, make sure you shop around for what works best for you.

5. More ingredients means better performing beauty products

We all want to know what we’re putting on our skin, right? But there is a common misconception that more is more when it comes to ingredients and how well a product actually works. “Many beauty brands have up to 30 ingredients in just one product alone!” says Pontine Paus, founder of Dr Lipp. “It makes you think about what you’re actually putting on your skin. More ingredients doesn’t mean better performing – actually it is the opposite. Stripping back your skincare to products with few, but high performing, ingredients is the way to deliver better skincare. Dr Lipp’s hero product only contains a single natural ingredient (medical grade lanolin), so you can trust it really works – there’s no filter and no filler.”

6. People with oily skin can’t use oil-based moisturisers

You may think that using oil-based products would leave your skin greasy, but by using oils that contain short and medium-chain fatty acids (literally, smaller molecules) it’s possible to create products that quickly absorb into the skin. “Traditional products for oily skin usually over-strip the skin, which simply causes skin to overcompensate and produce more sebum, exacerbating the problem,” says Vicky. “Many find that using oil-based moisturisers actually rebalances oily skin. For those with both oily skin and acne, the zinc in our Zinc & Calendula Cream (£10.95, lyonsleaf.co.uk) packs a powerful punch, as it naturally reduces excess sebum production.”