Despite what some social media sites or beauty blogs share, most skin woes don’t have a magical fix. So how can anyone tell good advice from bad? A recent BuzzFeed Life article rounded up some of the most common skin care tips circulating online and asked four dermatologists to weigh in.
The following lists the truths regarding some online remedies for skin care.
1. Expensive does not mean better.
Vaseline or other inexpensive moisturizers work just as well than those products that might be endorsed by celebrities.
2. Natural does not mean safe.
There are some seemingly harmless natural products that clients should stay clear of.
3. Lemon juice is not a great treatment for blackheads.
Lemon juice is more irritating than it is helpful, and it can seriously burn skin when exposed to sunlight.
4. Washing your face multiple times a day may cause dryness.
Washing multiple times daily actually causes dryness and irritation.
5. Not everyone needs a toner.
Toners can help select clients, but over-drying and irritation is a concern.
6. Cellulite creams won’t firm skin.
The results are inconsistent, minor and temporary, if experienced.
7. The SPF in makeup or moisturizer may not be enough.
Clients should look for products that provide broad spectrum coverage with at least 30 SPF. Most tinted moisturizers contain an SPF of 15 or 20.
8. There’s no rule about when to start anti-aging products.
The facial aging process is influenced by a combination of genetics, environment and behaviors, as well as how well, in general, someone takes care of her body. To take care of your skin and prevent signs of aging, it’s recommended to use a daily facial sunscreen.
9. Hand sanitizer should not be used to tone down oily skin.
Hand sanitizers contain alcohol or triclosan as an antiseptic, which doesn’t work against acne.
10. Chocolate does not cause acne.
While there might be a relationship between diet and acne, it is primarily dairy products and low-quality carbohydrates (simple sugars) that are most responsible.
11. Neosporin is not a magical zit treatment.
Since the driving force behind acne is inflammation, a topical antibiotic, such as Neosporin, is not an effective means to eliminate acne.
12. Toothpaste can irritate a pimple.
Toothpaste can actually be very irritating to the skin, causing redness and peeling when applied to a pimple.
13. Calamine can dry a pimple.
It’s sulfur-based and drying!
14. Be careful on suspicious pimple remedies.
Examples include rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and breaking open liquid gel pain relievers. The best solution is to use a product that’s actually designed for your skin and acne.
15. Egg whites don't shrink pores.
Egg whites might make your skin feel tighter just by drying and sitting on your skin, but they won’t do much else.
16. Coconut oil will not make wrinkles disappear.
While it might be an effective moisturizer, it cannot relieve pre-existing age spots or wrinkles.
To read the full version of the article, visit buzzfeed.com (source).