10 Common Beauty Myths Debunked!

Hopefully, you still order the cheeseburger because what your friend just said is a common beauty myth!

There are many other myths out there, and to help you discern fact from fiction, here are 10 common beauty myths debunked:

Myth #1: "Acne is just for teens."

With the throes of people over the age of 25 still struggling with acne, this myth should have been busted a long time ago. Acne does not just occur when you are a teenager. It is rather a combination of many factors like bacteria on your face, hormones, and your overall health.

Myth #2: "If you shave, the hair will grow back thicker."

Surprise! This is a myth. The shorter hair that grows back looks thicker, but it actually is not. Have you ever noticed that a man's 5 o'clock shadow seems thicker than a grown-out beard?

That is because of stubble. Stubble is the base of the hair follicle, which is always the thickest part of the hair. As the hair grows, it will be at the same thickness as before.

Myth #3: "Plucking your gray hair will make two gray hairs grow in its place."

Gray hair is a sign of wisdom, but sometimes you just want to pluck a few out to save on coloring products. Don't worry, the old tale of two gray hairs growing in its place is a lie. Plucking a hair cannot affect the hairs around it, nor does it stimulate gray hair multiplication.

Myth 4: "Age spots happen because of age."

Nope. Actually, brown spots can happen at any age due to sun damage or other environmental damage. The enzymes on your skin's surface change the pigment of your skin, showing visible spots.  

Therefore, you can be 20 years old and have an "age spot" if you have not been wearing sunscreen and spending all your days out in the sun. So be careful. To prevent age spots, wear sunscreen every day, even in the winter. Your skin will thank you years later!

Myth #5: "Greasy foods give you pimples."

Everyone seems to have their own reason of how we get pimples. Your friends may tell you that too much chocolate gives you acne, and then your aunt may tell you it is because you ate something greasy.

In truth, acne is mainly a result of hormones and partly influenced by bacteria that comes from touching your face or not washing makeup brushes. Now you can eat those chili fries and burgers with confidence!

In any case, there are foods that can improve your skin health so try consuming those!

Myth #6: "Hair products can get rid of split ends."

Though there are some incredible products that improve the appearance of split ends, the only tried and true way to eliminate split ends is to get a haircut. Investing in regular cuts and styling will help you look better overall anyway, so treat yourself once in awhile.

Myth #7: "I don't flat-iron my hair that often, so I don't need heat protectant spray."

Oh, yes you do. Your hair sustains damage every time you apply high heat to it. You should take precautions each time you style your hair to minimize heat damage and breakage by applying heat protectant products like AG Hair Deflect Fast-Dry Heat Protection before you style your hair.

Enriched with Abyssinian oil and micro emulsified with Cetearyl Amodimethicone, it protects hair from heat styling damage while preserving the moisture and suppleness of the hair shaft. With regular use, this product will give your hair a beautiful healthy shine.

Myth #8: "I get more mascara when I pump the brush."

Actually, this works to the detriment of your mascara. By pumping your mascara brush, you are sending air into the tube and, consequently, drying out the product. This is how you end up with those pesky clumps. You should avoid doing this altogether because it actually invites bacteria into your mascara tube!

If you need to coat your brush with more product, then swirl the brush inside the tube. If that doesn't work, it is time to buy more mascara and toss out the old tube.

Myth #9: "Wearing makeup every day will ruin your skin."

Though you may feel like makeup is making your skin worse, what is actually making your skin worse is not washing your makeup off completely at night. If you find your makeup to be quite stubborn, then you need to invest in some good makeup removers. Check out this top 20 list from TotalBeauty.

Knowing this, resist the urge to sleep with makeup on even when you are exhausted, or you will wake up with some unwelcome visitors!

Nevertheless, what products you put on your face does matter and we outlined this in a previous blog post about tips to combat oily skin.

Myth #10: “Smiling causes wrinkles.”

Do not listen to anyone who warns you that smiling will cause wrinkles! Wrinkles is a part of natural process of aging, which nobody can avoid completely. However, a stronger factor that can provoke premature wrinkles is actually your overall health. This is largely based on your diet, exercise routine, and genetics. The bottom line is, refraining from expressing joy is not a healthy way to try to prevent wrinkles.

In fact, following this myth may be a detriment to your quest for youth because suppressing happy feelings is not good for your overall emotional health and stress levels. Eat a wholesome diet with regular exercise and stress management, and you will be at your very best for your whole life.

Armed with the truth, you can now enlighten your friends the next time they tell you to not pluck that gray hair or that you don't need to wear sunscreen in December. Timeless beauty comes with living a healthy lifestyle and being the best version of yourself that you can be.