Ranja
Skin is a delicate part of the body. Taking care of the skin the right way is of vital importance. But sometimes you tend to follow a wrong skin care regime when guided by some wrong ideas or myths. Actually you are unknowingly causing harm to your skin instead of taking care of it. It is better to be well informed before you start using a beauty product. Know about the myths and be wise.
Here are some common myths about skin care that you should know about.
The skin should feel tight after washing
You should always know that taut skin is equal to dry skin. When the skin feels tight after washing it is actually the sign of the lack of moisture in it. This results in the building up of dead skin on the surface. Now, from where does this idea come? When we look back in time we see that when cold creams had just hit the market, the facial cleansers available then resembled bar soaps. The binders used in making these bars naturally had high pH balance which caused a dehydrating effect. Using of these bars had made people accustomed to the tight feeling that resulted after washing the face. You should go for cleaning gels that do not have sulphates of Sodium Lauryl and Ammonium Lauryl. There are many gels that have sulphates. These are almost equivalent to using bar soaps.
Oily skin doesn’t require moisturisers
The moisture of your skin is not provided by oil, also known as sebum. The role of sebum is to lubricate the skin by coming out of the pores and to lock the moisture. Moisturisers, on the other hand, provide ingredients that the skin can absorb. After washing the face with products that remove oil the skin feels slightly dry. But if you do not apply moisturiser after the washing the sebum is produced in greater quantities to lock the little moisture that is lest in your skin. Therefore, the use of moisturisers can reduce the production of sebum to some extent making the skin look healthy and less oily. For oily skin you should use moisturisers that contain salicylic, are non-comedogenic and oil free.
Anti agers make skin look worse than before
This surely is a myth because the skin is left to look blotchy and red mostly by the anti-aging guns like chemical peels and lasers. You might also feel irritated while using rejuvenators like retinoids may which stimulate collagen production and cell turnover. But there is nothing to give up so easily. There is a way to tackle this problem. Those who are beginners should prepare their skin 2 weeks before using an anti-aging product. Prepare your skin by using products containing antioxidants like green tea extracts. You can also use a cell repair serum from June Jacob which costs around $78. Use a mild OTC retinol like Vichy Liftactiv Retinol which costs near about $42 and is available in drugstores. Mix a drop of the retinol with the face cream that you use and apply this mixture every second night or third night. If you continue feeling your skin dry apply the cream and leave it on for 5 minutes and then rinse off. Continue this for a few weeks till your tolerance level improves. Gradually you can go for full night applications.
It is pointless to use sunscreen after 40
Age is no factor when it comes to using sunscreen. Not only does a sunscreen protect the skin form ultra violet rays, it also repairs the damage that has already been done to the skin. Rays of the sun can damage your skin even at the slightest expose like going to the nearby store or while you go for a short afternoon walk. The ultraviolet rays of the sun cause destructive molecules and free radicals to damage the support structure of the skin thereby causing lines and wrinkles. Daily lotions with sunscreen built in them does not prove to be of much effect as they do not contain adequate ingredients to fight UV rays which are main factors causing skin aging. Get hold of moisturisers that have zinc oxide or Mexoryl and avobenzone which are the best for blocking UVA. A separate sunscreen with your face cream along with a moisturiser with UV blockers protects your skin well. The liquid sunblock fluid from Neutrogena Ultra Sheer has SPF 55, costs around $12 and is available in drugstores. The Ultra Light sunscreen from La Roche-Posay has SPF 45 and costs near about $34.
Switching over to new products works
It is sometimes natural to grow impatient when you don’t get the desired result. Many think that switching over to a new product would work but this is a wrong idea. But renowned dermatologists have suggested take about 8-10 weeks’ time to judge whether a product it actually works on your skin. It should also be kept in mind that different skins respond differently to anti-agers. This is the reason why active ingredients do not have the same effect on everybody’s skin.
The truth about these myths will help you in planning your beauty regime. It is best to know about the nature of your skin and to act accordingly. The best regime brings in the best results.
