Top 5 Skin Care Myths

If you think you’ve heard it all when it comes to skincare, think again. We polled our students and found the top 5 skincare myths that many believed to be true before learning otherwise at Florida Academy. The following myths and tips on how you should really be taking care of your skin will make you re-think your skincare routine.

1. Only Washing Your Face Once
We know you’ve heard it before – wash your face before you go to bed. But, did you know you should really be washing your face more twice? By washing your face only once, it’s common for dirt particles and makeup to only get pushed further into the pores. The first time you wash your face should be a lighter cleanse, and the second time should be a deeper scrub of the pores to remove dirt and makeup.

2. Not using moisturizer because of oily skin
Many people fall into the trap of thinking they shouldn’t use moisturizer due to having oily skin, but the truth is we all should be moisturizing. Using a water-based moisturizer will trick skin into thinking it’s hydrated, which will actually cause it to produce less oil.

3. Soap and water is not an adequate way to clean your skin.
Regardless of your skin type, soap and water is not the right way to clean your skin. If you have an oily or combination skin type, use a gel-based cleanser. If you have combination or normal skin type, use a lotion-based cleanser. If you have dry skin, use a cream-based cleanser.

Wondering how to determine your skin type? This can be determined by what time of day your skin gets oily. Let’s say you wash your face at 8am. If oil appears between 8 – 12 p.m., you have oily skin. If oil appears between 12 – 3 p.m., you have combination skin. If oil appears between 3 – 6 p.m., you have normal skin. If oil appears between 6pm and beyond, or never appears, then you have dry skin.

4. All skin types can be dehydrated, even oily skin.
Water is what makes your skin function in the way that it should, so drinking enough water is extremely important to the health of your skin regardless of your skin type. You should drink half of your body weight in water to maintain healthy skin.

5. Some pimples should be popped, as long as they are popped in the right way.
You may have heard to leave your pimples alone, but if your pimple has a whitehead or pus on it, it means it’s infected and it should be popped. The problem usually lies in the way that people pop their pimples.
To pop your pimple correctly, use two q-tips or wrap tissue paper around your fingers, and push inward, under and up and squeeze until you see clear blood. Then, put rubbing alcohol on a q-tip and dab on top of the area. You may also want to use an acne spot treatment. Then, don’t pick at it and wash your hands.

 

Author: Nicole Smith
Nicole currently teaches the Professional Skin Care program at Florida Academy. She is a practicing Aesthetician of eleven years. Nicole is originally from Michigan, where she owned her own spa and taught skin care at a community college. She is a certified Eyelash Extensionist, Yoga Instructor, Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. In 2012, Nicole authored “Love Your Skin: Expert Secrets Revealed.”