Skin myths banished!

MYTH 1 If it’s expensive, it’s better

This is a very common misconception, Dr Nikolic says. “There are many prescription products that have a high concentration of active ingredients in them that are half the price of topical skin products,” he explains.

MYTH 2 If it doesn’t smell good, it won’t work well

A recent study showed that women convinced themselves that creams that smelled good worked better than those that didn’t, even though the cream with the better smell had no active ingredients in it.

MYTH 3 You need to spend more money on your face wash

“There’s no need for an expensive cleanser, but spend well on your sunscreen. Go for SPF30 or higher,” says Dr Nikolic. “Find one that doesn’t leave a white tinge on your skin and absorbs easily.”

MYTH 4 Dry skin? Drink more water

The solution is more complicated than that. Dry skin happens when damaged cells allow moisture to escape. You’d be better off caring for the outer layer through sun protection and by using nonirritating products.