Under the skin of the issue
WE all want our skin to look great. So much so, we’ll draw on every snippet of advice we can find. But not all the hints and tips passed on by friends and family are to be trusted . . . Our sister publication, No. 1 magazine, separates the pearls of wisdom from the skin myths.
‘Mobile use can give you spots’
UNFORTUNATELY this is true . . . in fact, many experts claim that a mobile phone actually has more germs on it than your average toilet seat. Use a hygiene wipe on your phone regularly. TRUTH
‘Wash your face two times a day’
THIS is a myth that has been drummed into most of us since childhood. You should give your face a really good clean before you go to bed, ensuring you remove every trace of make-up. But by cleansing again in the morning you are stripping away natural oils, causing your skin to over-produce them or dry out. MYTH
‘Skin wipes are bad for your skin’
SKIN wipes are great for those nights you don’t have time for a proper cleanse but they are not the most effective way to clean your face. Because we don’t rinse after we use them, a residue is left which can cause the skin to dry out and become irritated. TRUTH
‘Always use a toner’
THE old adage of ‘cleanse, tone and moisturise’ isn’t for everyone. A toner is normally used to remove oil and dirt, but an effective face-cleansing product should really do that. Using a good exfoliator once or twice a week will help cleanse the skin, as will a skin brush. MYTH
‘Face oils are only for dry skin’
THIS is another myth, as face oils can be used on every skin type. Different oils have been formulated for different types – including people with oil-prone skin. Often our skin over-produces oil if it hasn’t received the right level of moisturisation and using a face oil can help re-balance things. MYTH
‘Use face moisturiser as eye cream’
ANOTHER myth! The skin around the eye area is delicate and eye creams are specially formulated not to cause irritation. The creams tend to include vitamin C, to help produce collagen, and vitamin B3, which can reduce puffiness. MYTH