The Skin Nerd: Here are seven misleading skincare myths busted
Jennifer Rock: Sun protection is a 365-days-a-year requirement but did you know that you need it even indoors — and yes, duvet days count too!
Whilst some beauty myths are reasonably harmless, others threaten to damage your skin health and vitality — and that is not ok!
As it is the spookiest time of the year, this week, I have been reflecting on some of the scariest beauty myths currently doing the rounds...
Knowing where and when to invest in skincare and beauty products will save you a lot of money in the long-run.
Quality is important but while some expensive purchases are well worth the money, there are also many categories that you can save on by going for something less expensive or even a ‘dupe’ version. The dupe product category has achieved sustained industry growth over the past year, no doubt helped by its popularity with Gen Z and TikTok, which often showcases less expensive product copycats of more prestige cult buys.
The important point here is to do your research. In general, skincare that contains a high potency of active ingredients or innovation — i.e serums and foundations are worthy of a splurge whilst you can often save on many colour cosmetics such as lipsticks.
One of my favourite dupes is NYX #ThisIsEverything Lip Oil, €6.99, which is a dupe for Dior Lip Glow Oil, €46
It’s quality over quantity when it comes to skincare, and so it's not about how many products you need but which ingredients should play a part in your daily regime.
When I created Skingredients, I wanted to create a brand that simplified skincare, hence the Key Four, which contains all your skin needs for optimal skin health in just four key products. As long as you have your non-negotiables — a daily cleanser and a high factor SPF, the rest of your routine can be up for discussion.
I do recommend ensuring you lock in hydration with a hyaluronic acid serum and include vitamin A in your routine too.
Try: Skingredients Key Four Bundle, €156.80, skingredients.com
Now, I can see where this one has come from, as UV rays do influence the effectiveness of the active ingredient. Retinol is photosensitive, which means that the UV rays deactivate the retinol, making it less effective.
However, you can use retinol in the summer months, just use it at night and be sure to apply and reapply SPF every two hours during the day.
Retinol picks: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 Serum, €103.45; and Dermalogica Retinol Oil, €49.45
This is a huge, unfortunate myth that can end up making acne sufferers feel worse. Having acne doesn’t mean you have bad hygiene habits. It is caused by overproduction of sebum (oil), a process which accelerates during teenage years due to fluctuating hormones.
Adult-onset acne can also be down to hormones and can occur completely out of the blue after years of having blemish-free skin.
When it comes to skincare to manage the condition, lots can help. I recommend double cleansing your skin in the morning and evening with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser. The key here lies in being gentle and not over-washing or disrupting the skin barrier by using drying foam washes. Follow with a non-comedogenic serum (which doesn’t clog pores). Vitamin A is a good choice as it also helps to tackle oil production and speeds up healing. Finish your morning routine with a non-comedogenic SPF to protect skin — which is even more crucial when using vitamin A.
Do always follow the advice of your doctor first and foremost as acne is a medical condition.
Readers of this column are likely to know by now that sun protection is a 365-days-a-year requirement but did you know that you need it even indoors — and yes, duvet days count too! This is because UV rays can penetrate through glass into your home / car / office. This means applying sunscreen as you would outside (every two hours during the day as advised by the Irish Cancer Society) is key to protecting your skin from damage.
A sunscreen that makes applying and reapplying a joy is IMAGE Skincare Daily Prevention Protect & Refresh Mist SPF30, €53.50, theskinnerd.com
Not only does this sunscreen help to protect against the effects of UV rays and blue light but it goes on clear, and the mist format ensures your makeup doesn’t get disrupted.
We have all been told that lack of sleep shows under the eyes, but this one is actually a myth! We all feel better after a good night’s sleep, but studies have shown that lack of sleep may not affect the pigmentation of the eyelids, with the main contributing factors to dark circles and puffy eyes found to include genetics, age and allergies.
It’s good to mix up your routine if you have an issue or new goal but you don’t have to rock the boat if your regime is working for you.
Contrary to popular belief, the skin doesn’t get used to products to the point where they stop working. You may get to a ‘plateau’ stage, where you feel unlikely to see further results but if you have given it plenty of time and want to, for example, increase the potency of an active like retinol, that is a different story and of course up to you.
Just be assured that your products won’t suddenly start working against your skin (unless they are past the use by date, of course).
Revolution Pore Blur Primer, €9.49, boots.ie
One myth I hear talked about a lot is that you can open and close pores like doors. Whilst this isn’t true, you can minimise the look of pores with a blurring primer, like this one from budget beauty fave Revolution. Simply smooth the peach-tinted formula onto skin pre-foundation for a smooth, unified complexion.
Huda Beauty Easy Blur Silicone-Free Smoothing Primer, €36, lookfantastic.ie
This silicone-free formula is infused with antioxidant-rich Milk Thistle Extract and hydrating Glycerin, which work to soothe and smooth the texture of oily skin, whilst blurring the appearance of pores.
