10 Common Skin Care Myths Debunked

THE MOST COMMON SKIN CARE MYTHS, DEBUNKED!

Myths surrounding skin care, lifestyle and the foods we consume are nothing new; ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, a base tan will prevent you from getting a sunburn, wearing a hat increases your odds of hair loss… the list really is endless!

In light of our recent skin care collection launch, we thought it would be fun to debunk 10 of the most commonly shared skin care myths. At the end of the day, some basic common sense principles like sufficient hydration, a healthy food plan, proper rest and stress reduction go a long way in helping us achieve our skin goals, so be mindful of these lifestyle factors as we debunk the myths below:

SKIN CARE MYTH #1: ALL FRAGRANCE IN SKIN CARE IS BAD

All fragrances are not created equal. In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group “when you see "fragrance" on a personal care product's label, read it as "hidden chemicals." They go on to say that one of the major loopholes in federal regulations allows manufacturers to create products that include fragrances without the requirement that they disclose the specific ingredients that comprise the fragrance. Fragrances are considered to be among the top five allergens that can trigger asthma attacks - that’s risky business.

At Saje, all of the 100% natural fragrances you experience as part of our skin care products come to us from plant-based, plant-derived and plant-sourced ingredients, primarily essential oils and botanical plant extracts. We’re big on transparency and you’ll never see the word ‘fragrance’ listed on the packaging of any of your products; that’s because we’ll always share exactly the formula we’ve used to arrive at the final product.

We’ve thoughtfully and carefully selected each of the ingredients in our skin care formulations to be safe for direct application to even the most sensitive skin and allow you the benefits of the ingredients without causing reactions or irritations, and they’re blended at low, safe dilutions to ensure efficacy and safety.

SKIN CARE MYTH #2: YOU ONLY NEED SPF WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE ON SUNNY DAYS

This is false! Many people think that you only need to wear SPF in the hot summer months when you’re spending time outside, but this isn't the truth. The UV rays that cause sunburn are not as strong during the winter months but they’re still there - even on the cloudiest day! In fact, as much as 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can penetrate the skin through the clouds, so wearing SPF and reapplying every few hours when spending extended periods of time outside is a no-brainer.

The truth is, it's wearing SPF indoors that stumps most people. The sun’s rays are just as likely to impact your skin indoors, particularly if you are in close proximity to a lot of windows or the windows offer no UV protection, and you’re experiencing extended periods of exposure. Most experts say that as a best practice, wear your SPF products indoors, too.

SKIN CARE MYTH #3: SKIN TYPE AND SKIN CONDITION MEAN THE SAME THING

This one is a little more tricky. Your skin type refers to the foundation of your face, and this is something that is largely out of your control. Most of us inherit the skin type we have; this is the structure of our skin, and it’s largely determined by genetics. Genetics can in part be responsible for predisposition to certain skin afflictions like eczema or acne, but these are more typically described as skin conditions.

The condition of our skin varies greatly depending on a number of factors that are both internal and external. Certain lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, prioritization of sleep and stress reduction are just some of the influences that can have an effect on our skin. The state, or condition, of your skin in the present moment (for example, experiencing dryness, breaking out, the appearance of redness, etc) allows you to choose skin care products carefully and effectively to address your skin’s current needs, while being mindful to treat your primary skin type as well.

SKIN CARE MYTH #4: MOISTURIZER AND FACE OIL DO THE SAME THING - YOU DON'T NEED BOTH

This is also false! These products are actually quite structurally different and help to support our skin in entirely different ways.

Moisturizers are water based. The inner layers of our skin are what’s referred to as hydrophilic, which means that they are water loving. A good quality water-based moisturizer helps pull water deep into your skin, which supports creating the appearance of soft, supple and dewy skin as it helps treat dryness in the skin’s inner layers.

The outer layers of our skin are what’s referred to as lipophilic, which in simple terms means that they are oil loving. Using a product like a face oil, formulated without water and instead with 100% carrier oils, plant extracts and essential oils will help act as a barrier, protecting the outer layers of your skin and  allowing moisture to be retained. Your skin will benefit from having both of these essential products as part of your daily skin care routine!

SKIN CARE MYTH #5: CERTAIN PRODUCTS OR INGREDIENTS WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING WRINKLES OR SHOWING SIGNS OF AGING

This isn’t entirely true. While using good quality ingredients and skin care products is important and can have an impact on your skin’s aging process, at the end of the day there are no ‘miracle cures’ that eliminate the signs of aging skin.

Simply put, aging skin tends to mean dry skin. Certain ingredients, like vitamin A compounds commonly called retinol - one of the most studied anti-aging ingredients, vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide have been shown to have a positive effect on skin and help to reduce the signs of aging, but there really is no magic elixir.

The best ways to keep fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots at bay may surprise you as they tend to have less to do with skin care than you may think: wear your SPF products generously and regularly, eat vitamin-rich foods and stop (or better yet, don’t start!) smoking.

SKIN CARE MYTH #6: EATING CERTAIN TYPES OF FOODS CAUSES ACNE OR OILY SKIN

While consuming certain foods like processed carbohydrates and refined sugar in large quantities won’t do your skin any favors, these foods are not inherently responsible for causing acne or oily skin. What causes acne? Overproduction of sebum, which your skin makes and secretes naturally, as well as the presence of bacteria, keratin/skin cells and inflammation.

Acne is often a hereditary condition to which you may be predisposed genetically. Other things that don’t cause acne? Not washing your face frequently or properly. Again, proper skin care can treat and soothe symptoms of acne, but lack thereof is not the primary cause.

SKIN CARE MYTH #7: TANNING IS BAD FOR YOUR SKIN

When skin begins to take on the appearance of a tan, it means your skin is attempting to protect itself from the sun. It’s well known that spending an excessive amount of time in the sun or in a tanning bed, particularly if you’re not using a good quality SPF product, increases your risk of developing skin cancer and can cause premature wrinkling and other signs of aging.

The skin having the appearance of a tan is not inherently dangerous. There are many benefits of safe, controlled exposure to the sun’s rays, namely that sunlight activates vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is extremely important for the development of healthy, strong bones and immune function, which is why small amounts of controlled sun exposure are so valuable to our overall health and wellness.

If you ensure you’re taking precautions like using at minimum an SPF 30, reapplying regularly, staying away from long exposures during peak hours of the day and covering up when necessary, the appearance of a light tan with no burning is not a warning sign.

SKIN CARE MYTH #8: THE HIGHER YOUR SPF NUMBER, THE HIGHER YOUR PROTECTION

This is mostly false. Once you’ve reached a certain level of coverage, having a higher sun protection factor (SPF) becomes almost negligible. Most experts agree that the minimum SPF factor you should be using is 30, which is blocking about 97% of the UVB rays to which your skin is exposed. With an SPF of 50, you’re blocking 98%.

Oftentimes, when using SPF products with a higher number than 50, a false sense of security creates the conditions for sunburn as people begin reapplying less often or are spending too much time in the sun, thinking they are not susceptible to a burn.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends “a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for any extended outdoor activity. Regardless of the SPF though, it’s important to apply one ounce (two tablespoons) 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating”.

SKIN CARE MYTH #9: IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN, YOU DON'T NEED TO USE MOISTURIZER

This one is a big no-no. The purpose of moisturizer is to add water-based hydration back into the skin, and to help hold moisture in your inner and outer layers. If you don’t replenish moisture to the skin, it will dry out, which in turn will enact the skin's natural response which is to produce more oil. If you do identify as having oily skin, look for a moisturizer that is non comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores, and avoid certain ingredients like mineral oil.

SKIN CARE MYTH #10: YOUR SKIN AGES FASTER IF YOU WEAR MAKEUP EVERYDAY

Luckily for many people who enjoy the creativity of makeup for enhancing their appearance, this is false. If you wear and apply makeup as recommended, you won’t cause any damage to your skin. What does in fact contribute to the aging process is not removing your makeup correctly and completely.

For example, if you were to sleep regularly with makeup on your face, you’re more likely to experience clogged pores which can lead to breakouts, and you increase your chances of developing irritated skin, all of which can lead to premature aging.

So does wearing makeup cause skin to age? No. But does improperly caring for your skin when wearing makeup have the potential for trouble? Yes. It’s recommended to remove makeup carefully and thoroughly each night as part of a good quality skin care routine.

One thing to keep in mind: some makeup does contain ingredients that work against the long term health of your skin, like fragrance, parabens, talc, dimethicone and propylene glycol. It’s best to read all of the labels of your makeup products carefully and avoid these ingredients whenever possible.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BRAND NEW SKIN CARE COLLECTION

To learn more about our new skin care products tailored to your specific skin care needs, check out our detailed article here and our online shop here. Take good care of your skin and hydrate. If you have good skin, everything else will fall into place.

—Liya Kebede