Biologi Ambassador Sofi Leota
The beauty industry can be full of contradicting information that it can be hard to tell what to really believe (and even harder to know what to do)! Beauty myths and old wives tales have been circulating for years, and whilst some might make a lot of sense, others are completely false. We chat to Biologi Founder and Cosmetic Chemist Ross Macdougald to debunk some of the common beauty myths.
MYTH #1 YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT OIL ON OILY SKIN
The stems from the fact that many people believe that oily skin doesn’t need hydration and that oil will only make it oiler. This isn’t the case. In fact, oil-prone skin still needs hydration and oil can help the skin produce less oil over time. Basically, if a person with oil skin cleanses their skin regularly of oil, the skin will over compensate and start producing more oil. If you add a little bit of oil, the reverse can actually happen.
MYTH #2 YOUR HAIR WILL GROW BACK FASTER IF YOU GET IT CUT REGULARLY
This is completely false – your hair grows at the same rate no matter how often you cut it. The myth stems from the fact that cutting hair does remove split ends which can be the thing that stops some of the hair from growing longer. So, whilst the statement is false, your hair can appear to grow faster when it is in a healthier state.
MYTH #3 ONLY OLD PEOPLE NEED ANTI-AGEING PRODUCTS
This myth has been circulating from many years and simply isn’t true. It stems from the fact that as we get older our collagen levels start to deplete. The levels actually drop by 1% to 2% every year until the age of 50. By 50, we have very little collagen left which is why the myth likely started in the first place. The truth is, we should be looking after our skin from a young age, especially since our skin is our bodies largest organ! Steer clear of synthetics and take care of skin with 100% natural ingredients.
MYTH #4 BUDGET SKINCARE PRODUCTS ARE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS EXPENSIVE ONES
Whilst some expensive skincare products don’t seem as valuable as others, the truth is that in most cases you get what you pay for. In reality, quality costs more and cheaper skincare products can sometimes do more damage than good. Ever felt your face tingle from a sheet mask? That’s your skin getting irritated from cheap ingredients which can cause inflammation to the skin (which is never a good thing)!
MYTH #5 THE HARDER I SCRUB, THE CLEANER MY SKIN
False, false, false! Scrubbing your skin hard can strip the surface of your skin of its natural oils which it needs for its regeneration. Rough scrubbing can also irritate the skin and cause inflammation which can result in a myriad of skin issues. For most people’s skin, you should really only need to exfoliate once a week with a gentle enzymatic exfoliant which requires no scrubbing at all.
MYTH #6 TOOTHPASTE CAN BE USED TO TREAT PIMPLES
This is an old wives tale that has been circulating for years (your mother probably got the idea from her mother and so on)! The truth is that toothpaste contains some ingredients that will dry a pimple out. So it won’t necessarily cause it to go away effectively, it can dry the top layer of skin leaving the sebum trapped underneath.
MYTH #7 NATURAL SKINCARE DOESN’T WORK
This myth is an unfortunate one especially when you consider some of the harm that synthetic products can do. Natural skincare products are just as effective – if not more effective – than their toxic counterparts. Look for products made from natural ingredients that are 100% active. Biologi serums are made from 100% active natural plant extracts and contain powerful phyto-actives that work in synergy to give positive skincare results. Avoid products that claim they’re ‘naturally derived’ as this usually means they have gone through a chemical process.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Look for products that contain a high level of active ingredients such as Biologi serums which contain 100% active plant extract serums. The active ingredient in a product is basically the thing that works so the higher the potency the more effective it can be (just be careful of synthetic actives as these can cause harsh reactions in high potencies). Also look for natural, organic and sustainable brands over synthetic alternatives. We are already exposed to so many chemicals and toxins in our daily lives that we should avoid them whenever we can. Also take your time to really look at skincare labels and what the ingredients and terminology means. The skincare industry is rife with misleading and unsubstantiated claims, that things aren’t always as they seem. If you’re not sure, google the ingredients and how they are made, or ask the brand themselves! Any ethical brand will have no problems with transparency and will be able to tell you what you need to know.
WHAT NOT TO CARE ABOUT:
Don’t get sucked into marketing gimmicks like buying a ‘cult product’ or purchasing just because a celebrity has endorsed it. Also don’t fall for the ‘dermatologist approved’ trap because what that basically means is simply that a dermatologist has been paid to endorse a product. It doesn’t necessarily mean it has been properly tested or actually works.
