Can chocolates really make us breakout? Will brushing our hair a hundred times make it smoother and glossier? Will crossing our legs often cause us to develop varicose veins?
These are just among the many beauty old wives’ tales that we have grown to consider as fact over the years. But we never even bothered to find out if there was any scientific basis for them. What you consider to have been the right way of maintaining your skin and looks might just be doing the opposite for you. Learn the difference between beauty myths and facts. RealSimple.com
and Ronita Dutta for iVillage uncover the truth behind common beauty beliefs.
1. Crossing your legs will give you varicose veins.
It is actually not sitting down and crossing your legs that would cause you to have varicose or spider veins; standing possibly would. And it often occurs on people who have a genetic predisposition to them, says Kevin Pinski, a dermatologist in Chicago. “Standing makes the vascular network work extra-hard to pump blood from the legs up to the heart. If the valves, which keep blood flowing in one direction within your vessels, aren't functioning properly, a pooling of blood can occur and result in unsightly veins.”
2. Shaving will make your hair grow back darker and thicker.
Not true. When you shave, hair is cut at the base. The widest part then grows out, and hair appears thicker. It isn’t shaving that changes the width, density, or color of hair.
3. Wearing nail polish all the time will make your nails turn yellow.
True, but there is a way to wear any nail color you like and still avoid discoloration. Nails are porous, and they absorb the pigment in polishes, especially those that come in darker colors. So before you apply polish, apply a clear base coat to prevent nails from absorbing pigment.
4. Brushing your hair 100 strokes a day will make it shine.
Doing this actually does more damage to your hair. "One hundred strokes is too much," says Christopher Mackin, a trichologist (someone who studies hair) at the Gil Ferrer Salon, in New York City. Just brush your hair gently with a few strokes to tame your mane and make it shine, as the natural oils from your scalp flatten hair cuticles to make them reflect more light.
5. Never pluck a gray hair, because ten more will grow in its place.
Not true, according to RealSimple.com. “If anything, ripping a hair out by its root leads to regrowth that refuses to lie flat. Your best bet for conquering gray? See a colorist.”
6. Chocolate gives you spots.
There's no scientific evidence to support this old wives’ tale. Yet if you are already acne-prone, high levels of sugar could over-stimulate your skin, Sally Penford, education manager for the International Dermal Institute, tells iVillage.
7. The more expensive the product the better it is.
It is true that the best ingredients really cost a lot, but it doesn’t mean that a more expensive product is better than an affordable one. It all depends on knowing what products and ingredients work for you.
8. Using cucumber on your eyes prevents eye bags.
“Bags under the eyes are caused by fluid retention—it's more obvious than anywhere else on the body because the skin under the eyes is much thinner. Applying cucumber certainly helps to cool the area, thus helping to reduce capillary activity and the amount of fluid. However, since the components of the cucumber do not penetrate the skin the effect is only temporary,” writes Dutta.
9. Darker skins don't need to use sunscreens.
While darker skins are less likely to burn due to the larger amount of melanin (the pigment that guards against UV rays) present in them, UV rays can still penetrate the skin. No one is exempted from using sunscreen, which is important in protecting yourself from skin cancer and aging. The International Dermal Institute recommends a minimum of SPF 15 for all skin types.
10. Pinching your cheeks is a great substitute for blusher.
This can actually make you look worse over time, since it can cause capillaries in the cheeks to become flaccid, leaving the skin looking blotchy, writes Dutta. Try using a mineral blush instead.
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