Don't Take the Bait: Identifying False Beauty Claims
Get ready to officially debunk some of the most outrageously false beauty and skincare claims you've ever heard! Here's a list of the top 10 bullsh!t claims in the beauty industry, and why you should never fall for them again.
1. Eye Cream for Dark Circles
The truth is, dark circles are often hereditary or caused by various lifestyle factors. Eye creams may help with puffiness and some causes of dark circles, but there's no miracle product to banish dark circles completely. Dark circles can be caused by lack of sleep, allergies, hyperpigmentation, thinning skin, anemia, overexposure to sun and even just from rubbing your eyes too much. Eye creams can play a role in making your eye area look healthy and fresh, but often their claims are overblown.
2. Cellulite Creams
Cellulite is a completely normal body fat distribution that affects most women. No cream can change the structure of fat cells or erase cellulite; it takes a combination of exercise, diet, and sometimes professional treatments.
3. Making Pores Smaller or Invisible
Pores serve a purpose, and their size is determined by genetics. While you can temporarily seemingly minimize the appearance of pores with a good exfoliation, there's no permanent solution for making them smaller or invisible. If they were invisible, you'd actually be a flaky mess as there'd be no way to transport the oils from our sebaceous glands that keep our skin soft and comfortable.
4. Collagen Cream
While collagen is an essential protein for healthy skin, applying it topically doesn't actually help rebuild it within the skin's structure. Its mollecular size is in fact too large to be absorbed into the dermis. Instead, focus on ingredients that stimulate collagen production like retinol, antioxidants, and peptides.
5. Hydroquinone is Bad
Hydroquinone is a potent ingredient for treating hyperpigmentation, which has been unfairly demonized at times. When used under a professional's guidance, it can yield effective results. As always, moderation and expert advice are crucial. The main studies that have indicated that hydroquinone is dangerous either included hydroquinone products that also contained mercury (which, as we are well aware, is very toxic) or involved rats being fed high doses of hydroquinone. So, we wouldn't recommend ingesting your skincare as a snack, or bathing in mercury, but we do still think hydroquinone has a place in the routines of people looking to target hyperpigmentation and melasma.
6. Chemical Free
Newsflash: everything is made of chemicals! "Chemical-free" is just a marketing buzzword to tap into consumers' desire for a more "natural" product. Instead, focus on understanding the ingredients and which ones work best for your skin.
7. Medical Grade
Surprise, surprise! The term "medical grade" isn't regulated by any official standard. It's merely another way for companies to make their products seem more impressive. Always do your research on the ingredients used in the formulation before buying expensive skincare with this claim.
8. Clean Beauty Brainwashing
The clean beauty movement has done wonders in promoting safer, more transparent ingredients. However, it's not always a guarantee of a superior product. Instead of blindly hopping on the clean beauty bandwagon, educate yourself about ingredients and make informed choices.
9. Hyaluronic Acid is Hydrating and Necessary
While hyaluronic acid is an excellent ingredient for temporarily retaining skin moisture (imagine you have a big event), it's not universally required for everyone and can actually cause irritation if used too frequently. It's particularly great for when your skin needs in instant plump, dewy boost but it's not required every day and you definitely don't need a dedicated hyaluronic acid, nor in every step of your routine.
10. Rated #1 by Dermatologists
Chances are, if a product is flat out claiming that it's "rated #1 by dermatologists," it's just marketing jargon to gain credibility. How many dermatologists where surveyed? We have no idea. Who are the dermatologists who were surveyed? Dunno. What is their relationship with the brand in question? No clue. Skincare is a result of individual needs; what works for some might be the exact opposite for others so no dermatologist is going to recommend one product for all people. Trust your gut and research, not vague claims.
Here's to no more bull**** claims! Your beauty journey should be empowered by truth and knowledge, so keep doing your homework and make wise choices for your unique skin.
