We’re bombarded with new beauty advice every day — and so much of it that’s been passed around from back in the day either isn’t true anymore thanks to technological advancements, or was never true to begin with. Below are 10 beauty myths we’ve all heard and believed at some point in our lives — and it’s time to let them go.
1. Cucumbers kibosh puffy eyes
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It’s not the cucumber itself that reduces puffiness — it’s the fact that the cucumber is cold. We tend to use cucumbers because they can stay cold for long periods of time once they’re out of the fridge, but you could lay anything on said puffiness as long as it’s chilled and you’ll end up with the same result.
2. Cutting your hair will make it grow faster
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I’m not sure how this hair myth has lasted so long. I mean, our hair grows from our scalp, so when we cut it our scalp isn’t going to know — or care, for that matter.
3. Shaving makes hair grow back thicker and darker
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Shaving doesn’t change the way your hair grows back — like, even a little. It just seems that way because when you shave your legs and it starts to grow back, the first thing you see and feel is the thickest, darkest part of the hair shaft. “You aren’t changing the structure of your hair follicle by shaving,” says Kerry Benjamin, aesthetician and owner of Kerry Benjamin Skincare. “When it grows back for a day or two, the hair goes back to exactly the way it was before you shaved.”
4. Concealer should be lighter than foundation
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Lighter concealers will just draw attention to the areas you’re trying to conceal. Both your concealer and foundation should match your natural skin tone as closely as possible. Otherwise, you’re going to be mistaken for Marilyn Manson.
5. If you have oily skin, you don’t need moisturizer
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Oily skin doesn’t equal hydrated skin. It means your oil glands work overtime. No matter your skin type, you need to moisturize to keep your skin hydrated and protected (since many moisturizers also contain SPF and antioxidants).
6. Lip balm dries out your lips
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Once you get used to that glossy feeling on your lips, when it’s not there your lips will of course feel drier. That’s why you feel like the more you use lip balm, the more you need it. That being said, some lip balms contain ingredients like camphor, menthol and alcohol, which can lead to irritation, so check the ingredients before you apply.
7. Your hair gets used to your shampoo
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This is a phenomenon that’s all in our heads. When you use the same shampoo the same way, you’re going to get the same results. Period. The heaviness your hair experiences is more to do with product buildup than anything, which is why throwing in a purifying shampoo seems to make such a difference on your hair.
8. Pluck a gray hair and you’ll find three more in its place
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In order for this to be true, you’d have to increase the number of hair follicles you have on your head — which you know, isn’t possible.
9. Use steam to open pores
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Pores are not windows, so no amount of steam (or cold, for that matter) will open or close them.
10. Crossing your legs causes spider veins
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It’s actually standing a lot that may cause varicose or spider veins. Standing makes the vascular network work harder to pump blood from your legs up to your heart — and if the valves, which keep your blood flowing, aren’t functioning properly, this can lead to icky-looking veins. Trauma can also cause spider veins, such as getting hit by a ball or getting your leg caught in a door.
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