CosmoBiz Magazine December 2015 | Page 44

Try: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil Myth #7: You cannot find any decent anti-aging skincare products at the drugstore. Truth: What matters the most in a skincare product is the quality (and quantity) of active ingredients. You may just find that the affordable serum found at the drugstore is just as effective as the high end brand with a gilded container. Product efficacy has very little to do with the number on the price tag. It’s important to note that there is no such thing as an over the counter cream or serum to remove wrinkles, so do not fall for the unrealistic claims you see or hear promising you the fountain of youth. When shopping for products at the drugstore or large chain to reduce the visible signs of aging, seek out formulas containing proven anti-aging ingredients such as peptides, glycolic acid, retinol, argan oil and niacinamide on the labels. ed ingredients that do wonders for the skin, including anti-aging peptides. There are many wonderful natural products on the market, but remember that there is no valid reason to avoid products containing synthetics. Myth #9: If you have wrinkles, you can exercise them away. Truth: If only it were that easy. Sadly, you can’t tighten your face the way you can tighten your abs. If you’re up into the wee hours are are flipping channels, you undoubtedly have seen TV home shopping stations selling devices designed to exercise muscles in the face. These devices typically are placed in your mouth and cause users to stretch and exaggerate their facial muscles. Doing this can actually promote further lines and wrinkles. There is no scientific data to show that one can obliterate their facial wrinkles by using a facial exercise machine, so save your hard-earned money. Myth #10: If a face mask burns, it’s working. Try: Boots No7 Lift & Luminate Day and Night Serum ($27) Myth #8: A product advertised as “chemical free” is safer for me to use on my skin than products with synthetic ingredients. Truth: No, not true. This is a common misconception these days, and it has created a great deal of unfounded (by science) fear. Yes, research does show that there may be cause for concern when it comes to ingredients in skincare such as parabens and phthalates, but that does not mean that chemical ingredients are harmful. The notion of chemicals in skincare seems to be frowned upon lately, but one just needs to look at the Periodic Table to realize that everything is a chemical -- even water. "The idea of saying 'This is natural, so it is safe' is false. Nettle is a natural plant, but on the skin, it causes welts,” explains dermatologist Isabelle Oliveres-Gouthi. Conversely, there are many lab creat- 44 COSMOBIZ SALON DECEMBER 2015 Truth: No matter what anyone tells you, a facial mask or other treatment product should not burn or hurt. It’s a popular, yet inaccurate, claim--“If your face is red and tingly, it’s just the toxins being drawn out and circulation being boosted.” This is untrue. If you have applied a facial mask and it burns the skin, you need to rinse it off immediately. While certain ingredients such as Glycolic Acid can cause a temporary, slight tingling, burning is never a good thing. A freshly applied mask that makes your skin feel like it is burning may not seem like a big deal, but you could be causing irreparable skin damage if you continue using the offending product. “That familiar tingling sensation is actually just your skin responding to irritation, resulting in inflammation,” says Paula Begoun, author of Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. She adds, “Products that produce that sensation can actually damage your skin's healing process, make scarring worse, cause collagen and elastin to break down, and increase the growth of bacteria that cause pimples.” Trust your skin. If something hurts or looks red, that is not normal.