General
Skin should be squeaky clean before you apply your other skin care products.
Over-cleansing or using cleansers that are harsh or drying can cause a variety of problems including dryness, irritation, and a compromised barrier. A gentle, thorough cleanse without stripping the skin sets the stage for the rest of your routine.
Retinol works by exfoliating skin.
Dryness and/or flaking related to the initial retinol use is a temporary response, not exfoliation. Retinol works by regulating how skin cells are formed below skin’s surface which helps skin behave more like it did when younger. AHA and BHAs work differently and have their own important job to do. Dryness/flaking from retinol can be avoided by starting with lower concentrations and increasing strength/usage over time.
Scrubs are the best way to exfoliate skin.
While gentle, non-abrasive scrubs can refine the very surface of skin, they cannot remove all the built-up layers of dead skin that result from age and environmental exposure. In addition to exfoliating the surface, leave-on, chemical exfoliants hydrate, soothe redness, even out skin tone, clear clogged pores and minimize visible signs of aging. All things a scrub alone just can’t do. Moreover, if a scrub is abrasive, it poses a risk of damaging skin’s barrier.
Lips don't sunburn.
Just like skin, lips are vulnerable to sun damage and burning which can lead to redness, swelling, and increased chances of developing skin cancer.
Toothpaste is a good acne spot treatment.
Toothpaste is great for teeth but can be irritating on skin making acne concerns worse. If you’re looking to spot treat, opt for a high concentration of salicylic acid that will quickly and gently minimize stubborn bumps.
Fragranced skin care is fine if it doesn’t irritate my skin.
Even though you can’t always see or feel the negative effects of fragrant ingredients on skin, research shows damage is taking place under the surface. This leads to all kinds of issues, including weakening skin’s barrier, worsening dryness, increasing or triggering redness, depleting vital substances in skin’s surface, and pro-aging skin. Fragrance free is always the best way to go for all skin types.
You can't use retinol during the daytime.
It’s perfectly fine to use retinol products during the day, as long as you wear sunscreen over them. Research has shown that retinol works well under SPF-rated products, and that vitamins A, C, and E—even in combination—remain stable and effective under a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
You only need to exfoliate if your skin is rough or flaky.
Whether you can see or feel dead skin on the surface, it’s likely there. With age and daily environmental exposure, our skin’s ability to naturally shed dead skin on its own slows down or even stops. Leave-on exfoliants offer a variety of benefits for all skin types including keeping pores clear, improving hydration and helping your other skin care products penetrate deeper.
You don’t need sunscreen on cloudy or cold days.
The damaging UV rays of the sun are independent of cloud coverage or cooler temperatures. That means you can get just as much damage on a cool, cloudy day as you can a warm, sunny day. In fact, snow and ice reflect UV rays which means damage can be increased.
Rubbing alcohol will help dry up acne.
Technically, you can’t “dry up” acne but research absolutely shows that drying alcohols harm your skin by depleting vital substances, compromising its barrier which leads to additional oiliness and even more breakouts.
While rubbing alcohol can indeed kill some acne-causing bacteria and remove oil instantly, it is drying and irritating which means it should be avoided. In fact, rubbing alcohol causes your skin to create more oil which can lead to increased oiliness, clogged pores, and additional breakouts. Not what you want when trying to get acne in check in the first place. Skip the rubbing alcohol and opt for gentle cleansers along with ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid. These gentle, yet effective options will get clogged pores, breakouts, and post-acne marks under control minus the dryness and irritation. Don’t forget daily sunscreen! Unprotected sun exposure further damages the skin and can cause post-acne marks (once your skin has cleared) to stay around longer.
You can close pores.
Closing pores isn’t physiologically possible, but what you can realistically do is restore them back to the shape and size they were before they became damaged and stretched. Step 1: Use a BHA exfoliant to remove the built-up substances that have expanded the pore. Step 2: Follow with concentrated niacinamide to tighten the pore lining. The key is to be consistent with these steps to keep enlarged pores at bay.
You can't use retinol with a leave-on exfoliant.
No research has ever demonstrated or concluded that alpha or beta hydroxy acid (AHA or BHA) exfoliants make retinol any less effective when used in the same skin care routine. It’s just one of those myths that gets repeated so often that people—even many we consider skin care experts—tend to believe it.
You shouldn’t exfoliate if your skin is sensitive.
Sensitive skin can also be prone to dry patches, unevenness, and clogged pores making exfoliation a good option. The key is choosing an option like BHA (beta hydroxy acid) that is gentle, effective, and naturally calming.
You don’t need to apply sunscreen if you’re inside all day.
Even if indoors all day, UV rays from the sun penetrate glass and can pose a problem. Short trips outside to walk the dog, go to and from your car or the mailbox, all expose skin to UVA and UVB rays. We say, err on the side of caution and get into the habit of applying sunscreen daily indoors or out.
You'll eventually outgrow acne
Acne is a common inflammatory skin disease affecting 80% of people 11-30 years old. While acne can be well managed with the right products, you don't outgrow it.
Jar packaging works great for skin care formulas.
Research makes it clear that many of the best ingredients for skin—including antioxidants and anti-aging champions like vitamin C and retinol— break down in the presence of air. Essentially, opening a jar lets air in, causing these important ingredients to begin deteriorating, becoming less and less effective with each use.
Making matters worse, see-through glass jars allow routine exposure to daylight, further compromising the efficacy of these types of ingredients.
There’s also the hygiene issue: Every time you dip your fingers into the jar, you contaminate the formula, which stresses the preservative system, leading to further deterioration of the beneficial ingredients.
You shouldn't combine retinol with vitamin C.
A recent study revealed two important facts: not only did pairing vitamin C and retinol prove effective, but the two worked perfectly together to defend skin against environmental assault when applied under a sunscreen.
Waterproof sunscreen lasts all day.
There is no such thing as all-day protection when it comes to sunscreen. If having fun in the sun is your plan be sure to reapply regularly. Also, look for water-resistant sunscreens that ensure you will be getting maximum protection.