Beauty Myth | Drinking Water Hydrates Skin

Although it may shock you, the idea that drinking water hydrates the skin is completely false! There is absolutely no medical or scientific evidence to suggest that drinking water directly hydrates the skin. Now drinking water is incredibly important for overall health, so keep sipping! Just don't be fooled into thinking any of those eight glasses a day are going straight to your skin.

Busta Beauty Myth | Curly Hair Shouldn't Be Washed Frequently

For years now, the idea that wrong to wash curly hair too frequently has been knocking about. However it is just straight BS. This myth is born out of an element of truth. Constant hair washing, without putting nourishment back into the hair, will strip any hair of its natural moisture, leaving it dry and prone to damage. However curly hair is no different. As long as curly hair is kept moisturised, washing it frequently is absolutely fine. After all, regular cleansing is the key to hair and scalp health.

Beauty Myths | Should You Really Cut Your Cuticles?

Nope. Your cuticles are there for a reason... and a good one at that. They protect the developing nail and surrounding skin from bacteria, so cutting your cuticles is definitely not a good idea. Doing so will heavily increase the chance of infection and, in case you didn't know, infections in and around the nail bed are not only unsightly, they are very painful.

The Beauty Myth: Toning Is The Second Step In Cleansing

False. This myth is so common that some of y'all may not believe it's a whole bunch of bullshit. Many people believe that toners are intended for removing any dirt left behind after cleansing. But let me be clear, there should never be any dirt or makeup left behind after cleansing. If there is, you better get your ass back in the bathroom and cleanse some more.

The Beauty Myth: Lemon Juice Lightens Skin

True. The humble lemon is one of nature's greatest ingredients and it has been employed cosmetically for centuries. It is packed with antioxidants, has antibacterial and antiviral properties and is high in Vitamin C. However it is the alpha-hydroxy acids in lemon juice that lighten and brighten the skin and hair. The alpha-hydroxy acids in lemon juice have mild exfoliative effects which gently peel off the upper layer of skin, removing or lightening some age spots.

The Beauty Myth: You Don’t Need To Use SPF During the Autumn & Winter Months

Beyond False. You always need a good SPF! Although the autumn and winter months are cold, damp and dark, UV rays are always hanging around and your skin will absorb them. UV rays are as harmful in the autumn and winter as they are in the spring and summer.

The Beauty Myth: Avoid Conditioner If You Have Greasy Hair

False. Greasy hair is caused by the overproduction of sebum on the scalp. Sebum is an oily/waxy substance that is secreted by the sebaceous glands in our skin. When the overproduction of sebum occurs on the scalp, the scalp will become oily and hair will look greasy.

The Beauty Myth: Pores Are Shrinkable

False. The idea that pores are shrinkable is just complete bullshit. Sorry, girls!

Pore sizes are genetically determined and, as much as people may say otherwise, you simply can’t make them smaller. It's just not that simple...

The Beauty Myth | Washing Hair In Very Hot Water

False. I've always been guilty of washing my hair with very hot water. Unlike some, this isn't because I think it'll provide a more intensive wash, but simply because I love hot showers and only wash my hair when I'm in one.

The Beauty Myth: Preparation H Reduces Puffy Eyes

This beauty myth has been debated for years. Some people think it's BS whilst others - makeup artists included - swear by it. Eye puffiness (aka red, swollen skin under the eyes) is a nightmare to treat, so I can understand why this myth gets so much attention. There is some truth to it however the benefits are temporary, the dangers great and more importantly....it is a hemorrhoid cream for use on your a**hole! Ewwww!

The Beauty Myth: Toothpaste Removes Pimples

False...ish. Some toothpastes can reduce the size of a pimple, as they contain ingredients such as menthol and alcohol that dry the skin and draw out impurities. However using toothpaste will not kill the bacteria causing the problem or prevent future acne. Furthermore, the very ingredients that help reduce the size of pimples, can also cause irritation, dry the skin and encourage acne...

The Beauty Myth: Shaving Makes Hair Grow Back Thicker

False. Shaving hair does not alter its width, thickness or colour. The reason this rumour continues to circulate is down to the fact that hair is much wider at the base than it is at the tip. When you shave, the base of the hair will grow out first, making the 'new' hair appear thicker. However when the hair grows back fully, it will look exactly the same as it did before! This myth is just complete...

The Beauty Myth: Tight Topknots, Buns & Ponytails Can Lead To Hair Loss

True. Sadly girls, any hairstyle that pulls hair tightly at the scalp can put serious strain on the hair cuticle, leading to scarring, damage and hair loss...

The Beauty Myth: Vaseline Makes Eyelashes Grow Faster, Longer & Thicker

False. There is just no scientific proof that Vaseline makes eyelashes grow longer or thicker. The only thing Vaseline will give your lashes is a glossy finish, however this comes at a price. The price is your eye health, as applying petroleum jelly to your lashes can clogg the glands in the inner rim of your eye, leading to a painful and seriously ugly infection.

The Beauty Myth: Nail Polish Can Turn Nails Yellow

The Verdict: True

Sadly the rumor that some nail polishes turn nails yellow is one hundred percent true. Some nail polishes contain certain coloured pigments that can leave a nasty yellow stain on fingernails; darker toned polishes are usually the main culprits! The best way to stop the staining is to apply a base coat to the nails before applying nail polish. A good base coat will act as a protective barrier between the nail and the polish.

As for base coats, I use the Treat Base Coat 15ml ($18.00 treatcollection.com) as it dries quickly and protects my nails perfectly. As with all Treat polishes, the brand's base coat is '5-free'; free of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor. highly pigmented, easy to apply and gorgeously glossy.

The Beauty Myth: The Higher The SPF Rating The Better The Protection

Verdict: Not really... SPF stands for 'Sun Protection Factor', referring to its ability to block UVB rays. It is UVB exposure that is responsible for sun burn and skin cancer.

A SPF rating indicates you how long you can stay out in the sun without getting burnt compared to how long you could stay out without it. For example, if you burn after only 15 minutes in the sun and you use a SPF15, you will be able to stay out for 225 minutes (2hrs 45minutes) before you burn.

So although a higher SPF offers protection for a longer period of time, the actual protection that you get within the specified time frame is no better than that of a lower SPF rating.

It is important to remember that as a SPF only protects against UVB exposure, you need to look for a sunscreen that also protects against UVA exposure (UVA exposure causes premature ageing). I recommend using the Decléor Aroma Sun Expert Summer Oil SPF30 150ml (£32.00 decleor.co.uk). Not only is this perfect skin-protector an oil, it also comes in a spray bottle, making application easy and speedy - just want you need when you're in a rush to soak up the sun! It also leaves skin deeply nourished and soft, which is an added beauty bonus.

The Beauty Myth: Oil Should Not Be Used On Oily Skin

Verdict: False

The idea that oil is bad for oily skin is a complete myth. The absolute key to controlling oil is to use oil based products. This is a homeopathic approach whereby ‘like treats like’, therefore if you use products with a similar makeup to your own sebum, then you naturally produce less oils and your skin is healthier and more balanced. So, if you suffer from oily skin, give a face oil a try. I would recommend applying face oils in the evening if you're a little nervous about using them.

One of the best face oils available is the Perricone MD Chia Serum 30ml (£62.00 Selfridges / $75.00 Sephora). It is an antioxidant-rich face oil that is packed with - you guessed it - chia oil. Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids strengthen the skin cell membrane of the epidermis and improve the texture and quality of the skin. This has been my staple face oil for the past three months and I am absolutely obsessed. I don't know how my skin would cope without it!

The Beauty Myth: Plucking A Grey Hair Will Cause More To Grow Back

The Verdict: False

This is one of the craziest, yet most famous beauty myths in existence.



There is no way plucking one grey hair will cause more grey hairs to go grow back in its place. It is simply not possible for surrounding hair follicles to turn grey when you pluck out one grey hair.

Regardless of whether or not plucking a grey hair will cause more to grow in its place, you should not be plucking out any hairs from your head...

Pulling out your hairs can cause irritation and permanently damage the hair follicles. So put the tweezers down and either embrace the grey or get dyeing!

The Beauty Myth: Sleeping On Your Side Causes Wrinkles

Verdict: True

Unfortunately, this popular beauty myth is actually true...

Sleeping on your side and pressing your face against a cotton pillow, or any other surface for that matter, can cause 'sleep lines'. Sleep lines aren't the worst problem in the world however, over time, sleep lines can result in deep, permanent wrinkles.

The best way to prevent sleep lines is to sleep on your back, however training yourself to do this can be tricky and frustrating. So, if sleep lines do concern you, I would recommend investing in a silk pillowcase. A silk pillowcase not only prevents sleep lines, it maintains clean and healthy skin and hair and it feels amazing!

The Beauty Myth: You Don't Have To Cleanse Your Face In The Morning

The Verdict: False

It's frustrating addressing this crazy ass myth but no, it is not true that you don't have to cleanse your face in the morning. Yes, you cleanse in the evening, however don't think for a second that your face remains oil free, sweat free and dirt free throughout the night.

The skin repairs itself naturally while we sleep and, in doing this, produces dead skin cells and excess oil that need to be removed the next morning. Now don't go thinking a splash of water will help remove these nasties; water alone only removes around 65% of oil and debris from the surface of the skin. You will need a cleanser and I recommend using a gentle one, such as the La Roche-Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel 200ml (£12.00 Boots / £21.99 laroche-posay.us).