Myth 1: Your face wash is all you need

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your face cleanser cant really remove all your makeup and unless you want to deal with a breakout, you do need to double clean. Always, remove your makeup before you wash your face because many cleansers can’t take off concealer or foundation completely, especially around the eyes and nose. Use an oil-based cream, an emollient wipe, or a cleansing oil to dissolve stubborn sunscreen and makeup. Follow with lukewarm water and a cleanser, ideally with ingredients  like cocamidopropyl betaine or caprylic triglyceride, which are sulfate-free surfactants.

Myth 2: Wash twice a day

Not everyone agrees on how often we should wash our face, but here’s a rule of thumb you should live by, always wash your face after a workout to prevent breakouts, and wash excessively oily skin morning and night. For very dry or sensitive skin, cleansing once daily in the evening should suffice.

Myth 3: Close your pores

Contrary to what we have been told, pores don’t open and close. In fact, extreme heat or cold can make problems like rosacea and redness even worse and while a facial massage can feel wonderful, it doesn’t have the benefits that we have been led to believe. Instead, if you want to increase circulation, the treadmill is a better option.

Myth 5: A face scrub is the only way to exfoliate

face scrub

Grainy scrubs can cause micro scratches on your skin and can be quite harsh. On the other hand, a salicylic- or glycolic-acid based cleanser is much gentler and more effective. Better yet, they both offer anti-aging benefits and help prevent breakouts. If you are new to these ingredients, alternate them with your regular wash and adjust depending on how your skin is looking and feeling.

Myth 6: A toner is a must

Alcohol-based toners strip off natural oils, which is not good for your skin. While gentle toners calm the skin and balance pH levels, lots of good cleansers provide this same function. If you really cant do without your toner, be sure to pick a gentle, alcohol-free one.

Myth 7: Daily face brushing is a must

Too much exfoliation can cause inflammation. So while a brush can remove oil, dirt, and dead skin better than your hands can, and it’s less aggressive than most exfoliating cleansers or scrubs it’s not something you have to use every night, especially if you’re also applying ingredients like retinoids or acids.

To keep your brush bacteria-free, rinse and air-dry after use and be sure to replace the brush head every three months.

Myth 8: Pricier ingredients equals a better clean

Ingredients like retinol and antioxidants are more effective when they stay concentrated on the skin, so save your pricier ingredients for leave-on products instead of washing them down the drain.