Photo: MyTudut / Flickr

The vast majority of British women value good skin above any other feature. A full 75 per cent of 20,000 participants in The Big British Beauty Poll voted for clear, youthful-looking skin as the most important beauty attribute. We spend big money on having and maintaining good skin, too, with the average woman willing to pay up to £39.99 for a single anti-ageing product. It stands to reason then that the average British woman would know quite a bit about skincare, right? Dead wrong. We bust the myths you’re most likely to believe.

Myth 1: Expensive is better

The most expensive product is not necessarily the best for your skin. Don’t buy into ‘miracle ingredients’ that come with hefty price tags. If you pay attention to the labelling on beauty products, in many cases you’ll find that same ‘miracle ingredient’ in a cheaper product. It pays to wise up. Take a look at NvWah for a comprehensive list of common skincare ingredients, and an explanation of what they can do for you.

Myth 2: Bad food equals bad skin

While a good diet combined with exercise and drinking plenty of water will improve the condition of your skin, no amount of junk food is going to give you acne. Hormones, stress, pollution and bacteria are just some of the factors that contribute to pimples. If your acne is serious, it’s well worth a trip to a dermatologist. Depriving yourself of the occasional treat, though, isn’t the answer.

Myth 3: Blackheads are caused by dirt

First, rest assured, most people have blackheads. And they are not caused by dirt. While no amount of cleansing will rid you of them, what will help is using a good exfoliating scrub suited to your skin type. Also be sure to use a ‘non-comodogenic’ moisturiser that won’t clog pores.

For more skincare myths busted, take a look at this post on beautifulwithbrains.com.

Tags: skin, skin care, women