Beauty myths that Pinays may still believe
Have you ever blamed a zit that won’t quit on that oily burrito you had for lunch? How about meticulously drying your hair before bedtime because you don’t want to wake up a madwoman? We’ve all been there, but it doesn’t mean these wacky beauty myths should endure. The ones with crazy claims are easy enough to dismiss, but there are some that even the savvy, modern Filipina still believes in, like:
Image via Flickr user macrj
Oily skin doesn't need to moisturize. It’s been an ongoing belief that oily skin does not need moisturizer, because of a misconception it will add more shine and excess oil to their skin. Some girls even go to great lengths in an effort to “control” their skin from producing too much oil by constantly using toners and facial cleansers.
Truth is, your oil-control products might be the real culprit for your excessively oily skin! Your face overcompensates for the lack of moisture because you skip moisturizer and/or cleanse too much. So bag your fear of moisturizers, we say, and choose water-based or gel form moisturizers with non comedogenic ingredients to keep your skin hydrated. You can also check out our recommended P1,000 skincare regimen for oily/combi types.
Acne is caused by eating oily food. Okay, this may have some grain of truth but it’s not your intake that causes acne. You’re mostly likely breaking out due to the grease coming in contact with your skin and clogging your pores.
It’s still a good idea to limit your oily food intake though, and opt for a high fiber, low glycemic index diet with rich in fruits and vegetables instead.
You need to change your shampoo once in a while because shampoo familiarizes itself to your hair and no longer performs. Don’t you just hate it when your favorite shampoo just doesn’t feel as great as it used to? We admit we’ve often kept several brands in rotation, and changed shampoos periodically because using one brand continuously seems to make it lose its potency. Apparently, it’s not the shampoo’s fault. The problem lies in the build up from other hair products you use as well as your hair’s own natural oils. If this happens, clarifying shampoo is your friend. Use it once a week and then continue using your favorite shampoo.
Plucking one white hair will cause more white hair to grow. This is a myth with more believers than Justin Bieber, but it is simply not true. Melanocyte is responsible for the color of your hair, and it may malfunction due to age, stress, or genetics. Plucking one white hair will not make it multiply, but it will be replaced by another white hair if and when the hair root grows again. What may happen if you constantly pluck your hair is hair thinning, which probably makes it look like you have more white hair than usual. Instead of plucking, take advantage of the wide variety of hair coloring products available!
Pinching a newborn’s nose so it won’t be pango. If you’re not blessed with an aquiline nose, don’t resent your mom for not pinching the bridge of your nose enough when you were a kid. In fact, thank her! Experts say that this practice might actually do more harm than good, because a baby’s facial bones are still developing. Pinch her nose line (or any part of her face for that matter!) too hard, and you just might break her skin, cartilage, or bone.
Besides, a baby’s nose form is probably temporary. When babies are born, they pass through a cavity that is originally smaller than them, so their noses can get squashed and even slightly pushed to the side. The baby’s nasal bridge will develop over time, so stop with the pinching and enjoy on her cute features instead.
Crossing your legs can cause varicose veins. If there’s one thing you need to know about varicose veins, it’s that it is caused by our favorite G word: genetics. Other factors include obesity, gender, inactivity, age, and pregnancy. If you spend a lot of time in a seated position, regardless of whether you cross your legs or not, your inactivity may cause varicose veins.
Using menarche (first menstrual blood) as a face mask will prevent acne. Sorry, girls, just NO. You may have fallen prey to this unsanitary practice when you first got your period, you can keep other young girls from having to undergo the same ordeal. Gently explain that instead of preventing acne, the blood attracts bacteria and increases the likelihood of getting pimples and allergies. Skip the bloody face masks, please!
Got any beauty myths to debunk? Do share in the comments and let us know!
Sources: Baby Center, Eco Beauty Secrets, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, Inquirer.net
