10 Beauty Myths

1. Myth! Shaving will make your hair grow back thicker and darker.

Fact: Hair will naturally become thicker and darker as we age due to the testosterone produced by the body, not due to shaving.

2. Myth! Plucking grey hairs only causes more to grow in.

Fact: It is biologically impossible for a hair follicle to grow more than a single hair, so plucking simply cannot cause more hairs to grow. An alternative to plucking is to colour your hair, there are many treatments available over the counter.

3. Myth! Chocolate gives you spots.

Fact: There has never been a link proven between chocolate and acne, although a healthy diet can have a positive effect on skin condition.

4. Myth! Split ends can be repaired.

Fact: There may be temporary solutions for split ends, but the only truly effective way to correct split ends is to cut them off.

5. Myth! White spots on your nails are a sign of calcium deficiency.

Fact: The spots are not signs of a calcium deficiency and they are not, as some might suggest, the results of air becoming trapped beneath the nail. If the nail has been knocked it is possible that a white mark may appear to indicate the trauma. However if there has not been any damage it could be an indication of zinc deficiency. The mark will disappear as the nail grows, although if more marks appear it may be time to consider a zinc supplement for your diet.

6. Myth! Sunscreen only needs applied once, and not at all if it is overcast.

Fact: This is a dangerous myth, as protecting the skin from harmful rays should always be a serious consideration especially when on holiday. Sunscreen should be applied in accordance with the product's instructions, this could mean re-applying every couple of hours. Even when it is overcast harmful rays can have an effect on exposed skin, so protection is required whether or not you can feel direct sunlight on your skin.

7. Myth! Soap is bad for your skin.

Fact: Perhaps in the old days when soaps were made out of animal fat this may have been the case, but these days there are soaps prepared for just about every type of skin. Experiment with different types of soap to find the one that suits your skin type best.

8. Myth! Cucumber Reduces Eye Puffiness.

Fact: It's not the cucumber itself that reduces puffiness, it is the contraction of the blood vessels caused by the coldness of the cucumber that actually causes the reduction in swelling. Anything cold will have the same effect!.

9. Myth! Toothpaste on spots helps them go down.

Fact: This particular myth may have arisen from the ingredient triclosan which does appear in spot treatments and some toothpastes. Of course toothpastes also contain many other ingredients which are not suitable for applying to the skin, so in this case it is definitely better to stick with targeted skin care products.

10. Myth! The body requires 8 litres of water a day.

Fact: This is a popular myth that thankfully is pretty far from the truth, moderation is the best policy. Too much water can actually be a bad thing, and everybody is different so different water intake levels is only natural to expect. The best judge of how much is enough is your own body. If you feel thirsty take a drink, and if you feel bloated or need to visit the toilet too often consider if perhaps you are taking too much water listen to your body!.