In a world where information is at our fingertips, it’s easy to find answers, but it’s not always easy to know what to believe! We’ve got answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve received on a number of skincare topics:
Common Skincare Myths
Skin should feel tight after cleansing
As much as we love the feeling of clean skin, once you have cleansed your skin should feel fresh and supple rather than tight. Tightness in the skin may actually be a sign that your cleanser is too harsh and not suitable for your for your skin. type
If your face feels tight after washing, this may be because the skin has been stripped bare and robbed if natural oils required to keep it comfortable and balanced . This can increase the appearance of fine lines and lead to breakouts. To combat this, you might want to switch out your cleanser to something gentler such as a creamy cleanser, a cleansing balm or oil.
For more cleansing tips and tricks read our cleanser FAQ
Pores can shrink and expand
Pores are not like doors; they don’t open and close. Pores are a natural part of the skin structure, where sebum (produced in the sebaceous glands) reaches the skin’s surface. Dead skin cells, sebum, dirt and grime in our environment build up along with residual makeup and this can make pores appear larger, more visible, hence why they look larger and open. You can’t shrink pores, but you can minimise their appearance with thorough cleansing and exfoliating.
You outgrow acne outbreaks
If only this were true! As most of us can attest, this is sadly not the case. It is more common for adult women to suffer from breakouts than men, because women tend to be more sensitive to hormonal changes. But don’t despair, there is some good news! Studies have shown that if you suffer from acne you may experience delayed skin ageing with regards to wrinkles, so try to find solace in this if you are suffering from an acne breakout.
You don’t need eye cream until your 30s
It is impossible to reverse ageing, but you can slow the process down, so there is never a wrong time to start using an eye cream. Just like other skincare products, your starting point for an eye cream will vary depending on a whole host of factors, including your genetics and the effects of your environment on your skin (such as your exposure to the sun).
While you can start using eye cream at the first signs of fine feathery lines that develop in later life into crow’s feet, you don’t have to wait. You can also use eye cream in your 20s as a preventative measure to slow down the signs of ageing. WINDOWS OF THE SOUL is the ideal product to introduce into your regime. It is a lightweight yet rich eye cream which can be used by those who are showing signs of ageing or those wanting to reduce puffiness and dark circles. It hydrates and brightens the eye area with revitalising and nourishing ingredients.
You don’t need to moisturise oily skin
It’s a myth that moisturisers are bad for oily skin. If you try to strip oily skin of its natural oil, it can react by overproducing oil, which can also lead to breakouts. It is also possible for oily skin to become dehydrated, just like other skin types.
Moisturisers can help to replenish and rehydrate, as well as provide protection from ageing environmental damage. Opt for a moisturiser that helps to regulate and mop up excess oil while keeping your skin soft, balanced and mattified. MOISTURE MATTE is a lightweight moisturiser that targets shiny patches while helping to regulate the skin’s natural levels for all day hydration. It will leave your skin feeling soft, cool, fresh, and shine free.
Wearing foundation with SPF properly protects you from the sun
Sun damage is cumulative - even just a little bit of sun exposure each day can add up and lead to premature ageing. Unless you are applying multiple layers of foundation (which we don’t recommend, even for special occasions), relying on foundation SPF protection alone is unlikely to be sufficient. In addition, most people tend to apply their base make-up unevenly, focusing only on areas where they need coverage. This means that some of your face wouldn’t be protected anyway. We strongly recommend that you apply a separate SPF product and not rely on your make-up alone to do the job.
Men should use men’s skincare products
There are some general differences between men’s skin and women’s. For example, men’s skin tends to be thicker, with more collagen and more hair follicles. Most men’s skin also produces more sebum than women’s, due to higher testosterone production. Everyone is different, however, and within each gender people’s skin varies immensely. The key is to find the product that works best for your specific skin needs.
If you are a guy who shaves every day, you may be in the market for skin repairing products, or if you spend a lot of time outside, SPF may be on your shopping list. This doesn’t however mean that you need to be looking for products formulated only for men. You should look at what the product does and the skin type or concern that it is treating rather than the gender marketing behind it. BE STILL is a gentle daily moisturiser that helps to support and soothe sensitive, irritated or unhappy skin. It calms, restores and protects damaged skin, making it ideal for soothing razor burn or to create a smooth, strong and lustrous base on which to apply make-up.
Hopefully we have helped to put your mind at ease with the answers we’ve given here, but please do get in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns you’d like us to address. We’ll make sure we add the answers to the skincare questions we get asked most often to our FAQ pages.