In the Media: Facts and Myths about Skincare
That melancholy virus always takes a hold of me just before the New Year. It is such a cliché phrase, but how time flies! When I was telling a journalist recently that I have four children, I suddenly realised that they aren’t so little anymore. My oldest is at secondary school now and regularly borrows my shoes…which I’m not always so happy about!
My blog is not so young anymore either: I wrote my first one 6 years ago in 2009. Even though I have the impression that, over the last few years, people are becoming more and more conscious about their choice of skincare products, there is still a lot of work to be done in ridding the world of all these cosmetics myths. As I believe that I will one day succeed, I would like to share with you an interview I gave for Gezond-nu, about myths and facts in the cosmetics world.
Article by gezondnu.nl:
Can you only counteract wrinkles with botox? And is plenty of water good for your skin or is that one of the myths? There are lots of facts surrounding skincare but also myths. We put six statements to Research Physician for Cosmetic Dermatology Jetske Ultee about skincare in order to find out once and for all the truth.
What we really want is a healthy, smooth and radiant skin. And that’s why many people have a bathroom cabinet full of products to achieve beautiful skin. Yet we still don’t always know what is genuine- how do you cleanse a face properly? And does an anti-wrinkle cream actually help? We put six statements about skincare to Research Physician for Cosmetic Dermatology, Jetske Ultee.
1. It doesn’t matter how you cleanse your face, as long as you do it
Jetske Ultee: “Cleansing the skin is very important. Sebum and dirt build up during the day. If you don’t remove this then problems may occur, such as the appearance or worsening of spots. A mild Cleanser can remove sebum and dirt. Cleansing the skin allows substances in other skincare products (such as a moisturiser) to work more effectively.
The ingredients in your Cleanser also have an impact on the condition of your skin. Sometimes powerful de-greasing ingredients are used (for example, sodium lauryl sulphate) which remove the oil that your skin actually requires. By doing this you are damaging the barrier function of the skin. This can result in redness, spots and other impurities along with dry skin. Cleansing your skin is definitely essential but in the correct way!”
2. Drinking lots of water is good for your skin
“This is probably one of the biggest myths in the cosmetics world. Water passes through the body too quickly to have an effect on the skin. People who don’t drink enough and are dehydrated will however notice this by their skin. In this instance the skin loses its elasticity. Drinking a sufficient amount of water is therefore important but drinking more than is necessary will not make your skin more beautiful.”
3. Cream isn’t necessary for an oily skin
“A moisturiser (cream) may be too much for a very oily skin and actually cause too much shine and more impurities. What you can do: replace the cream with a Toner. Make sure that the Toner contains soothing and sebum regulating ingredients such as liquorice root extract or Niacinamide. Oily skin also needs to be taken care of! And don’t forget sun protection cream. With oily skin you can apply this directly after the toner. With dry skin you still need to apply the Moisturizer in between.”
4. The best before date on your make–up is nonsense
“This is definitely not the case. The best before date of a product is, in fact, very important because it can go off. This can result in preservatives no longer being effective allowing bacteria and mould free rein. That is not the intention. Replace your mascara after around 3 months. Liquid eyeliner and lip gloss should be thrown away after around 6 months and eyeshadow and powder after around 18 months.”
5. Only botox can reduce wrinkles
“Botox can effectively reduce wrinkles. But there are more cosmetic ingredients, such as Vitamin A Acid, which can reduce wrinkles. Vitamin A Acid stimulates healthy cell division and the production of collagen and elastin. Furthermore, MMP’s (enzymes which break down collagen and elastin) are inhibited. Vitamin A Acid can also reduce pigmentation spots. Vitamin C can also help: research has shown that it can reduce the depth of wrinkles. Vitamin C, like Vitamin A Acid, can reduce pigmentation spots. Vitamin A Acid is a medicine and is only available on prescription. Vitamin C is readily available. Check the concentration: this needs to be at least 5%.”
6. You only need to apply sun cream when you are sun bathing
“ No, applying a sun cream daily is very important. You not only increase your risk of skin cancer by exposing yourself in the sun unprotected, but also, around 90% of skin ageing occurs because of the sun. As around 80% of the UV rays penetrate through the clouds, applying sun cream only when it is sunny is not enough.”
Text: Jeanine Bakker
Regards Jetske
(Dr. Jetske Ultee-Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)
You can also read:
‘Vitamin C in Skincare’
‘What is the Best Anti-Wrinkle Cream?’
‘How Long Does Our Make-Up Last?’
‘The Best Way to Cleanse Your Face’