Beauty hacks can be beneficial and overwhelming. If they work, they can boost our confidence to another level. However, if they don’t, it’s a journey to recovery. That said, beauty myths can have a way of holding us back.
With an overwhelming amount of online information, it’s tough to know what works. Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice your hair, skin, or makeup routine to find out because we just researched for you.
Below, experts explain the most prominent beauty myths in three significant areas: skin, makeup, and hair.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has had mixed reviews for years. There was a time when it was highly recommended, and beauty gurus encouraged us to use it for our hair, skin, and nails. As time went on, the viral hack became frowned upon. Many have claimed the oil to be the root cause of acne and other skin issues. The once-beloved product became an item that many feared to use. Although we’ve moved on to different natural ingredients, the question remains: Can we use coconut oil on our skin? Or will it destroy everything we’ve worked so hard for?
Sylvia Brownlee is a licensed esthetician and CEO of the skincare line Skin By Brownlee & Co. Her clinic specializes in acne and hyperpigmentation, and she highly advises clients to be mindful of coconut oil-infused products. “While some individuals may find coconut oil beneficial, many experience breakouts due to its comedogenic properties, which can clog pores,” says Brownlee. For acne-prone skin, coconut oil is not advised, even if used on your hair. To Brownlee, this can become consequential on acne-prone skin because coconut oil can transfer. However, those who do not struggle with acne-prone skin may find it helpful because of its hydrating abilities.
Mascara
We’ve all had a night that was more fun than expected. After dancing the night away with friends, we come home only to remember that we have a face full of makeup to wash off. Our body calls us to our beds while our pores beg to be cleansed. We are left with the heavy decision to sleep or muster up the courage to do our skincare routine for the next 20 minutes. Although we would all love to admit that we choose our skincare routine every time, we’re just girls! And sometimes, the bed wins. We sleep in our makeup and forget about the consequences.
Mascara can be one of the most challenging cleanser products. Even once we think we’ve gotten rid of it, we still wake up to dark circles around our eyes. No matter how difficult, though, we should still make an active effort to cleanse it off. The TikTok debate about lash mites has been circling online. If we don’t wash our mascara, it can go under our eyelids and leave us with unfortunate lash mites—or so they say.
Michela Wariebi is an incredible makeup artist who takes pride in educating her clients first. When it comes to the lash mite myth, this has gotten a bit out of hand. “The myth is true and isn’t true. Everyone has lash mites. However, leaving your mascara for months can heavily affect your eyes,” says Wariebi. The makeup artist recommends that those sleeping with mascara for months visit an eye doctor, as the bacteria can become more severe.
In addition to this, Wariebi also recommends using a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover to cleanse the area every night. She also mentions that we should wash our makeup off daily to avoid further skin issues. “I know we all get tired, but cleansing off our makeup should be the top priority. It’s just not good to sleep in it.”
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary, similar to coconut oil, has become popular in recent years. Hundreds of hair enthusiasts swear by it for its ability to grow hair abundantly. Rosemary instantly became a staple in most natural hair households—some even boiled rosemary water in addition to using the oil in their routine. Things came to a clash when stories of hair loss due to the popular ingredient began circling online.
No one does better than Mirna Jose when debunking hair myths. Clients have praised the beloved celebrity hairstylist for her knowledge and love of hair care. Regarding rosemary, Jose believes there’s a need for further education on the famous ingredient. “Rosemary is good for the hair; however, how people use it is incorrect, which is why it breaks the hair,” says Jose. She suggests that the oil not be used for more than an hour and rinse it afterward. Further treatment, such as protein treatments, should also be avoided after immediate use.
