True or False: Mythbusting Skincare Home Remedies
Don’t go outside with wet hair or you’ll catch a cold. Too much cheese will give you weird dreams. Chicken soup is a cure-all for colds. These are probably all tales your mother spun to keep you safe and well, but are they true? People have been debating and testing the merits of old wives’ tales for ages, and skincare myths are no different. Brush On Block is here to set the record straight on some of the most popular myths for skincare home remedies.
True or false? Lemon juice can reduce dark spots.
True. Brown spots, liver spots and under eye bags are all signs of aging or exposure. The color of this hyperpigmentation can vary from light brown to red or black, and for many people it is a cause of embarrassment. The natural acidity of lemon juice can be used to lighten dark spots. Squeeze the juice from a lemon and dab it over your dark spots twice a day with a cotton ball or makeup sponge. It’s important to use a fresh lemon and not lemon juice from a bottle.
True or false? Putting toothpaste on breakouts can reduce their size.
True and false. Toothpaste can dry out the skin surrounding an acne spot because of certain ingredients—baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and menthol; however, this is no more effective than traditional toners and face washes. Experts warn that toothpaste is not made for direct contact with your skin and can do more harm than good, irritating surrounding skin and causing redness and peeling. If you’re looking for a home remedy for breakouts, try baking soda alone instead.
True or false? Cucumber slices hydrate and renew skin.
True. You’ve probably seen this countless times on TV or in the movies—women enjoying time at the spa or at home with cucumbers over their eyes. Cucumbers have high water content and are most often served cold; giving an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces puffiness and hydrates skin. These two effects combined reduce blood flow around your eyes to soothe skin and alleviate swelling.
True or false? An egg mask can get rid of unwanted facial hair.
Mixed bag. While an egg mask (usually a combination of egg whites, sugar and flour) will remove facial hair, all you are really doing is making a paste that adheres to skin and hair follicles and pulls them out when you peel the mask back. This is the same as individually plucking the hairs or using any other type of mask, but there is no chemical reaction between the egg and your hair that makes it fall out.
True or false? Egg white wash can diminish stretch marks.
True. Egg whites are rich in collagen and Vitamin A and contain proteins that renew skin.
