Debunking Beauty Myths

When it comes to the concept of beauty, we can consider it on two levels; on a personal level, everyone has their own preferences for what makes them feel beautiful. On a large scale, Beauty is a 49.2 billion dollar industry in the U.S. alone. With so much money at stake, the Beauty Industry is interested in retaining customers, largely through a strategy of utilizing buzz words to attract our attention and feed off of our insecurities. Marketing for the Beauty Industry is woven into our culture, so it is difficult not to internalize the narrow definition of beauty and myths that the industry wants us to keep buying into. Here we’ll debunk a few myths that the Beauty Industry has circulated!

Aging is Taboo
70% of sales are targeted at women over 40 and include buzz words and phrases such as “anti-aging”, “younger looking skin”, “turn back time”. The truth is that aging is inevitable, natural, and there is no quick fix to reverse it. 

What we can do is ensure that we are properly caring for our skin by maintaining a healthy diet, caring for our physical health, and addressing underlying health issues that pop up and can affect the health and appearance of the skin. This will do more for the skin in the long run than buying into anti-aging products.

Expensive products are better 
The average woman spends more than $3,000 a year on beauty enhancing products. While it has been marketed to us that the best products are behind the glass case at the store or endorsed by celebrities, the truth is that you can get high-quality products without ruining your bank account. 

Washing my face and moisturizing is all I need
A good skin care regimen that keeps skin clean and moisturized is important, but skin health goes beyond that. Diet and addressing underlying health concerns can also make a big difference in the skin, but an overlooked aspect is improving circulation and incorporating movement. 

Adding a physical treatment, such as a gua sha, to your skincare routine can aid with lymphatic drainage, but it is important to back that up by incorporating physical movement to boost circulation. 

Chemicals and Preservatives
Terms like organic and natural have a different meaning in chemistry than they do in skincare marketing. In skincare, water is often the first ingredient, and preservatives are actually important to prevent bacteria from growing and curb any potential contamination.

So, what should I look for in skincare?
Rather than spending a lot of money on everything in your skincare regimen, focus more on ingredients and quality. Look for simple ingredients, vitamins, minerals, and healing botanical extracts. For cleansers, save your money and focus on finding something that cleanses your skin well; this provides a clean canvas for the nourishing steps that follow. Remember that ingredients on labels are listed in order of largest quantity first, so the first several ingredients will give you an idea of how your product may work.