I don’t know about you, but I’m so tired of false promises and bogus claims blown up of all proportions:
“Better than Botox!”
“Exercise those facial muscles!”.
“Moisturize daily and you’ll look 10 years younger”.
That’s just some of the nonsense we have to put up with every day. From magazines. From TV. From our friends. Once a myth is whispered a couple of times, it takes on a life of its own and spreads like wildfire.
You start believing them. You try them. You’re disappointed. Your skin suffers from it. Sometimes, your wallet gets hurt, too.
That’s the problem with myths. They get in the way of great skin. If you want to look gorgeous forever, you need to find out the truth about some of the most common anti-aging myths, so that you don’t even waste time trying out stuff that has no hope of working.
Let’s start with busting six common anti-aging myths, shall we?
- Anti-Aging Myth #1: Moisturizers Can Erase Wrinkles
- Anti-Aging Myth #2: High-End Skincare Products Work Better Than Drugstore Ones
- Anti-Aging Myth #3: You Should Stick To Skincare Products Targeted To Your Age Group
- Anti-Aging Myth #4: You Can’t Have Acne And Wrinkles At The Same Time
- Anti-Aging Myth #5: Face Exercises Keep Wrinkles At Bay
- Anti-Aging Myth #6: Skincare Products Work As Well As Botox, Fillers And Cosmetic Procedures
Anti-Aging Myth #1: Moisturizers Can Erase Wrinkles
If it were true, we’d all be wrinkle-free.
But, we’re not. Because most moisturizers out there are pretty basic. They only hydrate and plumps up skin, making fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. Or they use silicones to fill wrinkles in. That makes them look smaller too. But, guess what? These effects are only temporary.
You want to really get rid of wrinkles? Retinoids can help. They boost the production of collagen and accelerate cellular turnover, two things that can really reduce wrinkles. But, they work slowly. As slowly as turtles. They’ll get there, but it’ll take weeks to see some real results.
That’s the stuff that works, so don’t waste your money on that rare flower extract that blooms in the depths of the Artic sea only on a full moon – it won’t erase your wrinkles for good. Brands “discover” a new anti-aging gem every day, but 99.99% of them turn out to be fakes. Don’t buy the hype.
A moisturizer that can completely erase wrinkles from your face and make you look 10 years younger hasn’t been invented yet.
Related: How Anti-Aging Moisturisers REALLY Work
Anti-Aging Myth #2: High-End Skincare Products Work Better Than Drugstore Ones
Sometimes. And sometimes the opposite is true. How well a product works has nothing to do with price. It has all to do with its formula (and packaging).
Does it contain retinol or a powerful combination of antioxidants (such as Ferulic Acid + Vitamins C and E)? Is it packaged in an air-tight, opaque tube or bottle that won’t spoil the formula every time you use it? If so, it’s worth the splurge.
Unless… These days you can often find these goodies at the drugstore, so there’s no need to break the bank to look fabulous (thank you, The Ordinary!).
Related: What Outrageously Expensive Products Are REALLY Worth The Splurge?
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Anti-Aging Myth #3: You Should Stick To Skincare Products Targeted To Your Age Group
This may work against you.
I never had acne, for example. If I had stuck only to products targeted to teens (at that time, they were all anti-acne!), can you imagine what would have happened? My skin would have become as dehydrated as the Sahara, and all for nothing!
Besides… I’ll tell you a secret (sssshhh!). The ingredients that fight wrinkles, or acne, or hyperpigmentation, or anything else you’re dealing with, are the same for all age groups. Shocking, I know!
Figure out what your skin type and concerns are, and pick products that can fix them. If you’re battling acne at 50 and that spot treatment marketed at teens works, get it. Your skin will thank you.
Related: How To Determine Your Skin Type (+ Free Quiz!)
Anti-Aging Myth #4: You Can’t Have Acne And Wrinkles At The Same Time
You know what they say, bad things come in three. Ok, two this time, but you get my point. Acne doesn’t just pick on kids. And it’s not only mature women who get wrinkles.
You may be middle-aged and thanking the universe for escaping acne as a teen and then get it as soon as you enter menopause (damn you, hormones!).
Or, you may be a 20-something-year-old dealing with acne who is grateful you won’t have wrinkles for a long time yet at least. But then you look in the mirror, see those tiny crows’ feet, and realise you shouldn’t have spent that much time in the sun without sunscreen.
Anyone can have acne AND wrinkles at the same time. Even though it sucks big time.
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Acne AND Aging Skin
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Anti-Aging Myth #5: Face Exercises Keep Wrinkles At Bay
Here’s the logic. Exercise tones the muscles. So, if we exercise facial muscles, they won’t sag.
There’s only one problem with this. Lack of muscle tone is NOT what causes wrinkles.
You know what does? Sun exposure, smoking, repetition of facial movements. They all break down collagen and elastin. And they already decrease on their own as we age.
You can exercise your facial muscles all day long, they won’t rebuilt the collagen and elastin you lost.
Related: Do Facial Exercises Work? Here’s What The Science Says
Anti-Aging Myth #6: Skincare Products Work As Well As Botox, Fillers And Cosmetic Procedures
I wish! I hate needles, and if there were a cream that worked as well as Botox, I’d be the first to buy it.
But there isn’t. And, trust me, we’d know if there were. Just think of the millions of dollars we women invest in dermal fillers, Botox, and other cosmetic procedures.
If someone invented something that worked as well as them but without the needles, they’d become billionaires overnight. We’d all rush out to buy them in droves.
Technology is making huge steps forwards, so I’m pretty sure one day that’ll happen. Sadly, that day is still very far away.
Related: Does Argireline Live Up To Its Reputation As “Botox In A Jar”?
Do you know of any other anti-aging myths that need to be busted? Let me know in the comments below.
Someone with both acne and wrinkles here!
Ana, isn’t it annoying when they come together? Like one isn’t enough!
I’m so glad that #2 is true! 😀 If only the expensive products worked, most of us would be doomed.
Myth 3: I keep getting told that I don’t need anti-aging products but I don’t believe so! It’s more of prevention but also treating it. Age doesn’t determine damage either though skin damage may increase with time.
Myth 5: Eeks! Facial exercises defy logic in my opinion. Good thing I’ve never done them routinely. I’ve tried it probably once and it was for a few seconds haha. It felt illogical so I stopped and months later after reading some articles, I was glad I didn’t continue that.
Janessa, I believe everyone who’s past puberty needs to use anti-aging products. Antioxidants work by preventing, not treating, damage, so if you wait until you have wrinkles to use them, they won’t do much. Maybe retinoids can wait until you’re in your 30s but even then there’s nothing wrong with using them earlier. They can only benefit your skin after all. But the best antiaging product is a sunscreen and that’s a must for everyone.
Okay, thanks Gio! :] I love commenting on your blog because I know you read them AND you give such superb replies!
Just out of curiosity, what about using retinols later? When’s a good time to use those? I know that retinoids are much more powerful.
You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do after you take the time to leave them, which I really appreciate. 🙂
There’s not a definite answer on when to start using retinoids. Personally, I believe mid-20s, early 30s are a good time to start, but there’s nothing wrong with using them even earlier especially for those with acne or other conditions treatable with retinoids. There’s also money to consider. Most products with retinoids tend to be on the pricey side, which not everyone can afford while they’re at school/college so when you’re very young, you may decide to use only sunscreen and antioxidants and wait until you’re older to incorporate some form of Vitamin A in your skincare routine. But you can start using retinoids earlier too, as they can only benefit skin.
I have a myth to bust! It’s more of a statement I’d just like to add :].
Myth: skincare products are enough to make you look your best.
I disagree because mood, what you eat, and if you exercise all contribute :D. I mostly wanted to mention personality. I think happy people are more beautiful.
Janessa, I completely agree with you, well said! 🙂
I also totally agree with Janessa – I know that happiness shines through! I also think that the biggest factor in wrinkles etc is just what you inherit in your genes! I’m quite lucky in that, as my mum, and grand-mother, didn’t get too wrinkled. Just luck 🙂
Viv, I agree that genes play a big role in determining how a person ages. But diet, smoking, sun exposure and other factors contribute too and at least there are things that we can do to prevent them from making us age faster and worse. But even then, there’s no miraculous skincare product that will make us look 10 years younger.
Hi Gio,
That’s interesting about facial exercises, but does that mean you don’t recommend your FaceGym anymore?
I think that a big point of those face exercises isn’t just to erase wrinkles,( unfortunately it being false for all those saggy old folk,now I know), but I think it’s supposed to keep your face’s muscle tone and suppleness. I’ve heard somewhere that too many people only think of wrinkles and grey hair when they think of aging but in reality a huge part of it is the face muscles volume,so many people get special treatments for that,but I don’t remember exactly what they are.
H, this is a thorny topic. On the one hand, there is no scientific proof that facial exercises work. On the other, I know people who have had great results from them, and my experience with FaceGym was positive. At this stage, I don’t feel like recommending facial exercises alone as an anti-aging treatment, but a treatment like FaceGym, where the therapist doesn’t just workout your face, but also uses effective skincare products, dermarollers, etc, may help, I believe. Hopefully, some studies about facial exercises will be done soon, so we’ll know once and for all if they work or not.