Which skincare old wives' tales are true?

Tonight, we’re talking all about another one of my favourite subjects - Skincare old wives' tales. I’ve spent many an hour in the treatment room dispelling myths that people’s Grannies have passed down through the generations and have had my own mind blown on numerous occasions during my training too.

So, let’s sort the skin fact from the skin fiction…

 #1. 'You can close your pores'

I’m sure many of us have heard that splashing our faces with cold water or toning our skin after cleansing will miraculously close our pores. However, your pores are not connected to a muscle which means no matter what you do, it’s completely impossible for them to open or close in this way. With that being said, there are certain things that do make them appear bigger.

For example, pores can become enlarged due to sun damage as is breaks down the collagen in your pore wall causing them to stretch. They can also look more obvious if they become clogged with oil and bacteria which settles into the tiny crevice, forcing it to expand.

This means the best way to keep them tight and refined is to apply your Sunbeam Cream - SPF 50 every morning to protect against collagen breakdown and apply your Overnight Glow Drops before bed each evening. It contains 5 AHAs (these are gentle, exfoliating acids) that create a little whirlwind in your pores to dislodge the dirt, so they’ll appear clearer and minimised when you rise.

#2. 'Medical grade products deliver better results'

Now this is a tale I once believed as I trained with a number of ‘medical grade’ brands during my early career as an Aesthetician. In recent years though it’s become apparent that this label is nothing more than a marketing ploy.

A medical grade product could only ever be purchased with a prescription, so when used to describe skincare it’s highly misleading. It suggests that these formulas somehow have medical powers, or that they are more advanced in some way, when they simply are not.

In truth, when you’re looking to purchase any kind of skincare products, all you need to focus on are the active ingredients. These are the ones that are scientifically-proven to work and are usually highlighted in the product description, as they tell you which concerns it’s able to treat.

We specifically use ones geared towards maintaining a healthy, youthful complexion in all our BASE bottles, which is why they have such transformative effects.

#3. 'You shouldn’t pop your spots'

Despite what you may have been told, popping your pimples is not a total no-no…And weirdly, it's one of my favourite parts of my job 😍 With that being said, you do need to know which ones are squeezable and which must be left to heal in their own time.

For example, any spot with a visible (the visible bit is extremely important!) black or white head, is usually safe to extract….And if you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to resist 🙈

Ideally I’d advise you do it when your skin is warm after the shower, wrap your fingers in tissue so you don’t break your skin and then gently squeeze either side of the spot until it pops. Then cleanse your face to prevent the spreading of bacteria and continue with your skincare routine as usual.

The blemishes you shouldn’t touch though, are the ones without heads. I’m sure we’ve all experienced those hard, red lumps that sit under the surface of the skin and are usually quite painful? Well, they’re officially called ‘papules’ and will scar if you mess with them. So please don’t try to pop these ones and I promise you, they’ll heal much, much faster.