Skin Care Myths and Rumors
Chocolate, Collagen, Glycerin, Natural Products, Oily Skin and More
A holistic view on skin care myths: chocolate, the benefits of glycerin and collagen, natural or organic skin care products, and the effect of oil on oily skin.
The beauty industry does its best to keep women coming back for new and better information – and products – to produce clear, flawless skin. Meanwhile, beauty myths continue to circulate. Who knows whether chocolate is actually good or bad for your skin? How about the debate over chemical skin care formulas versus natural products? When it comes to debunking the myths and hype, it's hard to find straight answers.
The following information takes a holistic health perspective on today's controversial skin care questions.
Myth: Chocolate is Bad for Your Skin
Truth: The truth is more complicated, though the myth is not entirely wrong.
Doctors and dermatologists often claim that food has little or no effect on skin's appearance, but from a holistic perspective that's impossible.
Chocolate is often touted as being good for skin: dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants. It is the milk, refined sugar, and additives in most chocolate that are said to be the biggest problem.
Pure dark chocolate is contains caffeine and cannabinoids alongside the healthy antioxidants. So although organic, dark chocolate isn't terrible for you, there are better sources of antioxidants and ingredients beneficial for the skin.
Myth: Oil Makes Skin Oily
Truth: Absolutely not!
Skin usually produces too much oil in response to too much dryness. So removing excessive oil with intense cleansers only worsens oil production. On the other hand, moisturizing skin – even with natural fats or oils – restores health to the skin and stops oil production. Tools like the oil cleansing method (OCM) use oil to cleanse toxins and dirt out of the skin's natural oils, leaving skin healthy and luminous in a way that soaps and cleansers don't.
Myth: Collagen, Glycerin, and Humectants Are Useful in Skin Care
Truth: According to natural health expert Sabina DeVita (1):
- There is no evidence that applying collagen topically affects skin's internal collagen network or appearance. Instead, it seems to simply coat the skin.
- Glycerin and other humectants supposedly moisturize the skin. In fact, they draw moisture out of the skin.
Myth: Natural Skin Care Lines Are Better for Your Skin
Truth: Although there are serious health risks from the chemicals in most commercial skin care lines, the so-called "natural products" are not usually much better.
A careful reading of the labels on the "natural" and "organic" products reveals that most of the same poisonous chemicals, from SLS to artificial fragrance, make it into the natural products in almost as large quantities as their ordinary counterparts. Most products proudly advertise the elimination of one toxic ingredient, while quietly including others. Natural products that are truly safe and natural are harder to find.
Sources:
- (1) DeVita, Sabina, They're Selling You the 'Sizzle: Myths Perpetuated by the Skin Care Industry. Brampton, Canada, c.2000.
