Beauty myths: what's right and what's just a rumor?

• 2019

For the perfect skin and shiny hair, we know a variety of tricks, but which really help?

We picked seven beauty myths and checked exactly what was behind them.

1. Toothpaste helps against pimples

A big pimple has formed directly on your forehead? Quickly dab a dollop of toothpaste over it overnight and it's gone the next morning.

This is behind the anti-pimple myth : An important component of toothpaste is the active ingredient sodium dodecyl polysulfate. It has a strong oil and fat dissolving effect and is therefore also in many detergents. Pimples quickly become smaller as a result of the drying substance when we dab them with toothpaste. But beware!

This is the catch on the toothpaste trick : In addition to the drying sulphate substance, most toothpastes also contain fluoride or menthol. These ingredients can really fuel inflammation. Say: The pimple is initially dried out, but may later come back even stronger. Toothpaste is therefore only an express solution. For a thorough fight against pimples, cosmetic experts recommend tea tree oil.

You can also significantly improve your skin's appearance through a healthy diet. Especially fruits and vegetables provide you with valuable trace elements, vitamins and antioxidants.

2. Frequent washing damages the hair

Daily hair washing should be avoided, because this will grease the hair faster? This beauty myth persists.

This is behind it: Most shampoos are now designed for daily use. However, if you massively massage your scalp while washing your hair, it can stimulate the production of the sebaceous glands. This will make the hair greasy faster. Specialized products, such as silver or anti-dandruff shampoo, can actually strain the hair structure when used daily.

How to care for your hair: Wash it as often as necessary. If you feel comfortable with it, you can also take your hair for a day or two and, for example, apply corn starch or baby powder to blond hair as a natural dry shampoo on the hairline.

Brittle hair can also be a physical indicator of lack of nutrients in addition to aggressive shampoo. Hair oils and anti-frizz shampoos provide a quick external improvement. A long-lasting fortification effect dietary supplement with hair components such as L-cysteine ​​and biotin.

3. Nail polish does not let the nails breathe

It is rumored that no air can come to painted nails. Here we can give the all-clear: Nails are made of horn and have no pores like the skin. So you do not need air!

This is behind the nail polish myth: When choosing the nail polish, we should always take a look at the ingredients. Some products contain harmful plasticizers or UV filters, which are considered hazardous by dermatologists. If we apply these without first applying a clear coat, particles can penetrate the nail and discolour it.

How to care for nails: Always use acetone-free nail polish. Not only because acetone as a solvent has a drying effect, but also because it can be toxic to the body. Again and again, take nail polish breaks to pamper your nails with conditioning oils. For particularly beautiful and strong nails, the building materials zinc and selenium.

4. You have to take good care of your skin

Body lotion, body oil, exfoliation and masks - the list of skin care products is seemingly endless. Does a lot also help a lot?

This is behind the myth : with dry skin - for example in winter - care is very important. If cracks form on the surface, unpleasant redness or inflammation can occur. For a mild care natural body oils or lotions with as few perfume additives are suitable.

Dosing makes the right care: Unlike our hair, the skin should not be cleaned daily under the shower. That can attack their natural protective film. The effect is similar to when you use lipbalm too often: The skin gets used to the extra care and can not regenerate independently. So if you put in a shower-free Sunday, for example, one day a week, it's a welcome break for your skin.

5. Mascara makes the eyelashes fragile

This causes mascara: eyelashes are elastic in the unvarnished state. By applying mascara they are however rigid and can break more easily. So it depends on the right handling: For example, you should always use an eyelash curler before applying the mascara, never afterwards.

This keeps your eyelashes healthy: To protect your eyelashes, you should always be very careful when removing make-up and still thoroughly rid them of all mascara residues. Coconut oil or argan oil are suitable for this in addition to facial tissues. The products nourish and strengthen the eyelashes and their hair roots in addition.

6. Drinking a lot moisturizes the skin

Water-drinking is one of the best-known beauty tips. It should help with weight loss and make the skin look younger.

This is behind it: hydration is enormously important for our body, because it stimulates the metabolism (therefore also the high priority in diets). Water also promotes blood circulation in our skin and makes it look fresher. But it is a misconception that the water can really be stored by drinking in the skin.

So your skin gets the necessary boost: creams and lotions can make them smooth and maintain from the outside. However, for a proper "boost" effect, your skin needs to be padded from the inside out. Collagen, one of the most common proteins in the human body, is responsible for it. From 30, however, the body's production decreases sharply. Beauty boosters like collagen shots counteract this development to keep your skin firm and elastic.

7. Chocolate causes pimples

It is delicious and one of our favorite snacks in case of stress, but nevertheless we often have a guilty conscience when snacking on chocolate.

This is behind the myth: some types of chocolate have a high sugar content and this is very harmful to the skin. Sugar increases insulin levels and oxidative stress in the body. This leads to impurities and inflammation on the skin.

But chocolate can do that as well: A positive side effect of sugar is that it provides the body with fast energy and releases endorphins in our body. Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content can even do our skin good: Like a body butter, it ensures a supple and shiny skin. So enjoying chocolate in moderation is no problem!