Think drinking water will help keep your skin hydrated? Or that the best beauty products come with an exorbitant price tag? We decided to go straight to a professional to get the lowdown on what’s fact and fiction when it comes to common skincare beliefs. Find out what board certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman had to say — some of her answers may just surprise you.
1. You Don’t Need to Wear Sunscreen on a Cloudy Day
“Ultraviolet light penetrates to the skin surface every day of the year whether it’s cloudy or sunny. The ultraviolet light penetrates through the cloud, so it’s very important to wear sunscreen on a cloudy day as well as on a sunny day,” says Jaliman. So, remember to implement sunscreen into your morning routine and look for moisturizers with SPF in them.
2. Oily Skin Won’t Wrinkle as Much as Dry Skin
Wrinkles can be attributed to many things, from facial movement to sun damage, but your oily skin may help prevent them. “Interestingly, oily skin has a lot of vitamin E on it and those antioxidants from the vitamin E may help prevent wrinkles. So, this may not be a myth at all,” expresses Jaliman.
3. Expensive Skincare Products Are Better Than Inexpensive Ones
“When looking for skincare products, it’s most important to look for the active ingredient not for the price of the product. For example, retinol is one of the most effective anti-aging products, you can buy a drugstore retinol product for about $10,” explains Jaliman — and we’re all for a drugstore hero product.
4. The Higher the SPF, the More It Protects
Sunscreen is a must, but is a higher level of SPF related to how much it protects? Jaliman says, “Once you’re at a SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high concentration of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, then anything higher is negligible.” Rule of thumb here is to look for SPF 30, no lower or higher.
5. Drinking Water Will Lead to Hydrated Skin
H2O is a life essential, literally. But while water is great for the body, it doesn’t necessarily directly affect your skin’s hydration. Jaliman explains, “Drinking water is very beneficial to the body, but most importantly for your kidneys. To keep your skin hydrated, it’s important to use products with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides.” Translation: Look for a super nourishing and hydrating face cream to keep your skin in check.
