7 Beauty Myths and Facts

Warm oil is good for dry, cracked skin. True. Women have been using warm oils on their dry skin for thousands of years and for good reason, according to Penford. There are various different kinds of oils that do in fact soften skin. Apricot kernel oil, for example, contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E. Another useful oil that contains vitamins and fatty acids is derived from the avocado.

Moisturizer is only for dry skin. False. Adding moisture to oily skin seems counter intuitive, but Penford stresses that all skin needs moisture, not just dry skin. Moisturizers are great for the health of your skin. They protect against UV rays, prevent wrinkles, and smooth skin for makeup application. They also come in a wide variety of specializations for people of all skin types. There are various moisturizers on the market that are designed specifically for oily skin.

Genetics determines how skin will age. True and False. Genetics plays a role in the skins aging process but it's not the only determining factor. In fact, genetic factors only contribute to about 10 percent of skin aging, according to Penford. The rest is caused by our environments. There are various external factors that have an impact on the way our skin ages, for instance: Sun exposure, diet, and bad habits like smoking and drinking.

Toothpaste can help heal a zit. True and false. The average toothpaste will not heal a zit. But, according to Penford, there are certain kinds that can help. Toothpaste that contains menthol can have a cooling effect that soothes inflammation, but be warned that obstructing your pores is always risky.