Lies Beauty Gurus Have Sold You
If there's one thing you can count on in an era where almost anyone can have a platform and an influence, it's lies and misinformation. I'm not talking about the same misinformation that got a certain 'Zoolander' cameo actor banned from pretty much every site on the internet… including Spotify. Whilst lying to the public or your followers isn't exactly fair or right, it's not always malicious or dangerous. In fact, in most cases, it's a lie by omission. These lies aren't void of truth, they just aren't the whole truth or they exaggerate the truth. Lying by omission is essentially the trademark of the marketing industry. That's where beauty gurus and other influencers come in.
Like many others around my age, the majority of the content I've consumed during the last 5 years has been internet-based. YouTube is probably where most of my viewing hours are logged. The content is specific to my interests, short-form and it's much more personable than just watching actors read lines [I say though I'm an avid watcher of both movies and television]. Back to misinformation, many beauty, lifestyle and health gurus have intentionally or unintentionally perpetuated some narratives that are either not true or are half-truths. None of the lies I'll be discussing in this post are truly that deep, I'm just trying to save you some coin or provide another perspective.
Lie #One: Baking
I don't exactly remember when baking started becoming a beauty guru staple but it's one of the few makeup trends that has stuck. Most makeup influencers not only bake EVERY time they do their makeup, but they also recommend that their viewers follow suit. If you're getting ready for a big event or a long or it's the middle of summer and you're trying to keep the sweat/ oil at bay – baking your whole face can be necessary. However, if it's winter, you have dry skin or you only need your makeup to last a few hours, there isn't a need to bake. If done unnecessarily, baking can exaggerate your pores and lines or leave your skin drier than the Sahara.
Applying your powder lightly with a fluffy brush has a lower chance of drying out your skin or making your makeup look flat and in 90% of situations, it's enough to set your makeup perfectly. For those of us whose skin is more on the oily side, just get blotting sheets, they're perfect for a touch-up that leaves you matte with a healthy amount of glow.
Lie #Two: Makeup Primers
Some people [and makeup artists] might disagree with me on this, but you don't always need a makeup primer. A lot of primers on the market, especially the everyday ones, are simple re-packaged moisturisers with a few drops of highlight thrown in. You see, the purpose of a primer is to moisturise the face and create a smooth base for which the makeup to sit. Things which a moisturiser or a serum are more than capable of. Applying your skincare just before you apply your makeup will also do wonders for the overall appearance of your look.
There are many primers on the market, all tailored to the aesthetic someone may be trying to achieve, whether that be illuminated, matt, smooth, hydrated or colour-corrected. Smoothing primers achieve their effect because of the silicones in them. Most moisturisers are silicone-free and so won't provide the exact same effect but there are ways to achieve similar effects as other primers without having to buy 5 other products. For example, illuminating primers are overall less illuminating than applying a liquid highlighter or a skin oil underneath your foundation [trust me on this]. Furthermore, if your skin isn't super oily or prone to sweat, a mattifying primer may not be necessary for you. For those with oily skin, I would recommend a hack I stole from Jackie Aina, press some powder onto your skin BEFORE your foundation goes on. It'll make all the difference.
Lie #Three: Pores
Raise your hand if you've been personally victimised by the beauty industry's standard for having invisible pores..
There's an abundance of makeup, skincare and filters all to minimise or blur your pores. It's even been said that you should wash your face with cold water to "close the pores" after washing your face. Let's delve into this a little bit. Now, your pores aren't muscles; they cannot constrict or relax at will. Cold temperatures temporarily make your pores appear smaller until your face returns a normal temperature. Secondly, the appearance of large pores is usually caused by dryness, clogging or acne. A solid cleansing regime, moisturisers and salicylic acid can return their pores to their original size. Thirdly, the size of your pores, much like your eye colour or the shape of your nose is determined largely by genetics. Unlike these other two factors, however, there's not to be done about the size and appearance of your pores cosmetically.
The popularisation of FaceTune, Instagram filters and ring-lights have aided more and more people in selling the lie that invisible pores are achievable. Ring lights are not only perfect for turning every lighting situation into perfection, the circular LEDs create a king of neutral middle in the zone, which coupled with the soft glow around the edge will blur any and all blemishes. So next time you're wondering how that influencer has such perfectly smooth skin, take a moment to consider the lighting they're using and all the 'behind the scenes' editing you can't see.
Lie #Four: Collagen Supplements
The wellness industry has been raving about collagen for some years and it's been touted as a skincare saviour. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It's one of the major building blocks of skin, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Collagen can also be found in your blood vessels, corneas and teeth. As we age, our body produces collagen in lesser quantities and of lesser quality. This is reflected in our ability to heal ourselves, the cushioning in our joints and of course, the general appearance of our skin. The less collagen there is in our skin, the less bouncy, supple and glowy it naturally is. That's what collagen supplements promise to fix.
The thing is though, any proteins you take in orally don't just go all to one place. Your body chooses how the collagen is distributed. There is evidence supporting the use of topical collagen products for improving skin elasticity and general appearance but the evidence isn't as conclusive when it comes to ingested collagen products. Women who took collagen supplements in a 2019 study did self-report improvements in the appearance and elasticity of their skin. That being said, evidence from other studies also showed that collagen supplementation may improve bone strength and delay the development of arthritis. Additionally, in combination with strength training collagen supplementation can increase muscle mass. What I'm saying is, ingesting collagen can improve the appearance of your skin, but your body could also decide to use that collagen to improve the health of your gut, your bones or your muscles.
Lie #Five: Lemon Water
Lemon water is all the rage right now. Many celebrities and influencers start their day with lemon water as opposed to coffee or tea or matcha. This is great for improving overall hydration however, people insist that this drink can do more than it possibly could. Some of the claims state that it is a weight loss secret and that it can jump-start your metabolism [whatever that means]. I'm not even gonna mention the myths that use the words "cleansing" or "detoxifying". Like all good lies, most claims regarding lemon water are based on enough truth to make them a little believable. Water helps the body eliminate waste through the production of urine or the aiding of bowel movements but lemon water doesn't and can't do more than that. The truth is, the only thing that can detox your body is your liver and it doesn't really need your help to do its job.
So what are the actual benefits of drinking lemon water? Well, drinking water is important for maintaining hydration and helping your body perform many of its primary functions. For those who don't like the taste of water or find it difficult to drink, adding lemon juice or slices can be a good way to increase intake. Additionally, this is a good way to get in some extra vitamin c which is not only good for your immune system, it's a potent antioxidant that can help reduce the damage done to your cells [hence its use in skin care].
These aren't the only lies the beauty and lifestyle gurus of the web have tried to sell us and they definitely won't be the last, they're just the ones I seem to be seeing the most. They aren't nearly as problematic as some others I've seen but they are examples of misinformation that could be easily corrected. Comment down below [or on my Facebook post] any of your favourite lies that the internet has tried to sell you. Until the next post, thanks for reading xx
EXTRA READING
What is the Purpose of a Makeup Primer?
How Much Collagen Can You Have In A Day?
The Biggest YouTube Beauty Secret Has Nothing To Do With Makeup