All women are looking for that beauty miracle that can promise them eternal beauty and happiness, however weird it may be. Beauty secrets have been passed down from generation to generation and so if there is a slight possibility it could promise you longer locks or give you glowing skin, then trust me I will try it. There are hundreds of so called ‘beauty myths’ out there that women have tried and tested, but some of these myths have actually been proven to be factual. So, in light of this – here are the top ten beauty myths that actually work!
Myth 1
Cucumber banishes tired, puffy eyes
It’s an unusual sight when you see a woman in a white fluffy robe, sat relaxing with a thick layer of face cream and then cucumber slices on her eyes. But cucumbers are believed to help banish those puffy bags we loathe so much because they have an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces puffiness. The high water content of a cucumber helps to hydrate the eye area, whilst the cool temperature decreases blood flow around the eyes therefore soothing and alleviating any swelling. For best results limit application to approx. five minutes.
Myth 2
Drinking lots of water leaves you with glowing, healthy looking skin
Drinking water has many different benefits but beauty wise it has been said that keeping your body well hydrated will result in your skin looking and feeling healthy, leaving you with a gorgeous glow. If skin isn’t getting the sufficient amount of hydration, this will result in it becoming dry, dull and tight. So next time you’re tempted by a can of coke, grab a glass of water instead- trust me, your skin will thank you!
Myth 3
Sleeping on your back can prevent wrinkles!
The American Academy of Dermatology has discovered that sleeping in certain positions may result in “sleep lines.” After time, these lines can turn into deep-set wrinkles. Sleeping on your side or front will most probably cause wrinkle formation, so flip onto your backs if you want to stay looking young!
Myth 4
Lemon juice lightens hair
Using lemon juice as a natural way to lighten hair is an old wives tale that actually works. It works best when you have access to sunshine. Simply squeeze the juice of a lemon in a bowl and apply to the sections of hair you would like to highlight. However, do be careful using this if you don’t want to permanently lighten your hair, as lemon juice/sun highlighted hair can be very difficult to get rid of.
Myth 5
Make up goes out of date
Just like food, your beauty and hair products do not last forever. The expiration date depends on the beauty product. A study has shown that the average make up bag is a hoarding space for items that are four years out of date. The average lifespan of certain beauty products are:
Mascara: 4-6 months
Liquid Face Makeup or Cream Eye Shadow: 6 months
Powder Face Makeup, Powder Eye Shadows, Pencil Eye Liners, Lipstick, Lip gloss: 2 years
Myth 6
Regularly wearing nail polish can stain nails a yellow colour
Nail polish, especially darker colours contain pigments that can cause nails to become discoloured. This is especially devastating since dark nail polish is so in this season. But do not worry — this yellowing is only temporary and can be avoided! Before painting your nails use a clear base coat to protect from any discolouration.
Myth 7
Plucking your eyebrows will eventually stop them growing back
It has been proven that plucking eyebrows for many years can weaken the hair follicle to the point where it may not grow back.
Myth 8
Caffeine can stain your teeth yellow
Teeth’s enamel is porous therefore meaning it can be easily stained. The main culprits for staining teeth are tea, coffee, coke, red and white wine. So try to avoid drinking large amounts of these drinks and taking care of your teeth.
Myth 9
Black eyeliner on the inner rim of your eye makes your eyes appear smaller
Unfortunately this beauty myth is actually true! If you do have smaller eyes, try to avoid this. Smokey eye make up can still be achieved without using the inner rim. White eyeliner can be an alternative to use on the inside of your eye which actually makes the eye appear bigger.
Myth 10
8 hours sleep a night can help control your weight
Sleep is important for our health and for weight loss. Experts say that not getting enough sleep can prevent you from burning as many calories as we should throughout the day. Did we need anymore of an excuse for some extra Zzz’s?
If you have any weird and wonderful beauty treatments that you swear by, please let us know!
