By: Jenny C. Kim

We’ve all been victims of beauty myths. Fear no more! Read the below 5 commonly believed myths and bust those lies!

1. “Eating chocolate will make me break out”. Not true. Chocolate bars can’t affect your skin unless you’re rubbing an Oh Henry bar all over your face. Pimples and acne are caused by many factors including stress, pollution, and dead skin cells blocking the pores – not by eating too much chocolate (phew!). So relax. Go ahead and grab that Hershey’s Cookies n’ Cream bar, and chow on down!
2. “Shaving makes my hair grow back thicker”. Although it’s true that waxing can have the opposite effect, (hair can grow back thinner over time, since they’re being pulled out from the roots) shaving will not make your hair grow back thicker. Not on your legs, not on your armpits, not on your… anyway. It may APPEAR that they are growing back thicker because of the hair shafts are cut at an angle.
3. “Expensive skincare products are better than cheap ones”. Nuh uh. It’s true that good ingredients can come with a price. But falling for the million-dollar advertising campaigns put out by cosmetic companies will only leave your wallets much lighter. Only you know what works for your skin – so go see a dermatologist if you’re not sure. Research the “good” and “bad” ingredients in skincare products according to your specific skin type, and always make sure to read the list of ingredients on the back of the packaging. Perhaps only “expensive” products will work for your skin. But more than likely – regular priced products will work just as well, or even better for your skin!
4. “Cold water will shrink my pores”. Nope. The size of your pores are genetically determined, so if you’ve already reached and passed puberty, you’re stuck with them. (Sorry!) Pores can seem like they are enlarged when they are impacted with bacteria and dead skin cells. So, exfoliate and cleanse your skin to chase away unnecessary inhabitants living in your pores.
5. “Split ends can be repaired”. The only way to “repair” those split ends is to cut them off – like a lazy boyfriend. Hair products today are making millions by advertising that they can “repair” damaged split ends – but split ends are like spilled milk. (well, not really – but you know what I mean!) Get a trim, to allow your hair to naturally grow without splitting any further up.