Skin, a thin layer of tissue covering the entire human skeleton, is essential to our survival. It protects us against heat, light, injury and infection. The skin is also a complex and fascinating body part; it weighs approximately six pounds and is the body’s largest organ.

The importance of this organ certainly hasn't been overlooked, especially with regards to beauty. The average Canadian woman spends 16 minutes per day primping her skin, totaling four days a year. We also use approximately 3.4 skin care products a day!

Despite all this primping and all these beauty products, myths regarding skin and skin care run rampant. Odette from Odette's Skin Laser Wellness Clinic, one of Kelowna's leading skin care clinics, offered some insight to expose four of these myths.

Myth 1: Expensive Skin Care Products Work Best

Skincare products are not created equally and it's important to remember that price does not indicate quality! Many department stores charge the same amount for their products as a clinical or spa product, but they are not equal. Selling products in department stores often rest upon gimmicks, like free gifts or fancy containers. Clinical or spa products put money into a higher concentration of the highest quality ingredients. Odette suggests avoiding fads and reading the ingredient list.

A tip for reading these ingredient lists is to think of the product as packaged food. The ingredients with the highest concentration are at the top of the list while the lowest concentration is at the bottom. So you want the best ingredients at the top of the list, not in the middle or bottom.  Remember, simply because a product advertises itself as containing natural, active ingredients doesn't mean there is a high concentration of this ingredient.

Myth 2: Tanning Booths Are Safe As Long As They Don't Contain UVB Rays

Despite what might be said about artificial tanning, tanning beds are not safe. The exposure to harmful rays in the booth collapses the collagen fibers under the skin. This leads to premature skin aging and may cause skin cancer. Odette does not recommend tanning beds for constant use.

Side note: A study conducted by JAMA Dermatology, which reviewed over 88 credible studies, found that in the US alone 419,254 cases of skin cancer can be attributed to indoor tanning.

Myth 3: Washing Your Face With Soap Keeps it Feeling and Looking Healthy

Washing your face with soap is dreadful for the skin! Soap strips the natural oil from your face causing premature aging or, in those prone to oily skin, encourages the production of more oil and acne. If you need to use a bar to cleanse, try a facial bar. These bars are designed to be more gentle than body bars.

Myth 4: Anti-aging Products Erase Wrinkles

The world is always looking for the ultimate anti-wrinkle creme, but the only way to eradicate a wrinkle is fillers or surgery. Products can aid in the correction, but they cannot correct deep lines.

The number one step for reducing future wrinkles is hydration! Our body is made up of over 50% water, and your skin is a sponge. If you keep hydrated, this sponge will stay moisturized, healthy and plump, reducing future wrinkles and reversing some current wrinkles. 

Do you have any more questions about skin care? We encourage you to post your questions in the comment section below and Odette will be happy to answer them for you on the Odette's Skin.Laser.Wellness Clinic Facebook page!

If you’d like to learn more, and browse through some skin care services available, check out Odette’s Skin Laser Wellness Clinic.