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Back to Basics: 8 Common Skincare Myths
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Words by Nasreen Osman
With so much skincare advice available to us at a single swipe, it can be hard to curate a routine that follows all the ‘rules’. Some people grow up learning that you don’t need to wear sunscreen on cloudy days (but you do); people with oily skin might have been taught to stay away from oil-based cleansers but – spoiler alert – it’s quite the opposite.
From quick soundbites to age-old advice handed down by our mums, we’ve all been caught up in TikTok trends or enduring skincare 'rules' at one point or another. Here we’ll clear up some of the most common skincare misconceptions, so you can feel confident in your routine and get back to glowing.
Myth: You don’t need to use ageing-focused skincare until you’re older
La Prairie Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, 50ml, £1,550
A common misconception when it comes to youth-boosting skincare is that only people with mature skin need it. However, your skin can age prematurely due to sun exposure, stress, environmental damage and lifestyle choices, so, rather than waiting for obvious signs of ageing to take hold, it’s worth taking a preventative approach instead. Look to La Prairie’s Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream to both get ahead of and treat wrinkles and fine lines. This brand-new innovation contains a powerful Exclusive Matrix Complex of actives combined with botanical extracts, helping to reset cells to a youthful state and enhance your overall skin health. Prepare for your skin to feel firmer, look smoother and be future-proofed from within.
Myth: You need a lot of products to achieve ‘good’ skin
Clé de Peau Beauté The Serum, 75ml, £295
In the age of 10-step skincare routines and acid alphabets, many beauty enthusiasts get caught up in building a complicated regimen when often, less is more. Enter Clé de Peau Beauté’s newly reformulated The Serum to prove this point. This luxe elixir features the brand’s proprietary Radiant Lily Concentrate — a powerful blend of Madonna Lily Flower Extract and glycerin — that enhances skin's ability to repair and defend itself. Complemented by Lemon Myrtle Extract, which helps maintain skin’s renewal potential and slows down visible signs of aging, this serum is a game-changer. Its silky, lightweight, and fast-absorbing texture makes it a dream to apply, delivering concentrated hydration and leaving your skin prepped for a moisturiser or SPF that might follow. Here’s your proof that one expertly crafted product can achieve the results of many (and save you time).
Myth: You need clinical treatments to truly transform your skin
Element Eight O2 Growth Factor Eight Active Cream, 50ml, £230
Don’t get us wrong, we love a visit to the aesthetician, but more than that, we love science-led skincare that works its magic in our daily routine. And Element Eight’s O2 Growth Factor Eight Active Cream is proof that professional-grade results are achievable at home. Using oxygen technology (a natural source of healing cells in the body) and a Growth Factor Complex, this moisturiser accelerates cell renewal, deeply hydrates, and supports your skin’s natural repair mechanisms, building collagen and elasticity along the way. By combining biomimicking innovation with protective packaging (you can actually hear the satisfying hiss of oxygen with every pump), you can count on this cream to bestow an instant glow to your skin with long-lasting results.
Myth: You don’t need to have a separate night cream
Helena Rubinstein Replasty Age Recovery Night Cream, 100ml, £613.25
While this is not a myth per se, it is widely understood that you can use your average daily moisturiser at night and vice versa. Although true, a specifically formulated night cream can go way further than an extra dose of hydration, taking your beauty sleep to the next level. Case in point: Helena Rubinstein’s Replasty Age Recovery Night Cream. Using a powerful blend of Proxylane – a patented matrix of proteins and molecules that provide structural support – and hyaluronic acid, this bandage-in-a-jar actively revitalises your skin while you sleep. It also helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin elasticity, and accelerate the recovery of damaged skin. By morning, expect your complexion to look smoother, firmer and more youthful-looking.
Myth: You don’t need to have a separate night cream
La Mer The Rejuvenating Night Cream, 60ml, £350
Another must-have that will change your mind about night creams is the latest from La Mer: The Rejuvenating Night Cream. This luscious formula infuses La Mer’s signature Miracle Broth with a MRA-3 Marine Retinol Alternative – a new ingredient that helps to ease the look of fine lines and wrinkles and boost cell turnover overnight (without any irritating effects). On days when your skin is lacking a certain oomph, simply apply this cream to awaken a smooth, plump and radiant complexion before you can even hit the snooze button.
Myth: Eye creams are watered-down versions of face creams
BIOEFFECT EGF Power Eye Cream, 15ml, £115
A prevalent idea is that eye creams are just lighter moisturising formulas that offer little beyond what a regular face cream provides. However, we know that the skin around our eyes is extremely delicate and if you really want to target its unique challenges – dark circles, puffiness etc. – a specially formulated solution could be a game-changer. The BIOEFFECT EGF Power Eye Cream is just that as it contains a high concentration of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), along with caffeine and bakuchiol to stimulate cell regeneration, reduce fine lines, and brighten dark circles.
Noble Panacea The Absolute Restoring Eye Cream, 30 x 0.3ml, £244
Another powerhouse reshaping this narrative is Noble Panacea’s The Absolute Restoring Eye Cream. It leverages the brand’s revolutionary OSMV™ (Organic Super Molecular Vessel) Technology to deliver active ingredients in a precise, sustained-release manner, incorporating the peptide Argirilene to minimise fine lines and horse chestnut extract to reduce puffiness. Moreover, it provides intense nourishment and brings out a natural luminosity to this fragile area. Whether your concern is around signs of ageing or a lack of sleep showing, this rejuvenating formula ticks all the boxes.
Myth: Masks are only for pampering
EviDens de Beauté The Special Mask, 50ml, £200
EviDens de Beauté’s bestselling The Special Mask proves that a luxury mask can go beyond a one-night wonder. Infused with Triple Collagen, La Foux Spring Water and the brand’s latest star ingredient, Glucoskin X3, this comforting formula deeply hydrates, firms, and smooths your skin. Not to mention it has an icy-fresh effect that instantly calms inflammation while illuminating your skin. A sensorial experience and visible effects – it’s a win-win.
Myth: Ageing-specific products are reserved for the face only
Cellcosmet CellEctive CellLift Neck & Décolleté, 50ml, £290
The reality is that your neck, hands, and décolletage are also prone to showing signs of ageing at the same time as your face. While you may be inclined – and should always endeavour – to take your moisturiser or serum down to your neck, why not take it one step further? Cellcosmet’s CellEctive CellLift Neck & Décolleté boasts a specialised formula enriched with CytoPep™ Cellular Extracts (highly concentrated peptides that stimulate cellular renewal) alongside hyaluronic acid to target and visibly firm, lift, and hydrate these areas. It also addresses concerns of crepiness or sagging skin. Make this a staple in your routine and future-you will thank you.
Myth: You need rich formulas if you have dry, dehydrated skin
Lancôme Absolue Rose 80 Micro-Diffusion In Emulsion, 100ml, £205
Lancôme’s Absolue Rose 80 Micro-Diffusion In Emulsion challenges the idea that you need a thick, heavy formula if you’re seeking intense hydration. Infused with Grand Rose Extracts and 80% rosewater, this lightweight emulsion meets the brief of deep nourishment, hydration and radiance without feeling heavy or greasy on your skin. It’s even packed with potent actives that penetrate deep into your skin, leaving it plump and glowing. Whether your skin is averse to rich textures or you simply enjoy featherlight formulas, this emulsion proves hydration comes in many forms.
- PARTNERSHIPHelena Rubinstein, La Prairie, Element Eight, Clé de Peau Beauté, La Mer, BIOEFFECT, Noble Panacea, EviDens de Beauté, Cellcosmet, Lancôme
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