Beauty Myth Busters!

Does shaving your legs make the hair thicker? Do you need heavier makeup when you’re being photographed? Does exfoliation dry out your skin? It’s time to put some common beauty myths to rest.

Beauty myth: You need to wear heavier makeup when you’re being photographed.

“Sure, if you want to look like a clown!” says professional makeup artist Liz Washer, who, in addition to creating makeup looks for commercial and fashion photography, specializes in bridal makeup.

“Cameras, for both still photography and video, have changed in the past few decades,” she notes. New high-definition technology means makeup has to look natural, blended and seamless to the naked eye. It still has to cover perfectly, but if it looks cakey in person, it’s going to look even worse in photographs, Washer explains.

So when planning your makeup for a special photograph, aim for a natural look and avoid wearing too much.

Beauty myth: Because they’re stronger, clinical-strength deodorants and antiperspirants have harsh ingredients that can irritate skin.

Not all of them. Degree® Clinical Protection Antiperspirant/Deodorant (Link opens in new window.) delivers prescription-strength protection against wetness, plus moisturizers to take care of delicate underarm skin. Unlike leading prescription antiperspirants/deodorants, it doesn’t contain aluminum chloride or alcohols that can cause skin irritation and discomfort.

Beauty myth: Shaving your legs makes the hair grow in thicker.

“A blunt-cut edge of a hair may appear thick, but shaving does not cause the hair to thicken,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Beauty myth: You can’t prevent hair damage caused by blow-dryers and curling irons. You just have to live with the dry hair and frizz, trimming the split ends when necessary.

Using a repairing shampoo & conditioner such as Dove’s Intensive Repair Damage Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner (Link opens in new window.) can make a real difference. To achieve maximum hold with extra flyaway control, use TRESemmé® Extra Hold Hairspray. (Link opens in new window.) This hair style product leaves no stiffness—just a water-free, humidity-resistant flexible hold, non sticky hair spray. All your hairstyles will be frizz-free and with all the grip and control you need all day.

Beauty myth: A makeup that contains sunscreen is enough sun protection for your face.

“You do not put makeup everywhere, and you may not be applying enough to give the level of protection it says you are getting on the bottle,” Zeichner says. “Use a sunscreen before you apply your makeup to be safe.”

Beauty myth: Exfoliating dries out the skin.

Not all exfoliation leads to dry, taut skin. Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash (Link opens in new window.) does just the opposite. Dove’s ground-breaking technology creates millions of micro-droplets that absorb deeply and work with the skin’s natural renewal process to help retain and boost moisture, even after your shower. The luscious, creamy body wash has a crisp clean scent that offers the gentle exfoliation you’ve been searching for while still leaving it moisturized.