Top 10 Beauty Myths - Fact or Fiction

1. Washing your face with hot water opens pores, and rinsing with cold closes them

Fiction: Your skin pores do not open and close. Pores enlarge due to excess sebum build-up and skin cells. With proper facial care, pores can shrink. BUT, it does not open and close due to temperature.

2. Cucumber reduces eye puffiness

Fiction: It is not the cucumber that reduces puffiness. It is the contraction of the blood vessels caused by the coldness of the cucumber that actually causes the reduction in swelling. Anything cold will have that same effect. Just make sure to limit the application to 5 minutes for optimal results.

3. Dry skin causes wrinkles

Fiction: Wrinkles are usually created by collagen deterioration. It is typically caused by sun damage, not dry skin. Wrinkles can also be caused by dehydration. Drinking plenty of water will help to keep your skin hydrated.

4. Drinking tea makes my teeth yellow

Fact: Soda, tea, and coffee can all contribute to the yellowing of tooth enamel. If you just can't give up your morning tea or latte, try to sip through a straw when possible to minimize contact with your tooth enamel.

5. The best place to apply perfume is on the pulse point

Fact: Applying perfume to pulse points is the best way to make your scent last all day. Fragrances react with heat, so spritz your perfume on your wrists or the back of your neck and you won't need to worry about re-applying.

6. Red and white wine can stain my pearly whites

Fact: And all this time we thought red wine was the tooth's worst enemy. Turns out, white and red wine negatively affect the surfaces of your teeth which makes them more susceptible to tinting and discoloration.

7. Consistent wear of dark nail polish can turn your nails a yellowish hue

Fact: However, this yellowing is temporary and can also be avoided! Before painting your nails a deep dark hue, paint a layer of clear base coat to protect your nails from any discoloration.

8. Sleeping on your back may prevent wrinkles

Fact: After hearing this, we're never sleeping on our sides again! The American Academy of Dermatology says that sleeping in certain positions may result in "sleep lines." After time, these lines can turn into deep-set wrinkles, so flip over and get your shut-eye on your back.

9. Your skin adapts to the skin-care products you are using and you need to change to new products every now and then

Fiction: Skin doesn't adapt to skin-care products any more than your body adapts to a healthy diet. If spinach and grapes are healthy for you they are always healthy, and they continue to be healthy, even if you eat them every day. The same is true for your skin, as long as you are applying what is healthy for skin (and avoiding negative external sources such as unprotected sun exposure) it remains healthy.

10. Sleep debt is real. You can't make up for lost zzzs

Fact: Most women need between 7.5 and 8.5 hours of sleep every night. The hours we lose to stress, overwork and late-night partying are gone forever.