6 Common Beauty Tips You May Not Want to Follow:

Between tutorials, hacks, websites, and Mom's advice, there are a ton of beauty tips out there—and we’re sure you’ve likely heard them all. Some tips, like removing your makeup before bed and putting melted lipstick in the fridge to bring it back to life, are rock solid. Others, like using turmeric to whiten teeth, not so much. We know your IG explore page is bombarded with DIYs and beauty tips galore, and because this can get overwhelming real quick, we’ve decided to lend you a helping hand in separating the good from the, well, not so good. 

Here, we’ve debunked six beauty tips that cover skincare, makeup, and even oral care. Our conclusion? You may want to take them with a grain of salt or ignore them altogether. To help us out, we called in leading industry experts as back up. Keep on scrolling to avoid potential beauty misfires.

Skipping Moisturizer For Oily Skin

Probably the most common misconception that floats around is that moisturizer is only for those with dry skin. Joshua Ross, celebrity aesthetician and founder of Los Angeles' skincare clinic SkinLab, says this is completely false. “The main concern with skipping moisturizer is that it will cause your skin to over-produce sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture,” he explains. In fact, moisturizer is an umbrella term that includes different variants in the form of toners, lotions, and creams. 

“What differentiates moisturizers from each other is the viscosity—a light viscosity would be a toner while a heavy viscosity would be something like an emollient-rich night cream.” He recommends those with oily skin types moisturize with a product type with a lighter viscosity, such as a serum, light lotion, or hydrating toner. His current favorite? Ghost Democracy’s Floodgate Hyaluronic Acid Serum. “I love this because it’s combined with niacinamide, which minimizes the appearances of pores and is a high-quality hyaluronic acid.”

Ghost Democracy Floodgate Hyaluronic Acid Serum $34

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MEET THE EXPERT

Joshua Ross is a celebrity aesthetician with over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. He is the founder of SkinLab, a skincare clinic offering personalized, non-surgical procedures such as cool sculpting, micro-needling, derma-planing, and more. 

Skipping SPF If Your Foundation Has Protection

We know, we know. You’ve been lectured countless times on why daily SPF use is a non-negotiable. And while wearing face makeup with SPF is a good start, it doesn’t protect like a proper sunscreen would. “The amount of foundation the typical person uses does not equate to the recommended amount of SPF,” says Ross. He suggests selecting SPF-based products for each step of your face routine to ensure you’re getting the recommended daily amount, which, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, is SPF 15—as well as sealing it all in with your favorite sunscreen. 

The downside to skipping SPF is a lack of sun protection, which can lead to discoloration, dark spots, and negative textural changes. Ross recommends the Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum and CC Cream—both contain SPF of at least 30 and can be layered for a natural, protected finish.

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30 $42

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Using Turmeric to Whiten Teeth

Let’s face it: We all wish our teeth were a little whiter. A quick Google search of “DIY teeth whitener” is proof of the lengths people will go to to achieve just that. Included among the results of such searches is advice to use turmeric as a natural way to whiten your teeth. According to Dr. Pia Lieb, cosmetic dentist and founder of Cosmetic Dentistry Center NYC, putting an ingredient that has a color as strong as turmeric on already-stained teeth can cause more stains. She recommends daily maintenance, including limiting green and red juices along with using an electric toothbrush for two minutes twice daily. We love the Burst Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush, an electric toothbrush that absorbs bacteria, plaque, germs, and other toxins that make our smiles look anything but bright.

Burst Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush $70

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MEET THE EXPERT

Dr. Pia Lieb, DDS is a cosmetic dentist and founder of Cosmetic Dentistry NYC. She earned her degree from New York University’s College of Dentistry where she held an eighteen-year tenure as a clinical assistant professor. Her client list includes Oscar-winning actors, royal family members, Fortune 500 CEOs, and supermodels.

Double-Shampooing Your Hair

This one depends on your hair type. If greasy roots and dry ends sound all too familiar, you probably have hair that’s on the thicker, curlier end of the spectrum, which means this is a beauty tip you may want to actually follow. Sally Hershberger, a celebrity hairstylist, breaks it down for us. “If you have curly hair, you want to wash it less often– especially if you wear it natural,” she explains. Because you’re washing it less often, you’ll likely have product buildup, which means you’ve got the green light to double-shampoo. If, on the other hand, your hair is more fine and damaged, Hershberger says “double-shampooing your hair can be detrimental, as it can over-dry and create damage.” Scope out Living Proof’s Full Shampoo— a gentle yet effective cleansing shampoo that’ll give a naturally full and thick effect.

Living Proof Full Shampoo $27

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MEET THE EXPERT

Sally Hershberger is a celebrity hairstylist and the founder of Sally Hershberger hair salons across New York and Los Angeles. She is one of the most influential and sought-after hairstylists across the globe, as she's a personal favorite of industry notables and celebrities alike. In 2015, she launched her own line of tools and haircare products called Sally Hershberger 24K.

Contouring With a Bronzer

Here’s a beauty tip that isn’t wrong all of the time. Celebrity makeup artist Erin B. Guth says that “Using a bronzer to contour only works if the product is matte and not significantly darker than your individual skintone.” The point of contouring is to create depth and shadow to your face. While you technically can use a bronzer to contour if it's the right shade, Guth recommends using a dual-finish face powder instead, like the MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, for a smooth yet defined finish. And when it comes to shimmer, she says to avoid it in your contouring products altogether, as it will “bring more attention to the area instead of giving the illusion of a chiseled look.”

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation $31

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MEET THE EXPERT

Erin B. Guth is a L.A.-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with celebrities including Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, and Sofia Carson. She attended Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts and has over 18 years of experience lending her hand in makeup for television, film, print, and commercials.

Swatching Foundation For an Accurate Color Match

We’ve all been there: scouring the beauty aisles for foundation and excitedly swatching half the store on the back of your hand. Unfortunately, the hand is not the best place to get an accurate foundation shade match. “Since the lighting in stores is misleading, I recommend generously dotting several color options on the back of your hand before stepping outside into natural daylight,” says Guth. “You can then sample the different shades from your hand on different areas of your face.” She says more often than not people need a few different shades to get the perfect match. “What is best for your forehead will probably be a bit too dark for your cheeks,” she notes. Bottom line: Your hand can be the palette but your facial skin should be the testing area.

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