The editors of Refinery29 provide more details on this matter, below:
Celeb secret, "I drink a lot of water."
The truth: While drinking water is undoubtedly good for your overall health, it’s actually proven to be the least effective way to hydrate the skin. That's because the water you drink doesn’t go directly to the skin; rather, it runs through the intestines, gets absorbed into your bloodstream, and is then filtered out by the kidneys. Only then does it hydrate the cells inside the body, yet it never makes its way up to the skin's surface. Thus, it's helpful to understand that hydration levels in the skin have very little to do with drinking water and much more to do with how you hydrate topically.
What works: The simplest and easiest way to effectively hydrate your skin cells, which keeps them moist and healthy-looking, is by using an alcohol-free toner and sealing that in with a skin serum that contains hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA. Water-based gel masks are also a great way to both soothe and calm the skin and quickly deliver water to thirsty skin cells. It may be an unusual comparison, but skin cells are a lot like fish in that they need water to live, so keeping skin topically hydrated with well-formulated skin-care products based on your skin type is essential.
Celeb secret, "I have good genes."
The truth: While good genes definitely play a role in certain skin conditions like oiliness, skin color, and skin thickness, you might be surprised to learn that approximately 30% of aging can be attributed to genetics and 70% to personal habits. This is evident in studies that evaluate how identical twins age. If it were all left to genetics, it would make sense for twins to age in the same manner at the same rate, but lifestyle factors play a huge role. For example, if one person smokes or works in a profession that causes her to have more exposure to UV rays, she's bound to age faster than her non-smoking twin who is rarely exposed to harmful UV rays. Good genes definitely play a role in how skin looks and acts,
but, ultimately, it's how you take care of your skin on a daily basis that's a reflection of your age.
What works: Considering that UV light (even daylight coming in through windows in your home, car or office) is the number one cause of premature skin aging, it’s crucial that you block those harmful rays day in and day out. Along with using a skin-care routine with action ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, peptides, and salicylic acid, find a well-formulated moisturizer with sunscreen and apply it generously to the face and neck 365 days a year. Sunscreen is absolutely the most effective anti-aging product available. Can’t find one that is light enough or that won’t clog your pores? Look for sunscreen containing zinc oxide as those tend to be lighter and more compatible for breakout-prone skin types.
Celeb secret, "I try not to wear a lot of makeup in order to let my skin breathe."
The truth: The skin can’t perform the function of respiration, so it doesn’t actually breathe; therefore, avoiding makeup or forgoing a nighttime moisturizer does not benefit the skin in the way that some celebs claim it does.
What works: While not removing makeup and failing to cleanse skin each night can lead to breakouts, wearing makeup, per se, is not bad for the skin — as long as you wear a formula compatible for your skin type. You also want to choose one that offers a barrier of protection against harmful UV rays. Many types of makeup contain sunscreen, and even if they don’t indicate an SPF number, most have UV-protecting ingredients like titanium dioxide. This indicates that there is actually a benefit to wearing makeup. We suggest that you never leave your skin bare.
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