Staying Fit
Mom knew best. Or at least she sometimes did. How many snippets of maternal beauty wisdom still linger in your brain? Beauty advice, like good gossip, is hard to ignore or forget — especially when it comes from women you trust, whether that’s your mother, sister, aunt, best friend or a celebrity via Instagram or Facebook. How many of these grapevine tips are even true? I asked Doris Day, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City for medical insights, and added my own beauty editor two cents. Here are 10 of the most-common myths — and the real deal for all.
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1. Over-plucked brows won’t grow back
(Clockwise from left) A woman touching up her brows; Maybelline Express Brow 2-in-1 Pencil and Powder Eyebrow Makeup ($8, target.com); e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyebrow Palette in Taupe ($4, target.com)
Westend61/Getty Images; Target (2)
Well, sort of. By age 50, eyebrow regrowth is very slow and, in some cases, not possible. Those who got overzealous with the tweezer years ago may find their overthinned or tadpole-shaped brows and missing tails don’t respond to a hands-off approach or even brow-enhancing formulas and biotin supplements. But it’s not just tweezing; repeated waxing or threading also can do permanent damage. “According to my observation of patients for over 20 years, overdoing plucking can scar or at least stun the hair follicle at the root, which means the hair won’t grow back,” says Day. “Be aware that some underlying medical conditions such as thyroid disease or dysfunction can contribute to brow loss too. Sometimes Minoxidil can help regrowth if the follicle is still present and even works to restore brows thinned due to natural aging. Microblading — which I prefer to tattooing — can help mask brow loss, and when done well can look very natural.” My beauty editor advice? Microblading by a skilled technician can create realistic-looking brows that last one to three years with touchups. However, the cost (from $500 to $2,000), pain (yes, it hurts!) and maintenance (you do need touch-ups) of this procedure is a consideration, and those with sensitive skin should skip it in favor of good brow makeup.
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2. Always apply face cream up, not down
(Left to right) Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool in Jade ($28, sephora.com); EcoTools Mini Rose Quartz Roller ($10, ulta.com); Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Hydrating & Plumping Moisturizer ($69, sephora.com)
Sephora; Ulta Beauty; Sephora
The thought behind this nugget was massaging on lotions and potions in anything but an upward motion encouraged wrinkles and sag. “Direction doesn’t matter,” says Day. “The point is to gently pat products like serums, moisturizers and sunscreen on before massaging them in. I go in both directions — upward to soothe, downward to help lymphatic drainage and decrease puffiness since lymph nodes are under the chin and along the neck.” This is good to know, since jade rollers and gua shua stones are now beauty staples. The secret is to make the application of the product a soothing, relaxing daily experience. Don’t apply too much pressure and always apply a cream or serum first for slip. Keep your gua sha and roller in the fridge to amp up the refreshing benefits too.
