Skincare Myths Filipinos Need to Stop Believing

I’m sure that you’ve had your fair share of skincare mistakes caused by these prevalent skin myths in the Philippines. I personally fell deep into believing my skin wasn’t clean enough because (in the peak of my puberty) my pimples were gathering all the attention! Let’s just say it was one of the manifestations of my physical insecurities.

I know friends and relatives who’ve followed a majority of these myths! And I don’t blame them. It’s either passed down through generations or a good friend of ours highly suggested some of them, swearing that it worked wonders and it’s apparently effective. Who wouldn’t appreciate the concern, right?

And although some of them have been lucky enough to experience positive changes to their skin, it probably led to the wreck of yours. Yikes!

It’s about time that we debunk these myths and offer alternative, effective, science-backed solutions in place of these good old rumors so that future generations won’t fall into the same traps again.

Myths About Acne & Oily Skin

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🛑 MYTH: Washing your face frequently prevents oily skin.

TRUTH: Overwashing will strip away the natural oil and sebum from your face, which will trigger overcompensation, leading to more oil than usual. Instead of overwashing, use oil blotting sheets to manage oil without stripping your skin. I personally like to gently tap my skin with facial tissues if I have no blotting sheets.

🛑 MYTH: Acne is caused by dirty skin.

TRUTH: Scrubbing your face away won’t do you any good. It’s been established that genetics, hormones, your health, and environment may add up to how your skin reacts. Your best approach is to use targeted treatments or consult a dermatologist.

🛑 MYTH: Eating oily food causes oily skin.

TRUTH: Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group explains that while greasy food doesn’t directly cause acne, diets high in processed carbs and dairy can contribute by increasing inflammation and sebum production. Keep your health in check and strive to maintain a healthy balance of everything.

🛑 MYTH: Toothpaste can “cure”/dry out pimples.

TRUTH: I personally fell victim to this myth, and let’s just say I only suffered with more inflamed acne then. But I understand this one because of the initial cooling effect that gives us the illusion that it’s effective. However, toothpaste has harsh ingredients that may cause further irritation and a more compromised skin barrier. You’re better off safe with a reliable spot treatment. 

🛑 MYTH: You’ll get acne if you’re in love.

TRUTH: This made me extremely conscious when I was younger. But I think elderly people associated this with a lack of sleep. And let’s be real, when we’re in love, sleep often takes a backseat to late-night conversations.  And it’s widely known that lack of sleep equates to increased cortisol levels or our “stress hormone”. And stress means more oil, therefore more acne!

Myths About Whitening & Brightening

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🛑 MYTH: Rubbing calamansi is the best whitening method.

TRUTH: Master Aesthetician Renee Ruiz debunks this myth in a short YouTube video. She basically concludes that this method would cause adverse reactions such as more hyperpigmentation, sunburns, and other irritations. Use Vitamin C serums and other gentle brightening ingredients instead. Those have been proven effective, safe, and commercially available.

🛑 MYTH: Whitening means healthy skin.

TRUTH: Outdated! Healthy skin comes in all tones, and a well-hydrated, well-protected skin barrier is what truly matters.

🛑 MYTH: If you have dark underarms, you must be unhygienic.

TRUTH: Dark underarms and private areas’ skin color is largely due to either genetics, friction, and hormonal changes. But it has nothing to do with poor hygiene.

Myths About Pores & Texture

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🛑 MYTH: Ice massages will make your pores disappear.

TRUTH: As reported by Claire Rodgers from one of L’Oreal’s interviews, Dr. Joshua Zeicher shared that pores shrinking from their original size is a total myth due to the lack of muscles around your pores. While extreme cold temporarily does constrict blood vessels and make pores appear smaller, it doesn’t actually shrink them.

🛑 MYTH: Stretch marks and scars can be removed permanently with creams.

TRUTH: Topical products can only do so much to make these marks less noticeable, but never getting rid of them completely, as stretch marks are a form of scarring when our skin stretches. If you want quick results for getting rid of stretch marks, you may need to seek professional laser treatments or microneedling and get prescribed retinoids from a dermatologist.

Myths About Products & Routines

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🛑 MYTH: The more expensive, the better.

TRUTH: Price doesn’t equate to effectiveness. And it goes without saying that even affordable drugstore products can outperform even the luxury ones. So if you’re on a budget, you know where to look!

🛑 MYTH: Menstrual blood can clear acne.

TRUTH: Oh, this had its moment on TikTok. It went viral for a while and for no good reason, as the short answer is: No, it’s not effective. And you might risk getting other maladies. A simple, effective cleanser will do just fine. And no stains for sure!

🛑 MYTH: Vicks can heal anything.

TRUTH: Vicks is not a treatment for wounds or skin conditions. Anyhow, this is still not the be-all, end-all product for your ailments. Vicks provides temporary relief for congestion and headaches, but isn’t a solution for skincare concerns.

Myths About Moisturizing & Hydration

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🛑 MYTH: You don’t need moisturizer if you have oily skin.

TRUTH: Moisturizer is essential to keep your skin barrier intact and nourished in order to lessen excessive sebum secretion. If you find traditional cream-based moisturizer to be too heavy, opt for gel-type alternatives.

🛑 MYTH: Coconut oil is the go-to moisturizer.

TRUTH: Coconut oil has a ton of benefits for sure, and it’s God-sent for people with very dry skin. But this is not for everyone, especially for oily and acne-prone people out there, as it is common knowledge that coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which basically means that it can easily clog pores, which may lead to unintended breakouts. So better be careful. An affordable drugstore moisturizer will do just as good, if not better.

There you have it. I bet I’ve resurfaced some unfortunate memories of following any one of the myths I mentioned. The good thing is, we now know better and can make smarter, science-backed choices for healthier skin.

While we can see how some of these myths started, there are much better, scientifically-backed explanations as to how certain skin processes and reactions come about rather than resorting to following these risky old ways.

With so much skincare advice floating around, it’s essential to fact-check before jumping on trends. Your skin deserves the best, not just what’s popular.