All of us have been guilty of following trends blindly without checking facts. For example, many of us stick our faces in steam machines for a glow and for cleaner pores. But steaming breaks the elasticity and natural collagen in our skin, causing it to wrinkle faster and lose its glow. Didn’t expect this? Here’s 7 more skin facts that will surprise you!
1. Talking On The Phone
Surprise, surprise! Keeping that mobile phone plastered to your face might not be a very good idea after all. You keep your phone in all sorts of places and then the same germs get transferred to your face when you get calls. Moreover, talking for long hours on the phone can cause sweat and germ build-up. Keep anti-bacterial wipes handy to keep your skin clean.
2. Hair Colouring
Yes, colouring your hair can lead to hyperpigmentation (dark spots on your skin). When you apply hair colour, the chemicals in the product can leech into your skin causing damage. This is why when you apply hair colour, it is important to keep the skin on your face protected at all times. Better yet, avoid colouring your hair or use an organic hair colour with no side effects. Our recommendation: Kama Ayurveda Organic Hair Colour.
3. Cosmetics
It’s scary, but even the products that claim to be natural and beneficial are actually not. They’re doing more harm than good! How to tell the good from the bad? Look for the ingredient list. Products that are paraben-free, fragrance-free, colour-and-preservative-free and sulphate-free are good for you. Our pick? Kama Ayurveda – an brand that delivers organic products that are internationally certified and are made using time-tested ayurvedic ingredients.
4. Coffee
So, cold coffee is your favourite drink and you can’t wake up without a cup of hot, black coffee? Stop now! Coffee strips your skin of its moisture and can cause early signs of ageing. In some cases, coffee is also known to cause acne. What to do? Keep a count on the number of mugs you down in a day and reduce it by half. Moderation is the key!
5. “Natural” Home Remedies
You might think using “natural” ingredients lying around the house to make a scrub or a mask will benefit you, but you’d be surprised to know that most home remedies actually steal away your skin’s natural oils. Lemon and baking soda? No sir. Baking soda can rub your skin raw and lemons are highly acidic, so they irritate your skin and disturb it’s pH balance. Honey is another culprit that a lot of glossies will tell you to use. But keep in mind that store-bought honey usually has preservatives which are damaging to the skin. Want a fool-proof solution to all your skin problems? Pick a brand that uses its expertise to make natural products out of organic, chemical-free ingredients.
6. Hot Showers
Hot showers are great. They’re so much fun and sometimes you just don’t want to get out of there. But get out you must, since long, hot showers can cause scaly, dry skin. What hot water does is strip your skin of its natural moisture, which affects the epidermis – the outermost layer of your skin. Next time you’re in the shower, use lukewarm water instead. It might be less fun that a hot shower, but it will keep your skin healthy and glowing.
7. Waxing
As much as you’ve been told that waxing is one of the best ways to get rid of unwanted hair, it is advisable to pause and think. Not ALL salons use chemical-free wax. Secondly, waxing very often can damage fine tissue cells in your skin. Since waxing removes hair in the opposition direction of its growth, there can be hair breakage which in turn leads to ingrown hair. Sugaring is a new process that is comparatively painless, uses sugar at lukewarm temperatures (no more burns!) and removes hair in the direction of its growth.
* This is a sponsored post for Kama Ayurveda