11 Beauty Myths Busted

You need to start using anti-ageing products by 25. False. All skin is different, so there's no specific age you should start using anti-ageing products – it's more about how your skin looks and feels. "If you keep skin well hydrated and protected from the sun and free-radical damage you should expect fewer lines and wrinkles, a more even tone and softer, more youthful-looking skin,” says Ruth Muller, research and development at Dove.

Eyelash extensions will make your real eyelashes fall out permanently. True and false. If you have them applied on a casual basis, the likelihood of them doing much harm is slim. On the flipside, the UK College of Optometrists says repeated use over a long time can cause traction alopecia, a condition where the hair falls out due to excessive tension placed on the hair shaft. "As a result this can damage the hair follicle which can slow down and even cease production of hair,” it warns.

Pulling out one grey hair will bring six more to the party. False. Thank you Samantha Jones, but this one isn’t true. Rest assured that if you pluck one hair, only one will grow back in its place.

Not to prime is a crime. True. Okay, maybe not legally, but it does help prepare your complexion for makeup. “Foundation not only has a smoother landing, but will last the distance and stay colour-true”, says Napoleon Perdis.

You can’t shrink your pores. True, unfortunately. You can make them appear small temporarily however, by using the right products. "Use an exfoliant at least twice a week to keep dead skin cells at bay, and protect daily with an oil-free moisturiser that states it is non-comedogenic [it won't clog pores]," says Emma Hobson, education manager at the International Dermal Institute.

You shouldn’t cleanse your skin if you have a dry complexion. False. Even if your skin is dry, it still needs a cleanse! “Skin that isn't properly cleansed can look and feel unhealthy, dry, dull or unbalanced," explains Kerrie Moore, national training manager at Dr. LeWinn's. "Plus, a build-up of pore-clogging dead skin cells, oils and impurities can lead to pimples, blackheads and enlarged pores."

You don’t need to use SPF if you’re wearing foundation. False. Even if the foundation you’re wearing spruiks an SPF rating, it’s still best to play it safe and use an SPF moisturiser underneath. "SPF is the single most important factor when it comes to skincare," stresses Dr Dawes-Higgs. She advises wearing high-level sun protection daily underneath your make-up.

Drinking six glasses of water a day won’t help your complexion. False. Although the exact number is up for debate, skin specialists widely believe you need to stay hydrated for your complexion to look good. "Your skin is reliant on good hydration - unmanaged, dehydration will definitely accelerate the ageing process," warns Tabitha McIntosh, clinical nutritionist and naturopath from Awaken Your Health in Woollahra, Sydney.

You shouldn’t moisturise if you have oily skin. False. “It depends on which ones you choose," explains Hobson. "There are lots of moisturises that are great for oily skin. The key is to find the ones that are water-soluble so you can easily wash them off your skin, or choose products that state they are non-comedogenic, so, so they won't clog your pores.”

You should not remove any hair above your eyebrows. False. This is an old-fashioned myth, based on ruining your natural eyebrow shape. "Today's eyebrow trends are all about a manicured look, which involves waxing along both the top and bottom of your brows,” says Gilly Harriott of Les Smooth in Milsons Point, Sydney.

It’s best to test your foundation on the inside of your arm. False. Sure, test it on your arm if that’s where you want to wear it - but the best thing to do when trying foundation is to apply it on a clean face – then step outside with a mirror and see how it shows up in daylight.

11 Beauty Myths Busted