Everyday Body Hacks You're Doing Wrong

By Editorial Staff in Facts and DIY On 10th November 2016

#1 You're Beautiful

We are in a constant state of trying to look younger, more attractive, and beautiful. Always looking for ways to enhance our appearance. However, there is misinformation out there that's been around for awhile that is less than helpful. Here are some beauty hacks and myths that are totally FALSE.

#2 Varicose Veins

They're gross and ugly, but everyone gets them. The appearance of the popping veins looks differently on people based on genetics. Some people claimed that sitting with your legs crossed or folding one leg over the other would cause you to get varicose veins, but that is not true at all. Go ahead and cross your legs all you want, because this fact is a total myth. Some causes that make your veins become varicose are standing a lot, pregnancy, and leg injuries. Just about anything that prevents the veins in the legs from pumping blood to the heart can cause varicose veins. This causes a pool of blood that creates the classic spider vein look. Exercise and alternating hot and cold compresses can make the veins appear smaller but only surgery will ease the problem.

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#3 Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening has become a very booming business in the last few years, with so many products on the market that it'shard to decipher which is which. Nobody wants yellow teeth and getting them professionally whitened is expensive. The newest trend is using charcoal to whiten teeth and it seems harmless enough. But medical professionals and dentists are finally warning against the technique. It turns out that the charcoal doesn't actually whiten your teeth but instead weakens the enamel and contributes to tooth erosion.

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#4 Cellulite

Both men and women have cellulite. For a long time, there was a myth that we could get rid of it. There were rub on products, exercise routines, and pills to help reduce the build up of the ugly fat. However, cellulite actually has more to do with genetics and how your body functions rather than weight. Even skinny people can have pockets of cellulite. Experts say that tanning helps to give the appearance of no cellulite but if you think you can get rid of it, that's a pie in the sky dream.

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#5 Hair Removal

There are all sorts of myths about hair out there. One of them is that if you shave it off it will grow back thicker and stronger. This is false. If that were really the case we'd all have dark, thick hair in some pretty inconspicuous places. Also, they tell you that waxing will cause fewer hairs to grow back and the hair that does eventually is lighter and thinner. This is also a falsehood. So just stick to whatever hair removal regimen you like and don't worry about what's happening to your hair.

#6 Vaseline

There's been a long-standing rumor that Vaseline is what made Marilyn Monroe appear so beautiful. People said that the petroleum jelly coated the face and helped prevent wrinkles. Vaseline actually does moisturize the face which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles but it does not prevent them. Wrinkles can become more noticeable because the skin loses its ability to retain moisture. The only skin care product that's been known to prevent wrinkles is Retinol. Also. Vaseline is oil, which can actually clog your pores and cause outbreaks.

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#7 Pores

One common beauty myth is that you can change the size of your pores using egg whites and ice cold water. Sadly, our pore size is determined by genetics and cannot be changed. Don't be sad, because not all hope is lost. You can make your pores 'appear' to be smaller by using the egg whites and skin care products like Primer. You will never make them smaller, however.

#8 Stretch Marks

Cocoa butter has been the number one skin care product for over 25 years now, thanks to pregnant women everywhere who are trying to prevent stretch marks from occurring. Stretch marks are usually cause by excessive weight gain over a short period of time, breaking the elastic fibers and collagen that support the skin. While it smells amazing, cocoa butter doesn't actually do anything to stop or ease the stretch marks that appear on the skin. These marks appear in the lower layer of the skin, which is not where the butter can reach. Cocoa butter does help to alleviate some of the itching that comes with the skin stretching.

#9 Makeup

There has been a misconception out there forever that makeup can cause skin breakouts and acne. The truth is that it can, but if you are conscious about your makeup, wash your face before bed and don't sleep with makeup still on, it's not the makeup causing that acne. However, the longer you keep your makeup on, the more bacteria and dirt collects on your face, which is what cause pimples and other zits. It's best to maintain a healthy face washing routine.

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#10 All About Hair

You've probably tried brushing your hair 100 times in an effort to have smoother, shinier hair. However, this practice actually does more harm than good and causes damage to your hair. It agitates the hair and makes it drier and easier to break off. It's fine to gently brush your hair, as it helps distribute your hairs natural oils, making it smoother.

#11 Preparation H

It was one of the most exclusive beauty secrets created by Hollywood makeup artists to remove the puffiness under the eyes. Everyone wanted to try Preparation H to remove puffiness once the secret was leaked. The product contained a yeast derivative that reduced the puffy look and sometimes prevented it completely. But times change and that yeast derivative is no longer an ingredient in the popular hemorrhoid cream. Therefore, it does not remove puffiness under the eyes at all. It looks like you'll have to go back to using cucumbers and expensive eye creams to keep your puffiness down.