The Myths and Truths of Skincare

The world of skincare is filled with advice, rituals, and products that promise miraculous results. However, it is also rife with myths that, if followed blindly, can harm our skin's health. Let’s demystify five common misconceptions to help you better understand and care for your skin.

"Oily skin doesn't need hydration"

This is one of the most common skincare myths! Many believe that excess sebum is enough to keep skin hydrated or that moisturizing will make oily skin even oilier. However, all skin types—whether oily, dry, combination, or sensitive—need hydration. It is essential to maintain their balance and health.

Why oily skin also needs hydration

Oily skin is characterized by an overproduction of sebum, a natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands to protect the skin. However, sebum doesn’t replace water, which is a primary component of hydration, needed to keep skin supple and avoid a feeling of tightness. Water and oil play different roles in skin balance:

• Sebum acts as a protective barrier and prevents water loss on the skin’s surface.
• Water hydrates the deeper layers of the skin and maintains its suppleness.

In short, even skin that produces excess sebum can become dehydrated, leading to signs of dryness on the surface, such as redness, rough texture, or a tight feeling. Additionally, dehydrated oily skin may produce even more sebum to compensate, worsening shine and increasing the risk of breakouts.

So what product should you choose for oily skin?

To avoid overloading oily skin, opt for lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizers. Our Ad CAELIA Ideal balance Serum perfectly meets this need: it hydrates without adding weight and restores skin balance thanks to carefully selected ingredients like hemp oil, bakuchiol, and niacinamide.

Benefits of Proper Hydration for Oily Skin

Keeping oily skin properly hydrated offers several advantages:

• Reduces sebum production: Well-hydrated skin is better balanced, which helps to reduce the "shiny skin" effect.
• Prevents blemishes: Less sebum means a reduced risk of clogged pores, leading to less acne and fewer imperfections.
• Evens out the complexion: Skin appears fresher and more radiant, without the intense shine.

"Natural products are better for the skin"

It is common to believe that natural products are better alternatives for the skin, as they are safer since they come directly from nature. However, it’s important to understand that "natural" does not necessarily mean "safe." In reality, many natural ingredients contain powerful compounds, such as allergens, which, if misused or applied without caution, can cause irritation, especially for sensitive or reactive skin.

The power and risks of natural ingredients

Take essential oils as an example. Although popular in many skincare products, they contain highly concentrated active compounds that, if applied undiluted, can be too strong for the skin. For example:

• Lavender essential oil: Known for its calming properties, can trigger skin reactions in some sensitive individuals.
• Peppermint essential oil: Although refreshing, it may be too stimulating for some skin types, especially on the face.
• Tea tree oil: Used for its antibacterial effects, can dry out the skin or cause reactions if applied undiluted.

In these cases, these “natural” oils can be irritating if not correctly diluted or used in too high a concentration.

Many so-called natural actives also undergo chemical treatments for extraction or stabilization, often using potentially toxic substances. This means you may be exposing your skin to undesirable residues, far from the pure image one might expect. The true quality of skincare is determined not only by whether its ingredients are natural or synthetic but also by its formulation, stability, and proven effectiveness.

Gentle formulation with synthetic products

Contrary to popular belief, products containing synthetic ingredients are not necessarily harsh. In fact, synthetic ingredients can be formulated to be particularly gentle, stable, and precise in their action. For example:

• The multi-weight hyaluronic acid in our Multipurpose power eye cream is perfect for hydration. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our skin, but it is lab-reproduced to ensure optimal stability and purity.

"Anti-aging products are only necessary after 40"

Many think that anti-aging skincare is only necessary after a certain age, often around forty. However, prevention is key in skin aging. In reality, it is advisable to incorporate products containing antioxidants and actives like vitamin C or hyaluronic acid as early as your twenties or thirties. These ingredients help protect the skin from external aggressors (such as UV rays and pollution) and maintain elasticity. At Ad CAELIA, we recommend using our products starting from 25–30 years old for preventive care. Suitable for all skin types, our Ideal balance serum, for example, helps to perfect the skin, whether young or mature, regardless of specific concerns: it regulates sebum, tightens pores, hydrates, smoothens, brightens, unifies, strengthens, protects, and harmonizes.

"Skincare routines must be complex to be effective"

Another common myth is that to have beautiful skin, you need a complex routine with numerous products. This belief is often fueled by beauty trends that promote multi-step routines. However, a simple, well-targeted routine can be just as, if not more, effective.

Just focus on the essentials. That’s how we designed the Ad CAELIA routine: with the 2 in 1 AHA glow cleanser, a moisturizer suited to your skin type like the Ultra Moisturizing smoothing cream, our Ideal balance serum containing targeted actives (like niacinamide), and a sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays. This way, you simplify your routine, minimize skin overload, and reduce the risk of undesirable reactions.

"Sunscreen is only necessary in summer"

Only 38% of French people say they apply sunscreen all year round. However, UV rays never take a vacation! UV rays, the main culprits of skin aging and deep damage, are present all year, even on cloudy days or in winter. UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, are just as intense in December as in July, increasing the risks of wrinkles, pigmentation spots, and loss of firmness. Additionally, at high altitudes or near reflective surfaces like snow, UV intensity increases, further exposing our skin. Daily sunscreen use, in winter as well as summer, protects the skin long-term and prevents cumulative damage that can appear over time.

"Oils hydrate the skin"

The myth that oils hydrate the skin is widespread but needs clarification. Oils can be excellent for nourishing and strengthening the skin barrier, but they do not truly hydrate. They don’t bring water to the skin, which is the essence of hydration. Instead, oils create a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, limiting water loss by retaining the moisture already present in the epidermis. This helps keep the skin soft and supple but doesn’t directly rehydrate it.

For hydration, products containing humectant ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, are necessary. These substances attract and retain water in the upper layers of the skin, providing true hydration. In addition, oils can be applied after a hydrating serum to “seal” the hydration and reinforce the skin barrier, especially for dry or dehydrated skin.

In Conclusion

It is essential to be cautious of myths and to understand your skin’s real needs to adopt an effective skincare routine. Each skin is unique, and what works for one may not work for another.

By listening to your skin’s needs and choosing suitable products, you can achieve a radiant, healthy complexion without falling for skincare myths.

Not sure which Ad CAELIA product is right for your needs?

Feel free to contact us!