Anuradha Varanasi
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Most of us spend a substantial amount of our income on a wide range of cosmetic products in hopes that they will help us achieve better hair and skin. While it is a good idea to invest on yourself, there are a few products in the market that just don t live up to their tall claims and are nothing but marketing gimmicks that you should not fall for, says Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant Dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai. These are the four types of cosmetic products that you definitely should not waste your hard-earned money on.
1. Fairness creams
Consumers have seen several advertisements on fairness creams that claim to lighten your skin tone by two to three shades within a span of one week. No cosmetic product can make your skin look fairer than it is. What they can do at the most is make your skin that is exposed to the sun as light as the skin under your clothes that is not exposed to UV rays. So don t expect your skin colour to change and to see change in your skin, it will take at least one or two months, says Dr Naswa. You could try these natural face packs for glowing skin.
2. Moisturisers with SPF
Many moisturisers now boast of having 15-30 SPF and claim that you need not use a separate sunscreen. However, they don t have the ability to protect your skin from harmful UV rays because in most cases the SPF protection in these lotions can be as low as two. Opt for medicated SPF or sunscreen instead. In most cases, these moisturisers contain zinc and titanium oxide which don t have the ability to provide adequate SPF protection, she adds. Here are tips to moisturise your skin the right way.
3. Shampoos that claim to fight against hair fall
Just like your soap cleans your body and gets rid of dirt and odour, your shampoo only has the ability to do that for your scalp and in no way can help in reducing hair fall or arresting hair loss. Even if your expensive shampoo s ingredients boast of having vitamins, protein and minerals to strengthen your hair roots, Dr Naswa says that your hair roots are actually beneath your scalp s surface. There is no point of applying any vitamins or proteins on your scalp because that is nothing but a layer of skin and the top most layer of your hair is dead. It is a far better idea to add those to your diet to reap the benefits, says Dr Naswa. Follow these tips to choose the right shampoo.
4. Face scrubs
If your face scrub claims to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads, don t expect any long-term results. Basically, blackheads and whiteheads are what dermatologists called grade one pimples and they tend to pop out mainly around your face s T-zone area which has the highest concentration of oil glands. Because of this, a face scrub can only provide temporary relief from blackheads and whiteheads. You will notice that the number of blackheads or whiteheads will only reduce for two to three days and then there will be yet another spurt, explains Dr Naswa. Other than that, you can t use your face scrub more than once a week as frequent scrubbing could affect your skin s quality.
The skin on your face is almost as sensitive as a baby s and one should avoid using face scrubs too often. A better solution is blackheads extraction done by your dermatologist or being prescribed synthetic vitamin A creams for getting rid of them in the long term, she adds. Try these home remedies to get rid of blackheads on your nose.
5. Mousse based make-up products
Dermatologists say that mousse based make-up products like foundations and other creams will only end up blocking your oil glands and pores which can result in causing or aggravating acne. Instead, switch to lotion based make-up products by carefully reading the ingredients and description of the products before deciding on whether you want to invest on it or not.
Image Source: Shutterstock