Myth #1
All moisturizers are not the same
The market retails a number of different types of moisturizers to choose from, according to your needs. A few are seen to contain humectants (glycerin and lactic acid), which attract water and help the skin retain moisture whereas emollients (fatty acids), offer soothing properties. And then there are those barrier creams with occlusive (petrolatum, lanolin/dimethicone) which leave a film on the surface to seal the moisture.
Most body lotion will contain a combination of emollients, humectants and occlusive, so you need to choose a moisturizer based on your needs (dry, mature, oily, combination type). If your skin is acne-prone and sensitive go for those marked as ‘oil-free’ and ‘non-comedogenic’ and if extra dry and mature, grab those with occlusive as the main ingredient as these tend to be the heaviest of the lot and works best as a protective measure.
Remember to switch the body lotion according to the season.
Myth #2
Getting addicted to lip balm
People claim to be addicted to a lip balm, especially after applying it for most times a day. Well, can this happen? And a short answer by a dermatologist is ‘no’, explaining that, with lotions, using a balm on your lips won’t make it need more moisture and hence, if your lips feel dry after applying one then there is something wrong with that product. Never choose a balm containing menthol and eucalyptus as these are termed irritation agents. Consider switching to a different brand. Dehydrated lips could mean sun damage, hence, people with cracked or chapped lips, choose a chapstick with sunscreen in it.