Skincare Myths You Seriously Need to Stop Believing

Straight Talk from Cathi Carrier
Master Esthetician & Founder of Purely Bella

Let’s face it—there’s a lot of skincare noise out there. From TikTok trends to beauty blogs written by someone’s cousin’s friend, it’s easy to get lost in the hype. But not on my watch.

Hi, I’m Cathi Carrier, Master Esthetician with over 30 years of hands-on skincare experience, and founder of Purely Bella. I’ve treated thousands of faces, listened to so many myths, and rolled my eyes at more than a few of them. 😏

So let’s set the record straight. Ready? Let’s bust these myths wide open.

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Myth 1: “Oily skin doesn’t need moisturizer.”

Oh honey—this myth needs to retire already. It’s one of the most common (and most damaging) misconceptions I hear. So many people with oily or acne-prone skin ditch their moisturizer, thinking it’ll keep the shine down. But spoiler alert: it does the opposite.

When your skin is not getting the hydration it needs, it tries to fix the problem by pumping out even more oil. Cue the clogged pores, breakouts, and that mid-day grease slick nobody asked for. Think of moisturizer as your skin’s chill pill—it helps regulate, calm, and balance.

The fix: Use a lightweight, oil-free, or gel-based moisturizer that hydrates without smothering. Your skin stays calm, balanced, and yes—less oily in the long run. Trust me, skipping it is only making things shinier (and not in a good way).

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Myth 2: “I don’t need sunscreen if it’s cloudy or I’m indoors.”

Oh no, babe. The sun doesn’t get a memo that it’s cloudy—or that you’re just binge-watching your favorite series inside.

Here’s the truth: UVA rays—the ones responsible for premature aging—can sneak through clouds, windows, and even your car windshield. That means even if you're working from home or just running errands on a gray day, your skin is still under attack.

The fix: Make sunscreen a non-negotiable part of your morning routine. Go for an SPF 30 or higher with broad-spectrum protection, and wear it every single day. Rain or shine. Indoors or out. Glowing skin is cute—sun damage is not.

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Myth 3: “Natural is always better.”

Let’s talk about one of the biggest beauty buzzwords out there: “natural.” It sounds safe, pure, and skin-loving, right? Well… not always.

Take lemon juice—it’s one of the most common DIY skincare mistakes. People use it to “brighten” their skin, but what it really does is disrupt your skin’s barrier, cause irritation, and increase your risk of sun damage. Just because it comes from nature doesn’t mean your skin wants it.

The fix: At Purely Bella, we do love naturally derived ingredients—but we pair them with science and skin-safe formulation. That’s how we create clean, gentle, and effective skincare you can actually trust. Look for products that are thoughtfully made, tested, and proven—not just trendy or homemade.

Nature is beautiful. But skincare needs brains and science-backed facts.

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Myth 4: “You can shrink your pores.”

If I had a magic wand that could actually shrink pores, I’d be bottling that stuff and retiring on a yacht! But here’s the truth: you can’t shrink your pores—because their size is mostly genetic.

When pores get clogged with oil, dead skin, or leftover makeup, they look bigger. And when your skin’s texture is uneven or dehydrated, that can make them stand out even more.

The fix: Use ingredients like niacinamide to improve skin texture and salicylic acid to deep-clean those pores from the inside out; to help decongest, refine, and give your skin that soft-focus, filtered look... no app required.

Let’s clear this up once and for all: you can’t shrink your pores, babe. But you can make them look better. 😉

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Myth 5: “Acne is just a teen problem.”

Oh, if only. If breakouts ended at high school graduation, we’d all be glowing goddesses by 20. But adult acne? Yeah, it’s real—and honestly, it’s kinda rude.

Stress, hormones, poor sleep, your third coffee of the day (no judgment)—they all play a role. And to make things trickier, adult skin isn’t as resilient as teenage skin. So those harsh, stripping acne treatments? Big no.

The fix: Your skin needs a routine that understands where you’re at in life—something gentle, targeted, and especially supportive of hormonal changes. That’s exactly why we created Purely Bella—to give women effective skincare that’s clean, calming, and made with mature skin in mind. Because breakouts at 35 don’t need a teenage solution.

PS: Adult breakouts aren’t a failure—they’re just another skin story. And yes, we’ve got the products to help you through it.

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Myth 6: “The more you wash, the better your skin.”

Washing your face five times a day isn’t doing your skin any favors. In fact, it might be why your skin feels tight, flaky, or suddenly super reactive.

Over-cleansing strips away your skin’s natural barrier—the very thing that keeps it protected, balanced, and breakout-free. Think of it like micromanaging your skin... and we all know how that turns out.

The fix: Keep it simple. Cleanse twice a day—once in the morning to refresh, and once at night to remove the day. Use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser that respects your skin, not bullies it. Your face isn’t a dirty dish—it doesn’t need washing and scrubbing within an inch of its life.

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Why These Myths Matter to Me—and to Purely Bella

These myths didn’t just make me shake my head—they shaped the way I built Purely Bella. Every product is grounded in what I’ve learned from decades of treating real skin, on real people, with real concerns. No fluff. No shortcuts. Just clean, clinical, conscious skincare.

One of my favorite ingredients we now feature? Astaxanthin.
It’s an antioxidant that’s 6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C. It helps brighten, protect, and support skin at the cellular level—perfect for addressing environmental damage and signs of aging. Astaxanthin is one of the hero ingredients in the reimagined Purely Bella line—and trust me, your skin will thank you!

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Skincare should be smart, effective, and empowering. When you stop believing outdated myths and start listening to what your skin truly needs, you open the door to real results.

So ditch the gimmicks. Trust the science. Stay consistent.
And please—keep the raw apple cider in the kitchen, not your skincare routine. 😂

You’ve got this—and your glow is just getting started. 💛

— Cathi