1. Pore Shrinking Skincare Products
A poreless face is today's beauty standard. It is also physically impossible, as pore size is genetically predetermined, just like the color of your eyes. People with combination and oily skin also tend to have larger pores, which is why many of these "pore-shrinking" lotions and potions are typically targeted at these skin types.
As we age and our skin loses collagen, pores can become stretched out and more visible, and that is another time when people start searching for a pore-tightening cream or serum. Unfortunately, as of now, there are no skincare products capable of changing the size of pores. Products that are available can only give a temporary effect that wears off within minutes.
2. Stretch Mark and Cellulite Creams
This is another one of those items that target a person's greatest insecurities, and much like pore-minimizing products, these creams are completely incapable of doing anything about the underlying issues. These creams are supposed to give results by improving the blood circulation in the area of concern, or by intensely moisturizing the area. None of these methods actually work, as both conditions are genetic.
Apart from that, no over-the-counter cream can actually legally penetrate to the deepest layers of the skin, otherwise, it would have to be considered a prescription medication, and both cellulite and stretch marks are not surface issues, so these products cannot work by their very definition.
Losing weight can sometimes decrease the amount of cellulite, but the condition itself is actually not pathological at all, it's just the way your body accumulates weight. As for the stretch marks, only laser treatments are capable of zapping those, as stretch marks are essentially deep scars that developed during periods of rapid growth or weight gain.
3. Hand Sanitizer
You may think that hand sanitizer is one of those must-have hygienic products that make you a more clean person. That would be wrong, as hand sanitizer is one of those items that are actually more harmful than they are helpful. Not only is hand sanitizer less effective at cleaning your hands than regular old soap, but it can also dry out your skin severely, even causing cracks and bleeding in some cases since it contains so much alcohol.
Apart from that, some argue that hand sanitizer also makes you more susceptible to germs. Whether or not the latter is true, though, using hand sanitizer is just not necessary outside a hospital setting.
4. Cuticle Cutters
When it comes to cuticle cutters, the problem is not with the product itself, as it clearly does what it's advertised to do. The main issue arises from the results of cutting off your cuticles. Few people actually know that cuticles play an important role in protecting your nails from damage and infections, including nail fungus.
So, by cutting off the cuticles, especially using an often unsanitized tool, you are significantly increasing your likelihood of introducing an infection to your nails. Instead, simply push the cuticle down using a single-use wooden cuticle pusher, or even better, avoid doing anything to the nail cuticles altogether.
5. Shaving Creams
The main issue with shaving creams is that they are inferior to other similar products. They may be less expensive than, let's say, shaving gels. However, the lower price also comes with many drawbacks, such as skin irritation and an overall worse shave, since gels condition your hair and enable a much closer shave than creams.
Apart from that, shaving creams are notorious for drying out the skin, which can potentially contribute to even more irritation, breakouts, and other skin issues.
6. Makeup Wipes
We get it, using a makeup wipe to remove the makeup from your face can seem easier than going all the way to the sink and washing your face. However, if you want to preserve a youthful appearance and prevent breakouts, makeup wipes are your worst enemy. The main problem with makeup removal wipes is that they cannot clean your skin completely, leaving quite a lot of makeup residue behind.
Worst of all - most people don't even rinse their face after using the makeup wipes, leaving harsh, drying detergents mixed with leftover makeup on their face overnight. Apart from that, rubbing the makeup wipes tugs at your skin, which can cause premature wrinkles or deepens already existing ones. Instead of paying for these wipes, simply buy a facial cleanser and use it to melt away any makeup and clean your skin thoroughly.
7. Split End Sealing Hair Products
Split ends are something all of us who have longer hair inevitably suffer from. Sun damage, heat damage from the hairdryer and styling tools, as well as hair dyes, are the main culprits behind hair damage, which is exactly what split ends are. Split end sealing serums advertise themselves as being capable of mending the damaged ends, but you must remember that your hair is not like your skin, it's more like your nails, and once damaged, it cannot be restored because it's not 'alive' in the full sense of this word.
This is why these split end products are nothing more than sticky or oily serums that temporarily mask the appearance of split ends rather than actually fixing the problem. Much like you would go about dealing with a chipped nail, the only real way to get rid of split ends is by trimming your hair.
8. Toners That Contain Alcohol
The skincare market is overflowing with different varieties of toners these days. In the past, toners were used to balance out the skin after cleansing, mattify oily skin, and dry out any pimples. All of these toners mainly consisted of alcohol, which did give your skin a refreshed and silkier appearance right after using it, but in the long run, these toners can really dry out your skin, causing even more pimples, flaky skin, and wrinkles.
For these reasons, avoid any toners that contain alcohol on the ingredients list. Instead, opt for hydrating toners that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, green tea, glycerin, vitamin E, and chamomile, as these ingredients will help moisturize and plump up your skin.
9. Makeup Products With SPF
You've likely noticed that many makeup products mention that they contain SPF sun protection on the bottle. Don't be fooled by these claims, as makeup will never be able to offer the protection of a sunscreen, as you'd have to pile on a really thick, opaque layer of makeup in order to get the SPF advertised on the bottle, and most people just don't wear makeup the way they do sunscreen.
Remember, you need to apply 1/2 teaspoon of sunscreen on your face and neck alone every morning to get the protection advertised on the bottle, and wearing that much foundation, concealer, or any other makeup product is just not realistic or flattering. So, instead of falling victim to this misleading marketing claim, use a separate sun lotion daily under your makeup.
10. Specialized Creams
Do you really need a special cream or lotion for your eyes, neck, hands, and feet? The answer is a definitive 'No', as most creams do one job - they moisturize, and to accomplish that task, one product for the face and neck, and another one for the body is more than enough. And remember, by not using eye cream and neck cream and simply applying your daily moisturizer on your entire face and neck area, you'll be saving a lot of money, as these specialized creams are often at least twice the price of a regular face cream.
The same story applies to day and night creams - you don't need two separate products that essentially do the same thing. As for foot and hand creams, these are also completely unnecessary - using a regular body lotion on your hands and feet will do the same job and save you a lot of money.
