1. You should never wax before or during your period. TRUE. Hormonal changes just before and during ovulation may heighten the sensitivity of nerve endings, which means that waxing may be more painful, The best time for waxing is just after your period.
2. You should never rub your wrists together when you apply fragrance. TRUE. This can "bruise" the oils contained in the blend, chemically altering the scent. "Leave it alone and let the air dry it."
3. Shaving makes your hair grow thicker. FALSE. However, it can appear that way. When you shave, you're cutting hair off at its largest diameter, so you're left with the blunt end, which often feels coarser and thicker.
4. Filing your nails in one direction, instead of back and forth, will prevent shredding. TRUE. You should file from each corner of the nail toward the middle to avoid breakage and splitting.
5. The aluminum in antiperspirants can cause breast cancer. FALSE. The Canadian Cancer Society states that there is no proven link between antiperspirants and breast cancer. While Internet scuttlebutt breathes new life into the fear that aluminum salts and other chemicals in antiperspirants mess with breast cells via your armpits' lymph nodes (think of them as conduits in the body), there's no need to sweat it – literally.
6. Plucking your eyebrows will stop them from growing back. TRUE. Sustained tweezing over many years (decades, really) may fatigue the hair follicle to the point where it may not grow back.
7. Applying petroleum jelly to your eyelashes makes them grow faster. FALSE. It's just genetics: either you have thick gorgeous eyelashes or you don't. In fact, the viscous jelly could actually plug glands on the inner rims of your eyelids that produce tears, flush out debris and fend off infections.
8. You ingest pounds of lipstick every year, and it's harmful to your health. FALSE. The average woman is estimated to consume four milligrams of lipstick daily. To reach even half a pound, it would take four lifetimes (assuming lipstick is worn from age 16 to 80). Even then there are no health risks, according to Health Canada.
9. Toothpaste makes the best spot treatment for acne. FALSE. Although some toothpastes contain benzoyl peroxide (an acne-zapping ingredient that is also used as a whitening agent), there are many more-effective products that specifically target acne. Look for products with at least five percent benzoyl peroxide.
10. Black liner will make your eyes look bigger. FALSE. Lighter shades of makeup will make your eyes stand out, while dark shades will diminish them. If you have small eyes the last thing you want to do is make them look closed or sleepy. If your eyes are small but you love the idea of a smoky eye, gradually apply a range of light to medium shadows using an eyeliner brush. Try shades such as metallic brown that have a bit of shimmer to reflect the light. To make your eyes look bigger, curl your lashes and line the inside rim of the eye with a white eyeliner. Finish off with a layer of lengthening mascara. Avoid mascara on the bottom lashes if they are very sparse or you have dark pigmentation underneath your eyes.
11. Every time you sleep with your makeup on, it ages your face by seven days. FALSE. Leaving your foundation on at night could lead to clogged pores and acne, but it won’t cause more wrinkles. The bigger concern is leaving on a product such as mascara. Sleeping wearing eye makeup could lead to irritation or an infection. Use a cleanser and eye-makeup remover to get rid of all traces before hitting the sack. And if you’re too tired to wash up at the end of the day, keep a set of makeup wipes at your bedside for a quick fix.
12. Sleep debt is real , you can't make up for lost zzzs. TRUE. Most women need between 7.5 and 8.5 hours of sleep every night. The hours we lose to stress, overwork and late-night partying are gone forever.
13. Storing fragrances in the fridge will make them last longer. FALSE. The oils in the scents will permeate all fats – such as butter and milk – in your fridge, causing contamination. Instead, keep scents in a cool, dark place, preferably at or just below room temperature.
14. Always apply makeup in natural light. TRUE. You need to think about the setting you’ll be in when applying your makeup. If you’re going to be in natural light for most of the day, you want to play with natural colours and textures, like a tinted moisturizer and highlighting powder. If you’re going out for a candlelit dinner, apply darker shades and play with the reflection of light using glosses on your lips and metallic shades on your eyes. Makeup is like an outfit. It really depends on what kind of look you’re trying to create. And it also depends on what suits you.
15. You shouldn't wash your hair after dying it. TRUE. Don’t shampoo for at least two days after dying your hair. The colour needs to penetrate and attach itself, so if you shampoo too soon, you’ll disrupt the process and lose some color Always use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for coloured hair and a rich mask.
As seen on the Canadian Angel blog.
