Many beliefs about beauty care don't stand up to modern-day tests

By Anja Gladisch May 13, 2010, 15:14 GMT

Berlin - There's usually some truth to grandma's beauty tips or at least the reason she believed them can be easily comprehended. But a lot of beauty tips don't hold up to tests by beauty specialists.

True or false? The following list contains a few common beliefs. Knowing their validity can help women improve their personal care habits and practices.

Mascara makes eyelashes brittle

This is nonsense, said Rene Koch, a makeup artist in Berlin. Mascara contains conditioners that protect the eyelashes, but proper use is important: 'Use an eyelash curler before applying mascara,' said Koch. 'The lashes are elastic only when they are not made up.'

Koch also strongly recommends removing mascara before going to bed. Otherwise, the eyelashes could break. But the reason they would is not the mascara, but rather contact with a pillow.

Frequent shaving makes hair grow faster

Stubby hair is undesirable just a day after shaving the legs or intimate areas. But regularly shaving over time does not mean the areas require more frequent shaving.

'A razor has no influence on the growth rate of hair,' said Dr Madeleine Schunter of the German professional association for dermatologists in Berlin.

It may seem like hair grows faster after shaving because stubble isn't smooth. Hair growth rates differ from person to person and hair grows somewhat faster in the summer than in the winter. Shaving, however, doesn't increase hair's growth rate.

Nail polish damages the nails

It used to be that after removing nail polish fingernails were visibly stained. 'The colour penetrated into various layers of the nail,' said Brigitte Sterz of Germany's professional association of cosmeticians. But staining can be prevented by applying a base coat of clear polish.

Monika Ferdinand of the German association of cosmeticians recommends taking it easy on the fingernails by using an acetone-free nail polish remover.

Moisturizer should be applied under foundation

Sterz said she would never apply foundation without first using a moisturizer, giving several reasons: For one, moisturizer provides a base on the skin that helps the makeup go on more evenly. Another is pure makeup contains none of the ingredients that the skin desperately needs.

'A moisturizing cream applied to the skin binds the makeup,' said Sterz. But it's not necessary to apply a layer of moisturizing cream under a moisturizer that is tinted. This could create an oily shine on the skin because both creams have moisturizers in them, said Schunter.

More than one facial peel a week damages the skin

A peeling is meant to cleanse the skin and get rid of dead skin cells. Schunter warns not to overdo it, though, because useful oils can be stripped away if the skin is peeled too frequently. Once a week is sufficient for normal skin.

Daily hair washing is bad

Printed on the label of many shampoos is the phrase: Suitable for daily use. It's safe to believe this, said Franz-Josef Kueveler, art director of an association for hair stylists in Cologne.

'The products have become very mild, making daily washing no longer problematic,' said Kueveler. Consumers should be a little more cautious when using shampoos designed to treat oily hair or dandruff because they could affect the hair's protective layer.

Shaved eyebrows don't grow back

This concern is 'completely unnecessary,' said Schunter. The hair root is unaffected by a razor, thus a hair that has been shaved can always grow back.

Lip balm is addictive

Rough and raw lips can be helped by applying lip balm. Lips do not have their own sebaceous glands, so they can't release any oil. 'We recommend using a palatable lip balm,' said Schunter. It could turn out that a lip balm can create a feeling we want to repeat, but a physical addiction to lip balm can't occur.

Brush strokes increase hair shine

It's easy to comprehend that to look well, hair has to be combed. But does brushing it make it shinier? Yes, it does, said Kueveler. 'Hair should be brushed with a natural bristle brush in the direction it grows. Then the shine comes out,' he said, adding that poorly made brushes with sharp edges could damage the hair.