Beauty Myths

1. Lie: Eighty percent of your lifetime sun damage occurs before age 18.

Truth: A recent study revealed that we actually get only 23 percent of our total UV exposure by age 18. At 40 it reaches about 46 percent; by 59, 74 percent.

2. Lie: Sleep deprivation causes dark undereye circles.

Truth: "Dark undereye circles are the result of a concentration of veins beneath the very thin skin in that area," says David J. Leffell, MD, professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. "They're determined by genetics and won't change with more or less sleep."

3. Lie: Greasy food and chocolate cause breakouts.

Truth: The truth is that sushi and shellfish are the only foods that may exacerbate acne, because of their high iodine content. [Noooooooooooooooooo]

4. Lie: Drinking lots of water hydrates the skin.

Truth: The moisture level in your skin is affected by environment (low humidity or harsh winds) and age (oil production slows over time), but not by how many trips you make to the watercooler. You can hydrate the skin only from the outside, with moisturizer. Skin isn't like a plant that wilts and then perks up with a drink of water.

5. Lie: Crossing your legs causes varicose veins.

Truth: Genetics, pregnancy, and spending long periods of time on your feet cause varicose veins. Crossing your legs does put some pressure on your veins, but you would have to keep them crossed 12 hours a day for months at a time to see an effect on the formation of varicose veins.

Source: Oprah