Myth or fact: Eating chocolate causes acne breakouts.
The correct answer is: This is a myth, but just barely. Researchers have tried--and failed--for years to prove that chocolate causes acne. There is some evidence, though, that it can aggravate and inflame already-irritated skin, which could make breakouts worse.
Myth or Fact: Crossing your legs causes varicose veins.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. We've all heard this wives' tale over and over, but varicose veins are actually due to age, obesity, pregnancy, even family history. They're simply what happens when the walls of veins when they lose elasticity, preventing them from being able to stretch and relax like they're supposed to.
Myth or Fact: Not sleeping in a bra causes breast tissue to weaken and sag.
The correct answer is: Ladies, this is a fact. Sleeping without support is one of the main causes of breast sagging. Your breasts are constantly working against gravity, even when you're sleeping. This pull is capable of causing the skin's natural collagen support to weaken over time, especially if you have larger breasts. So while sleeping sans bra is not the only factor, it's best to keep them supported whenever possible. If you're worried about pinching or poking, stick with a sports bra or a cami with the bra built in.
Myth or Fact: Cracking your knuckles makes them bigger and causes arthritis.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. While many have said that cracking your knuckles can lead to arthritis, there's actually no concrete evidence to prove that this is true. The pop you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the release of gas in the joints. And while this type of cracking can't do the damage to cartilage that causes arthritis, it can lead to joint instability, which will affect hand function down the road.
Myth or Fact: Swimming pools can turn blonde hair green.
The correct answer is: This is a fact. Chemicals like chlorine sap the moisture from your hair. And if your hair is color-treated, the chlorine can react to the dye, turning blonde hair green. It can also cause brunette hair to turn brassy. To protect your hair from this kind of damage, use a thick conditioner before getting in the pool -- or a mixture of suntan oil and conditioner as it helps to lock in moisture. And make sure to wash your hair immediately after swimming.
Myth or Fact: The aluminum in deodorant causes breast cancer.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. Some science points to aluminum mimicking estrogen in the body, which theoretically could contribute to breast cancer. However, there's been no conclusive link tying breast cancer to the aluminum in your deodorant. Still, if you want to err on the side of caution, there are many natural deodorant brands that offer odor and sweat protection without the aluminum.
Myth or Fact: Nail polish can turn your nails yellow.
The correct answer is: This is a fact. Sometimes when you go to remove your nail polish, the nail underneath can look yellow. This is because even though our nails seem hard, they're actually porous. This means that when you paint your nails, they're able to absorb the pigments in the polish. Red and pink are most likely to stain your nail, but the longer you leave the polish on, the more likely it is for any color to stain. Even the worst stains, though, will disappear within 6 months when the nail grows out, and the stains don't cause any damage to the nail or nail bed.
Myth or Fact: Wearing makeup that contains sunscreen provides you with adequate sun protection for the day.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. Your skin requires 2mg of sunscreen per square centimeter. Based on the amounts in something like a loose powder with added SPF, you'd have to use nearly the whole container to get the sun protection your skin needs. On top of that, the pigments in your makeup break down the skin-protecting ingredients in chemical sunscreens, and you probably aren't reapplying enough (every two hours) to keep your skin protected. A moisturizer with added SPF may be your best bet.
Myth or fact: You shouldn't pop pimples, even if your hands are clean.
The correct answer is: This is a fact. Popping pimples yourself pushes the bacteria, dirt and oil out so forcefully that you're actually damaging the skin. This opens the door for more dirt and oil being pushed back into the skin, making the pimples worse. So adopt a hands-off policy during breakouts.
Myth or Fact: Your skin doesn't really need a break from makeup.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. While it's not as big a deal if you're washing off your makeup every single night, giving your skin a break certainly doesn't hurt. Oil, dry skin and makeup can form little plugs of gunk that clog pores and dull skin. And even if we do wash our faces every single day, traces of pore-clogging makeup get left behind. So it's not a bad idea to skip a day to give our skin a chance to breathe and repair itself.
Myth or Fact: Your skin goes into repair mode first thing in the morning.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. Your skin actually begins the process of repairing itself at night, in response to your body's circadian rhythm. This is the time when your skin produces healthy stem cells that replace the ones that were damaged throughout the day. If you aren't getting adequate sleep, your skin doesn't have the time it needs to heal itself, causing it to look dull and tired in the morning.
Myth or Fact: Hair can get used to shampoo if you use it everyday.
The correct answer is: This is a fact, kind of. While it hasn't been proven in a lab, there's reason to believe that the longer you use your favorite shampoo or conditioner, the more used to it your hair will become. That's thanks to build-up from some of the ingredients, which are formulated to be left behind on the scalp to protect hair. But after awhile, this can cause hair to be dull, lifeless and flat, making it appear that your hair has gotten used to the product. If you're noticing that your hair is feeling heavy or looking greasy, switch it up. Try a clarifying shampoo for the build-up and switch brands to prevent exposing your hair to the same ingredients.
Myth or Fact: There's nothing you can do to slow or reverse the onset of gray hair.
The correct answer is: This is a fact. Chalk it up to genetics, hormones and age, but there's nothing you can do to reverse graying hair once it starts. That's because graying is caused by your hair's inability to absorb melanin, the pigment responsible for your hair's color. Your hair also contains hydrogen peroxide (a kind of bleach) that normally gets broken down by enzymes. As you age, you have less of those enzymes and the hydrogen peroxide begins to bleach the hair from the inside. So you can either embrace it or cover it, but once it starts, you can't stop your hair from graying.
Myth or Fact: You can cure dandruff with dandruff shampoo.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. Unfortunately there is no way to cure dandruff completely. Specially formulated shampoos can help keep the problem, actually caused by a type of mite called Demodex, at bay, but it's not a forever cure.
Myth or Fact: You can repair split ends.
The correct answer is: Unfortunately, this is a myth. There's only one way to handle split ends, and that's to cut them off. Since hair is already dead, it can't repair itself after damage. So while shampoos, conditioners and treatments can help with manageability, they can't actually reverse split end damage. The best thing to do is be mindful of your hair care. Go easy on heat styling, tight ponytails and even bobby pins that can break hair off. Treat hair with good shampoos and conditioners before the split ends appear and keep up regular trims.
Myth or Fact: Shaving can cause hair to grow back darker and thicker.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. Even though it may seem like your hair is growing back darker and more coarse, it's not. When you shave, you're removing hair only on the surface of the skin and when it grows back, it only feels thicker because it's shorter and growing straight out, not because it actually is.
Myth or Fact: Matching your eye shadow to your eye color will make your eyes pop.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. If you want to make your eye color stand out, it's best to choose a contrasting color. For green eyes, go with browns and dusty rose colors. Rust, browns and coppers look best on blue eyes. And dusty blues with gray look great on brown-eyed beauties. If your eyes are hazel, plums will make them pop.
Myth or Fact: You can store your cosmetics in the fridge to make them last longer.
The correct answer is: This is a fact. The oils in your makeup and moisturizers are vulnerable to the oxidation that can occur at higher temperatures, which can cause your makeup to turn rancid more quickly. You can slow that process by storing your cosmetics in the fridge. Just make sure the products don't freeze -- this can cause them to literally fall apart. And always keep them in closed containers away from food.
Myth or Fact: It's possible to shrink your pores.
The correct answer is: This is a myth, in a way. The size of your pores is genetically determined, and there's nothing you can do about that. But there are things you can do to reverse the pore expansion that happens over the years. Dirt and dead skin can build up in your pores and stretch them out. Think in terms of prevention for keeping your pores small. Protect your skin against the sun, make sure to keep your skin clean and look for products that contain retinol, which helps to narrow and clear pores.
Myth or Fact: Only women who are overweight get cellulite.
The correct answer is: This is a myth. Big, small, tall, short - it doesn't matter. 80-90% of all women have cellulite. And once it appears, it's nearly impossible to treat. Think in terms of prevention instead -- stay hydrated, exercise and make sure your diet includes lots of fruits, veggies and fiber.
You got out of 20 correct. You're a health wiz!
