7 skincare myths we need to stop believing

By Skin Fairy JA Co. · September 25, 2026 · 5 min read

Every week someone in our DMs tells us about a “hack” they saw online or heard at the market. Some are harmless. Some are setting your skin back months. So let’s talk about it, bestie to bestie, with the science to back it up.

Myth 1: “If it burns, it’s working.”

A light tingle for a few seconds with some acids can be normal. Burning, stinging that lasts, redness or peeling is not progress. That’s irritation.

The science: irritation is inflammation, and inflammation signals the pigment cells in your skin (melanocytes) to make extra melanin. That’s how dark marks form after a pimple, a bite or a harsh product. Dermatologists call it post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and deeper skin tones are more prone to it. So a product that burns can leave you with more marks, not fewer.

Do this instead: start any active two or three nights a week, and stop if it hurts. If your skin is already angry, read what “skin barrier first” means.

Myth 2: “Lime juice fades dark marks.”

This one is everywhere, and it can backfire badly.

The science: limes contain natural compounds called furocoumarins, most of all in the peel. On your skin, they react with sunlight and can cause a burn-like reaction called phytophotodermatitis. It often shows up a day or more later, and the dark patches it leaves can last for months. You end up with new marks while trying to fade old ones.

Do this instead: niacinamide or azelaic acid, sunscreen every morning, and patience. Dark marks fade over weeks, not overnight.

Myth 3: “Toothpaste dries out pimples.”

It feels like it’s working because it tingles and dries. It isn’t.

The science: toothpaste is made for teeth. Ingredients like baking soda, menthol, alcohol or peroxide can irritate the skin around the spot, and on deeper skin that irritation can leave a dark mark that lasts longer than the pimple did. There’s no good evidence that it treats acne.

Do this instead: salicylic acid, which dissolves in oil, so it can get inside the pore and loosen what’s clogging it. Or a clear pimple patch, which soaks up fluid and stops you from picking.

Myth 4: “Natural is good, chemicals are bad.”

You’ve seen “chemical-free” on labels. Here’s the thing: water is a chemical. So are honey, shea butter and every vitamin in your food. Everything is made of chemicals, so a “chemical-free” product can’t exist.

Chemical-free? Not possible. Water is H2O. Water is a chemical. So are honey, shea butter and every vitamin in your food.

The science: what matters is which ingredient it is, how much is in it, and how it’s formulated, not whether it came from a plant or a lab. Natural ingredients can irritate (remember the limes in Myth 2), and concentrated essential oils are a common cause of skin allergies. Lab-made ingredients like niacinamide have years of research behind them. We love botanicals: honey, oats and shea butter are in our own handmade products. We just choose them for what they do, not for the word “natural”.

Do this instead: patch test anything new on your inner arm for a couple of days, natural or not.

Myth 5: “Dark skin doesn’t need sunscreen.”

Melanin gives some protection from burning, but not enough on its own.

The science: sunlight makes your pigment cells more active, so dark marks get darker and uneven patches spread, even when you never burn. Dermatologists recommend daily sunscreen for every skin tone. We wrote a whole post on sunscreen on deep skin tones, with picks that leave no white cast.

Myth 6: “A fade cream from the corner shop will even me out fast.”

Wanting even skin is valid, and nobody should be shamed for it. But be careful where it comes from.

The science: some lightening creams sold without a proper label have been found to contain mercury. Mercury lightens by blocking melanin, but it’s toxic. The World Health Organization warns it can damage the kidneys and cause rashes, discolouration and scarring. Others contain strong steroid creams, which with long use can thin the skin and cause stretch marks, visible blood vessels and breakouts.

Do this instead: if a product doesn’t list its ingredients, don’t put it on your face. Even tone safely with sunscreen, niacinamide and azelaic acid, and give it time.

Myth 7: “The more expensive it is, the better it works.”

Price pays for the ingredients, but also for the packaging, the advertising and the celebrity.

The science: results come from the right ingredient at the right strength, used consistently. For example, a study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that a 5% niacinamide moisturiser reduced dark patches within four weeks. Niacinamide is in plenty of affordable products, not just luxury ones.

How to tune out the noise

Next time you see a product or a “hack”, check it against this list. One of these is a reason to pause:

It promises results overnight.
It says “chemical-free” (remember: water is a chemical too).
It has no ingredient list.
It claims to work for every skin type and every problem.
It says the burning means it’s working.

Not sure about something you’ve been using or thinking of buying? Bring it to a free consultation. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth it, even if the answer is “you don’t need anything from us”.

Shop the post: Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% · Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% · Salicylic Acid 2% + HA · Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum · Book a free consultation