For most of us, our beauty knowledge is a constantly evolving product of what we learn from the media, what our mothers and grandmothers told us, friends’ advice, and of course, brand advertising. Confused much? We thought so! We’ve sifted the facts from the fiction to set the record straight on common beauty misconceptions, so you’ll never commit a beauty blunder again.

Myth: If you pluck one grey hair, three come in its place

FICTION: This is an old wives’ tale that was invented to scare people from plucking. When you pluck a hair, it comes out at the follicle, and only one hair can actually grow back within that same follicle. Joseph Ong, senior stylist at Toni & Guy, Dubai, says, “Hair not only greys with age, it thins too, so it’s not advisable to add to the thinning process by plucking hair out.” Your best plan of attack to combat grey hair is to book an appointment with a good colourist.

Myth: Toothpaste clears up blemishes

FACT: Hands up if, as a teenager, you smothered your spots with minty fresh paste in the hope of them disappearing by the morning? And hands up if you still combat a sudden spot attack using the same technique? Guilty. But it’s a good way to go. The fact is, toothpaste contains bleaching and antibacterial ingredients to clean, polish and disinfect teeth. This means that if you haven’t got a quick-fix blemish-cleansing gel at hand to clear your pimple in a late night emergency, the antibacterial action toothpaste has on teeth will also work on your skin. “It disinfects the pimple and dries it. This treatment is harmless but also effective,” says Rima Soni, beauty consultant and Olay ambassador.

Myth: With oily skin, washing your face more than twice a day is the best way to stay shine-free

FACT: Frequent face-washes keep your skin clean and dry, which explains why your face seems less shiny after a good scrub or rinse. But the best way to keep skin oil-free is by rinsing it with cold water, as this helps to cleanse the pores, which in turn reduces the amount of oil on the surface of your skin. Cold water also helps to firm, minimise and tone pores. Rima suggests avoiding hot water as this aggravates the skin and oils, making your face even oilier.

Myth: Wearing nail polish all the time can turn your nails yellow

FACT: Even though nails are the new beauty statement for the summer, you might want to consider giving them a little downtime between manicures. All nail polishes will gradually turn your nails slightly yellow when left on for long periods of time. What’s worse, the darker the colour, the more pigment there is, which means it is even more likely your nails will stain. And, it’s not only your nails’ colour that will suffer from being over-polished. Like skin, nails need to be able to breathe in order to grow in strength and length. If they’re constantly covered in thick coats of hot fuchsia, you’ll soon find yourself sporting a not-so-attractive set of off-yellow, brittle nails.

Myth: Expensive cosmetics are better than supermarket brands

FICTION: High-end beauty brands love to entice us with their expensive and glamorous ad campaigns featuring gorgeous models with flawless skin and perfect make-up. But you don’t have to break the bank to treat your skin or recreate the latest looks on the catwalk. “Just because some cosmetics are expensive doesn’t mean they are better products. A lot of the time it’s the packaging that costs,” says make-up artist Sarah-Jane Thompson. A little research on what’s available can go a long way to filling your beauty cupboard with effective budget buys. Just a quick google will reward you with great insider tips from make-up artists, beauty editors and bloggers.

Myth: It’s not OK to use your friend’s make-up

FACT: As much as you’d like to try out your friend’s latest make-up treat, don’t! Sharing is never a good idea as there is always a chance of spreading germs. Bacteria develops very quickly through make-up products. Mascaras, lipsticks and foundations have a shelf life for a reason, and even with your own products, you should always adopt hygienic practices. “If you really can’t keep your hands out of your friend’s make-up kit, then use individual spatulas to take the product out and then use your own brushes to apply it,” suggests Sarah-Jane.

Myth: The best way to spray perfume is to spritz it in front of you and then walk into the mist

FICTION: Even though there is no specific rule about how perfume should be worn, this is actually not the best way to apply your fragrance. Walking into the mist will only make your clothes smell rather than you. It will also inevitably lead to oily stains on your clothes, which often prove difficult to remove. Perfume is actually formulated to sit on your skin, so the best place to apply it is to your pulse points to make it last all day. You could also pop a spritz just behind your knee and on the back of your ankle – you’ll then get to enjoy your own fragrance as the scent wafts upwards when you walk.

Myth: You can get rid of cellulite

FICTION: The dreaded orange peel is every woman’s worst nightmare. And we’re prepared to put ourselves through anything to get rid of unsightly cellulite at the beach. But no matter how many high-tech treatments, scrubs, peels and creams you try out, nothing, and we mean nothing, will fully get rid of the fatty tissue that builds up in your cells. Unfortunately it’s all in your genes, and if your mother suffered from cellulite, the chances are you will too. Sticking to a healthy diet and enjoying regular exercise is your best bet to reducing its appearance.