The Crazy Beauty Myth That's Actually True

By Elizabeth Siegel

Photo: Getty Images

There’s no shortage of kooky beauty myths online, but ones that are actually substantiated? Those are far and few between. So when I heard that one ofAllure’s editors swears by one of the craziest rumors out there—because it makes her skin look as baby-smooth as this glowing-skin-role-model model’s does (above)— I had to know more.

She is one of the thousands of women who swear Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel is the most amazing skin primer they’ve ever tried. If you Google “Monistat” and “primer,” you’ll find more than 100,000 results singing its praises. The cult of Monistat is so strong, there are also more than 3,000 videos on YouTube about how well it mattifies, how it makes foundation last all day, and how it hides every single wrinkle.

First things first: While it’s definitely a little out-there, putting this stuff on your face is not quite as out-there as it sounds. The gel is a skin product for, um, sensitive areas, but it’s not the company’s most famous medicated treatment.

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And here’s why all those fans of it are onto something: The gel (which costs less than $10) is loaded with dimethicone, a form of the silicones found in most primers, says cosmetic chemist Joseph Cincotta. It won’t irritate or react oddly with skin because it’s designed to be soothing, obviously. “It’s a heavy silicone, so it’s good at hiding wrinkles and pores, but if you have oily skin, it could cause breakouts,” he says. As for my colleague who swears by the stuff? I’ve gotta say, she’s never had a problem, and her skin looks pretty awesome.

With reporting by Kate Sullivan.

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