Celebrity Beauty & Health Advice Is Often Wrong, Say Scientists

Supermodels and celebs always seem to have some secret method for looking so good.

Elle Macpherson swears by copious amounts of water and "organic, locally sourced food," while Miranda Kerr had eyebrows raised when she expressed her devotion to coconut oil (four tablespoons a day!) For Gwyneth, it's those kickass Tracey Anderson workouts and those famous detoxing cleanses. And the Duchess of Cornwall supposedly swears by a face mask made of bee venom.

But scientists have decided to rain on our Celebrity Beauty Secrets parade. Sense About Science is a non-profit that aim to make sense of scientific and medical claims for the average citizen. In a recent paper, spotlighted by Racked, Sense About Science asked several scientists and doctors to take a closer look at celebrities' nonchalant claims.

The conclusion? Lots of celebs have no idea what they're talking about.

For example, Juliette Lewis' claim that "coconut water is pretty much the most hydrating thing you can drink, and much better than man-made sports drinks"? Not true, says sports dietitian Ann Ashworth: "Coconut water has about half the amount of carbohydrate but also a different balance of salts than a typical sports drink, and so could be less hydrating."

As for Pippa Middleton's claim that rinsing her hair in cold water "closes the pores and gives it a lift and shine," beauty and grooming senior scientist Dr. Frauke Neuser said, "Rinsing with water -- whether hot or cold -- doesn’t close or smoothen the cuticles" of one's hair -- moreover, hair doesn't have pores.

And in response to Gisele Bundchen's self-serving explanation of sunscreen ("I cannot put this poison on my skin… I do not use anything synthetic"), pharmaceutical scientist Gary Moss stated, "You might be surprised that you use a wide variety of synthetic materials in many aspects of your life: 'synthetic' does not automatically mean bad, just as 'natural' does not automatically mean safe or beneficial."

Moral of the story? Don't get your health and beauty advice from people whose expertise is acting, singing, socializing, posing for cameras and/or wearing couture. Get it from people whose expertise is, you know, health and beauty.

Read more of Sense About Science's study here -- and see just a few of celebrities' beauty tips and secrets below.

Comments

[cleojones]

05:50 PM on 01/27/2012

The duchess should let the bees sting her and see if that tightens the skin..

[Fudgefase]

06:26 AM on 01/23/2012

The only real beauty tips celebs should be giving is 'spend buckets on personal trainers, dieticians and always have a personal hair stylist and make-up artist available!'

[jandos]

11:01 PM on 01/22/2012

This is no different than hearing a beauty tip from a friend or believing the advertisements that are churned out by the beauty industry product after product.

A lot of these celebrities were blessed with good genes, of course, but I would wager that a lot of their good looks is also having access to great food prepared for them, trainers to boost their desire to exercise, great facials and makeup artists. I look darn good after a nice facial - imagine having one a week along with someone to fix your hair, makeup, buy you your Spanx, etc. It's all an illusion, folks!

[Aoede]

09:29 PM on 01/22/2012

Celebs are pretty to look at, but I would never ever take advice from those people. I only listen to my doctor.

[Toni Skidmore]

06:28 PM on 01/22/2012

I love Pippa Middleton's statement that rinsing her hair in cold water "closes the pores." Too funny. :D
That's your SKIN that that works for, honey. Hair doesn't have pores - and I didn't need the article above to tell me that. :-p

[etcetc]

06:26 PM on 01/22/2012

the link provided has some "experts" replying, but they are old-school experts, repeating what was taught to them in school, by old-train of thought people.
-cocnut oil is good for you. it should REPLACE other fats in your diet, not be added to it in addition to other fats.
-sunscreen certainly is toxic. there are organic and natural versions of sunscreen that are ok. there are substances that are banned in europe for being know cancer causing chemicals that are prevalent in US sunscreens. that goes for our cosmetics too.
-acupuncture does boost the immune system, if you get it applied to points that help the immune system.
-organic food would always trump conventional food. duh.
-all illness is caused by emotional imbalance. all of it. i realize this will not be accepted by many of your, but that is why stress causes illness, because stress is a negative emotion. the sooner we realize this as a people, the sooner we can get well.

[barondarby]

07:37 PM on 01/27/2012

hold it a minute. when I came down with the H1N1 flu, i'm sure the virus had a lot more to do with my illness than my emotions did.

[Sofia Champion]

05:10 PM on 01/22/2012

I keep my skin healthy by not smearing a bunch of useless creams that don't do anything all over it. It works wonders.

[Fudgefase]

06:28 AM on 01/23/2012

Bit of ordinary moisturizer every day works wonders. And don't smoke. That really IS bad for the skin (pay attention to THAT advice, all you celebs who smoke to 'stay thin').

[rose redoble]

12:29 PM on 01/22/2012

i love the Aragan Oil called 'raindrops' by sidlab hairproducts. the celebs have been using this and raving.....very expensive and hard to get beut really heals and makes hair silver screen shiny.

[christina444]

07:01 AM on 01/22/2012

For perfect lips, speak words of kindness.
For captivating eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slender figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

[Fudgefase]

06:41 AM on 01/23/2012

That's beautiful.

[GBPackerfan]

06:57 PM on 01/21/2012

1. Eat a balance diet, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and minimize saturated fats.
2. Exercise most days, alternating between aerobic (walking, hiking, running, etc.) and anaerobic (weight training) workouts.
3. Get a good night's sleep.
4. Keep physically clean, but don't use soap on your face. Instead, use a good OTC face cleanser and moisturizer.
That's pretty much what you need to be healthy and look like it.
As for the actresses, it also helps to be a member of the lucky sperm club if you expect to look like them.

[delacourte]

10:16 AM on 01/22/2012

Adding to your list:
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Don't smoke.
7.Don't use drugs or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
8.Use a good sunscreen.

[Ellyllon]

01:42 PM on 01/05/2012

Well.... it's probably that we can *see* these people, & the scientists don't look like models. That said, I think I'd just like a photoshopper following me around, airbrushing me as I get groceries...

I don't see the problem with Elle MacPherson's 'eat locally, drink water' advice. It's not weird, anyway. But I get the feeling with most of them, their real method of staying thin is, 'smoke constantly.'

[Fudgefase]

06:34 AM on 01/23/2012

Haha - like the idea of having an airbrusher following you around everywhere!

[gypsynomad]

05:06 PM on 01/03/2012

They are celebrities, not scientists and so many times they could be wrong. The truth is, most of these women are stunning to begin with so people falls for their beauty regime.

[Nadiyah24]

07:34 PM on 01/15/2012

hold it.. Have you seen these women without make up. These celebrities were never stun to begin with. All of of them are wearing layers of make-up, oil to make their skin shiny and smooth. Hair are professionally done, half if not all have been under knife. There are plenty of regular women in the world who are walking around with no make up or surgically enhanced and they look great.

[gypsynomad]

07:48 AM on 01/16/2012

No I don’t hang around them have not seen them in my area. If they take care of their skin and looks, good for them. Can’t criticize, I do take care of my skin and hair and wear makeup too. Only thing, not have any plans to go under the knives.
But I see every day stunning people too; some of them know the art of using proper makeup so they look radiant au naturale, not so.

[jandos]

11:02 PM on 01/22/2012

Absolutely!

[nogimmicks]

11:55 AM on 01/03/2012

1) exercise
2) makeup (or airbrushing)

[FlowerGypsy]

11:10 AM on 01/03/2012

People actually listen to celebrities? That's stupid

[Dede Eagleburger]

11:16 AM on 01/03/2012

sometimes they know what they're talking about....like the coconut oil thing...!

[GeeBee]

04:30 PM on 01/03/2012

The coconut oil thing is dangerous. That stuff is a dietary nightmare. There's a reason many processed foods have "No tropical oils" on the label. Once upon a time, not so long ago, they were full of such ingredients but were changed once people found out.

[CeeCee]

02:24 PM on 01/22/2012

Coconut oil will clog your arteries...

[Jenny Graham1234]

05:10 AM on 01/03/2012

Celebrity beauty & health is just a show off.In realty they are not so healthy & beautiful.They just pretend that they are healthy & beautiful.

http://www.fightobesity.net/articles/obesity-in-children