As Halloween approaches, a slew of superstitions abound especially when Friday the 13th falls in October! Some people believe that avoiding black cats, crossroads, ladders, and going out on Halloween will help them avoid bad luck and evil spirits, warding off unforeseen dangers.

These beliefs often include the unexplainable fear of jinxed events happening on Friday the 13th, named paraskevidekatriaphobia, a type of triskaidekaphobia that refers to a phobia of the number 13. Friday the 13th movies capitalize on this dreaded day, with Freaky Friday adding a social comparison spin fraught with the dangers of envy.

With Friday the 13th falling in October this year, the mystery surrounding this perceived unlucky day takes center stage. Arm yourself with the fact that this Western superstitious belief isn’t held everywhere, and resist letting this doomsday myth mess with your peace of mind or your skin.

History of Friday the 13th

The Friday the 13th significance stems from the Gregorian calendar, wherein it can occur up to three times in a single year! There are multiple mythological and biblical events that gave this day its unlucky reputation.

Norse mythology deems 13 to be an unlucky number due to a dinner party that took place in Valhalla attended by 12 gods. Legend has it that Loki, the trickster god, crashed the party and plotted to have one of the attendees killed, resulting in the earth going into darkness and mourning, an unlucky day indeed.

Several unfortunate events in the bible occurred on Fridays, and Judas, the 13th guest at the Last Supper, betrayed Jesus. This day was further associated with religious turmoil when, on Friday, October 13th, 1307, the Knights Templar were accused of committing heinous crimes against the church.

It is also theorized that the number 12 was considered a perfect “completing” number, with 12 pairs of ribs in our body, 12 inches in a foot, and 12 months per year. 13 is perceived as an unlucky number since it follows 12 and is not as “perfect.” This ill-fated number is also believed to be purposely left out of the Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest discovered written legal codes dating back to the 1700s B.C.

However, despite these findings, this day was not generally considered unlucky before the 19th century when a character in a French play is noted to have said, "I was born on a Friday, December 13th, 1813, from which come all of my misfortunes." In addition, Gioachino Rossini, a famous Italian composer, died on Friday the 13th.

Friday the 13th Movies

Fast forward to modern times when Friday the 13th movies became popular. In addition to Jason terrorizing us year after year in the Friday the 13th franchise, Freaky Friday movies and themes have recurred repeatedly.

In the Freaky Friday franchise, on Friday the 13th, the infamous mother and daughter duo said, "I wish I could switch places with her for just one day."  Instead of yearning to swap bodies and lives with someone else, it is essential not to let envy get the upper hand!

Why Do We Envy?

Wishing you could swap lives with someone else? This envy is a sign you feel inadequate. We may perceive that someone is getting the rewards of life because of what they have or how they appear. We imagine that their dewy, luminous skin is like a searchlight that draws success and fortune to them.

What is the purpose of envy?: While switching bodies is not scientifically possible, there is science behind envy. Our wants result from a core survival strategy arising from our observations of others. We get a dopamine hit when we watch someone else get a reward. This is attributed to mirror neurons that rewire us to anticipate good feelings from the things others have. This goes beyond the material and can include attention or respect.

Why envy is dangerous?: While others may appear to have a “better” life than yours, having a certain appearance, possessions, or other advantages you covet for days, these movies spell out how this social comparison is a wrong choice. Feeling ill will toward another or overvaluing and wanting access to what others have instead of being content with what we have is a recipe for stress-filled disaster.

Judging yourself for how you “stack up” in comparison to those you perceive as having “more” is unfair to you and them. It is important to remember that what you see isn’t always the real story behind someone’s exterior, and the only yardstick you should compare yourself with is your own!

Why envy is a complex emotion: Sure, it comes with feeling inferior, but sometimes envy can force you to recognize your personal dissatisfaction. This can at times fuel you to “make good choices” that foster transformative changes to become a better version of yourself. Simply knowing that your brain wants to engage in this unhealthy behavior can help you manage your brain better.

Put Envy to Work

Use it as a prompt to step back and ask yourself if you would really want to switch places and think about what you would lose. When you recognize that this would mean your memories would no longer be yours, your life, and the familiar face you’ve grown accustomed to, etc., it might make you see your life for the good things it has and appreciate it more fully.

Celebrate this day instead with a proactive approach - don’t leave your wellness and skin aging to chance! Whether you believe in superstitions or not, there are a few things you can do that will be good for you and your skin.

Eat an apple: The Celts who believed that eating a large apple under an apple tree at the dawn of a new day while wearing a bedsheet forestalled colds indefinitely may have unwittingly reaped the benefits of apples. After you finish the apple harvest and bobbing for apples, you can get a bushel of their goodness from these illuminating, clarifying, and smoothing apple infused natural skin care products:

Pevonia Bright Skin Green Apple Mask

Pevonia Lumafirm^® Eye Contour - Lift & Glow

Pevonia Myoxy-Caviar^® Timeless Balm Cleanser

Stem Cells Phyto-Elite^® Multi-Active Foaming Cleanser

Pevonia Stem Cells Phyto-Elite^® Intensive Body Corrector

Stay in: While the people of the Western Isles who thought it was bad luck to go out on Halloween might be missing out on fun, by doing so, they avoid the candy and sugar-laden temptations that dominate this time of year. If you take their cue and decide to stay in, invite your best friends and make it a spa night. Grab one of our clean skincare kits with everything you need to give yourself a DIY facial. Unsure which one will work for everyone? The deeply moisturizing Spa Box - Hyaluronic Acid HydraBoost Spa-At-Home Experience will be a crowd-pleaser this time of year as it will ensure you and your besties' complexions don't dry out like the season’s falling leaves.

Refute Common Skincare Myths: While you are becoming a myth-buster, demystifying fact from fiction on your wellness journey, here are some equally dubious skincare myths:

●     Myth #1: A basic drugstore cleanser and moisturizer is all you need to take care of your skin and avoid visible signs of aging and other skin care issues.

Unfortunately, many drugstore or mass-market products use controversial Sulfates, Parabens, Mineral Oil, Alcohol, Fillers, and other synthetic ingredients, leaving little room for quality active ingredients. In addition, while ingredient names may be similar, the source and formulation most likely are not. While sustainable sourcing, advanced technologies, and delivery systems may cause products free of harmful ingredients and practices to cost slightly more, they make a big difference in a product’s effectiveness and safety.

While a good Sulfate free natural skin cleanser and clean skincare moisturizer are essential for keeping your skin free of dirt, oil, and make-up and supporting your skin barrier, an ocean safe sunscreen is an absolute must. Next, an Alcohol free toner completes the cleansing process and addresses skin concerns, and a highly concentrated and active natural skin care serum formulated to penetrate deeply are how to change the skin effectively. 

●     Myth # 2: Younger people don’t have to worry about lines or wrinkles, and only lasers, injectables, or plastic surgery will fix my aging skin.

Young people can and should start using age-prevention products like moisturizing eye cream and moisturizer with sunscreen for face and body care around age 20-25 to keep their skin plump and youthful-looking.

While lasers, injectables, and plastic surgery correct many signs of aging and sun damage, they can’t replace quality, clean skincare products that keep skin clear, dewy, and protected from further damage. Many products fall short of their claims, only temporarily smoothing and lifting the skin at best. However, advanced pro-aging formulas that address the root causes of aging by supporting lost proteins and stimulating cell turnover lastingly smooth the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin texture and tone.

●     Myth # 3: Getting a base tan and using a tanning bed are safe ways to protect the skin from sun damage and get a tan. And you can skip SPF if it is cool or cloudy out and your skin has a darker hue.

Studies prove that “base” tans do not provide extra UV protection, and tanning beds still emit UV rays, causing damage and skin cancers. UV rays penetrate through clouds and windows and are even emitted from light bulbs, and the air temperature has no bearing on how much UV exposure you receive. And while you think make-up with SPF has you covered, think again! You’d need a mask-like layer of make-up to provide adequate UV protection. Nobody wants that! 

Darker-skinned ethnicities do have natural protective pigment. However, burns can and do occur, which can cause sun damage, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), and skin cancers on even the darkest complexions.

Want to maximize results for your healthiest skin ever? Boost skin health with an in-depth consultation for your ideal products and professional treatments. To build on the results of the at-home products highlighted, we recommend the Lumafirm^® Lift & Glow Eye Contour Treatment, Myoxy-Caviar^® Mask Treatment, Stem Cells Phyto-Elite^® Facial Treatment and Intensive Body Contouring Wrap, or Customizable In Spa Treatments featuring our Radiance Collection. Visit Find A Spa for an oasis near you offering Pevonia!