Dermatologist warns that mixing 2 skincare products is riskier in the summer – being consistent about a 3rd step is key
SOMETIMES less is more and one dermatologist is calling out the overuse of skincare products.
She said mixing two beauty buys in particular could risk damage in the summer months.
Dr. Marisa Garshick dished the details on which skincare staples to steer clear of when temperatures are high.
She warned that the popular product, even when used at night, could cause serious damage to the skin barrier.
Dr. Garshick also added that certain products aren’t being used correctly for optimal results.
She recommended another ingredient to repair any existing damage.
SKIN, SAND, AND SUN
Dr. Garshick warned of avoidable skincare woes, including mistakes when choosing products.
“I usually say with retinol to just be mindful, especially in the summer, about using exfoliating acids,” she told The U.S. Sun. “Especially at the same time.
“Exfoliating acid and retinol can make you a little more sensitive to the sun. They also can be a little bit more irritating if used together.”
Dr. Garshick also added that using retinol at night is risky without the proper skin prep.
“Wearing sunscreen regularly is always going to be the most important thing,” she said. “Retinol makes you more sensitive to the sun.
“Even if people are using retinol at night, apply sunscreen during the day.”
SAVING GRACE
Dr. Garshick added that another popular product could turn back the clock on skin damage.
“Incorporating vitamin C into a morning skincare routine can be certainly helpful,” she said. “And as a way to help protect the skin, it works well together with sunscreen.”
She added that vitamin C protects the skin from free radical damage.
“Oftentimes we know that even if you’re really good about protecting yourself from the sun, some free radical damage can still happen, meaning you can still get some damage and injury,” she said.
“And so you can think of vitamin C as being there to help repair any damage in real time. So it’s kind of acting like a bystander to your sunscreen to highlight say your morning is about protection.
“Your evening is about repair. So protect and prevent in the morning restore and repair in the evening.”
She said that while many are good about wearing sunscreen, lots of people forget to reapply.
She added yet another recommendation for sun protection, aside from SPF.
“People forget the power of the hat and seeking shade when possible,” she said.
Dr. Garshick has previously commented on skincare do’s and don’ts.
She dissected a TikTok viral routine consisting of cleansing the face with Dial antibacterial soap, Neutrogena retinol, and finishing with Gold Bond body lotion as a face moisturizer.
For skincare, she is a fan of the retinol, but the rest can go due to the harshness of hand soap and body lotion on the face.
She told The U.S. Sun that while she appreciated the simplicity of the routine, she recommends an AM regimen of cleanser, vitamin C, sunscreen, and moisturizer.