Hi There! My name is Dr. Ryan Shelton and now that it’s Friday, it’s time for my weekly mailbag! Every week I answer two questions from customers who need to know more about their skin. Today, my first question comes from Darla in Austin, TX.
Q: Hello Dr. Ryan. I wash my face twice a day, but recently I’ve noticed that my skin feels strange after I rinse off my cleanser. It almost feels like it’s tight, especially when I smile. What does this mean?
A: Hi Darla, Thanks for writing to me about this! The short answer is that the cleanser you’re using may not be right for you. Let me tell you why…
Cleansers were created for one main purpose - to rinse off harmful dirt and bacteria from the skin and keep it clean.
Without a cleanser, your skin is at risk for a lot of nasty germs speeding up the aging process and clogging your pores. Doesn’t sound so fun, does it?
While cleansers are meant to protect your skin and keep it safe and healthy, some of them can do their job a little too well.
Our skin is filled with natural oils that keep it hydrated throughout the day, and if your cleanser is too strong, it could end up getting rid of those precious oils.
That means that your skin could end up feeling drier throughout the day, which will only make signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines show up even more than they did the day before.
Not to mention, dry skin can be uncomfortable and frustrating to deal with. My professional opinion is that you need to make sure you’re using a cleanser that is right for you.
Finding the right cleanser is all about a balance - it should be great at getting rid of the bad guys (dirt and bacteria) but leave the good guys (natural oils) where they are.
One way to find a cleanser that’s right for you is to look at the skin type it was created for.
For example, my Lavender Oil Cleanser was created to be perfect for all skin types, and since it has moisturizing ingredients like Lavender oil, It won’t strip your skin or leave it dry or tight.
And with antibacterial ingredients like tea tree oil, it targets any bacteria and germs on the surface of your skin - so it’s a perfectly balanced cleanser!
So my professional advice to you is to look out for a product that is safe for all skin types, just like my Lavender Oil Cleanser.
I hope this helps - bye for now, Darla!
My next question comes from Denise in Santa Fe, NM.
Q: Hi Dr. Ryan. I recently bought a mask that has Glycolic acid in it because I heard it helps get rid of wrinkles and makes your skin smooth, but I’ve only noticed that my skin is getting drier. Is there anything I can do to help the dryness?
A: Hi Denise! I am a huge fan of Glycolic acid because of all the amazing results it’s been proven to create, but a big downside of it is that it can make your skin a little too dry. Let me tell you how you can make that dryness go away.
Glycolic acid is a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (most people call them AHA’s) that is great at exfoliating your skin on a deeper level.
Since they penetrate deep into the skin, they’re also wonderful at helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as texture on your skin’s surface.
But just like any type of exfoliating product, it can cause a lot of dryness for some people.
What’s more, is that AHA’s can be harsh on your skin, so if you’ve added it to your routine you’ll want to make sure you start nice and slow with it.
Since it’s a powerful exfoliator, you’ll also need to make sure that any moisturizer you have in your routine is incredibly hydrating.
Having a thick, hydrating moisturizer in your routine could be the key to the dryness you’re experiencing and may help you see better results from your Glycolic acid mask.
My professional advice to you is to make sure you’re using something with nourishing butters like Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter, which are both ingredients in my Repair and Release Cream - it’s what makes it so rich and creamy!
By adding a product like this into your daily skincare ritual, you can keep your skin protected and give it the moisture it needs, and you’ll also be able to keep using your new mask and see all the amazing results from it!
As a general rule, it’s always a good idea to keep your skin hydrated to make sure your wrinkles and fine lines don’t stand out.
I do not doubt that once you try this, you’ll be so pleased with the results!
