Aegean MD
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29/09/2021
22/09/2021
SWEATING SUCKS 😰
Embarrassed by pit stains, don't like wearing gray shirts, or avoid shaking hands?
Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is more common than you may think. 5% of the population is dealing with it but it’s not talked about nearly enough.
🗣 WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ME?
It depends. Excessive sweating can be due to an underlying medical condition or medication. Otherwise, you have what’s classified as primary hyperhidrosis.
Primary hyperhidrosis typically has these characteristics:
👉 Starts in childhood or adolescence
👉 Bilateral or symmetric
👉 Extremely disruptive episodes consistently over several months
👉 Family history
👌 GOOD NEWS! YOU HAVE TREATMENT OPTIONS!
You don’t have to just deal with excessive sweating, there are many ways to help control it.
The available treatments depend on where you sweat.
💪 IF YOU JUST SWEAT IN YOUR ARMPITS…
Antiperspirants are the first-line treatment. The aluminum chloride creates little plugs in your sweat glands to reduce how much you sweat.
👩🏻⚕️ Try over-the-counter clinical strength first.
*Pro-tip: make sure you apply it AT NIGHT and onto dry skin.
Qbrexza is a topical glycopyrronium tosylate solution that can reduce sweat volume by up to 50%.
Botox injections are also incredibly effective and sometimes covered by insurance. It lasts for at least 6 months.
MiraDry is another effective non-invasive treatment, in which microwave energy is used to destroy your sweat glands.
🤲 IF YOU JUST SWEAT ON YOUR PALMS/FEET…
Antiperspirants can also be used on sweaty hands and feet! Again, start with OTC ones like .
Botox injections and a procedure called iontopheresis are other treatment options.
IF YOU SWEAT ALL OVER...💦
💊 Oral medications are the most effective treatment for diffuse sweating, but controlling the most bothersome areas is another approach.
SEE A DERM 👩🏻⚕️
A is the best person to help you on your sweat journey. They can help navigate your treatment options and get you the best results.
Sweathelp.org is a fantastic resource to check out.
Got more sweat questions? ⬇️
17/08/2021
I did a thing on for the great bathing debate! 🛀
Thanks to the delightful for tackling this controversial topic for .
WHO IS RIGHT? or ?! Bathing when you can smell "the stink" or several times a day? 🤔
Check out my stories to watch the clip and see what two dermatologists think! 🤳
Shout out to my colleague !
12/08/2021
28/07/2021
✋ MYTH: COCONUT OIL IS AN EFFECTIVE SUNSCREEN.
I know most of you know better, but with all the sunscreen fear-mongering & misinformation floating around these days, I feel compelled to put this out there... just in case.
NO! COCONUT OIL & OTHER PLANT OILS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE UV PROTECTION 🤦🏻♀️
I wasn't able to find the exact source of this absurd myth, but it may have originated with an in vitro study that found that coconut oil can block 20% of UV rays from reaching the skin.
🔍 These findings have since been debunked in a 2015 study that found no UV blocking potential (https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12296).
✋ OILS ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN.
Even if these findings were reproducible & coconut oil could, in fact, block 20% of UV, it is not an alternative to sunscreen, which is clinically tested to block 97% of UV at SPF 30.
🧴 The absolute minimum SPF recommended is 30, although using an SPF 50 or even 100 can help buffer the most common user error of not putting on enough.
Coconut and other plant oils have not been shown to have any UVA protection, which is denoted by a "broad spectrum" designation.
*Big Picture Reminder: UV is a known carcinogen & causes skin cancer. Using sunscreen can prevent you from getting skin cancer, which is a bummer (trust me).
✋ ANTIOXIDANTS ARE NOT THE SAME AS SUNSCREEN.
The antioxidant properties for these botanical oils are often cited as a reason why you can use them in lieu of sunscreen, but it's not the same.
Vitamin C doesn't replace sunscreen.
🗣 WHAT IS A SUNSCREEN ALTERNATIVE?
Sunscreen is just one tool in our sun protection toolbox, it's not the end all be all.
There are other non-sunscreen methods to protect yourself from UV exposure:
👉 Stay out of the sun with the UV index is over 3 (usually before 10 AM and after 4 PM)
👉 Wear UPF rated clothing (long-sleeved shirts, pants)
👉 Wear UPF rated wide-brimmed hats
👉 Stay in the shade ⛱
The best way to protect yourself is to use these methods along with sunscreen, but doing these can help you limit your exposure to sunscreen, if you do have concerns about safety (see Stories for a post).
Have you heard this myth? ⬇️
23/07/2021
MIND YOUR OWN SKIN ✋
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I know someone out there does.
This is just a reminder that:
👉 There is no ‘right way’ to do skin care
👉 Everyone’s skin is different, with different wants and needs
👉 Skincare is (very) personal
I’m going to be honest, I’m exhausted from a very drawn out bout of sinusitis (thanks to my darling baby girl) and don’t have an extensive, well-researched post in me right now, so this is it! Enjoy my stream of consciousness, while high on Sudafed…🤒
Think about what YOUR skin needs, what will make YOU happy, and focus on that.
If you love your wrinkles, great! If you love your acne, awesome! If you love your freckles, amazing! 👏
Ignore all the other noise, the shoulds and the FOMO.
This is for anyone that’s ever felt bad about their skin when looking at a flawless (filtered) skinfluencer. This also for all the skin busy bodies giving unsolicited advice (you know who you are).
End rant. Love you guys ❤️
20/07/2021
STOP WORRYING ABOUT HYDRATION ✋
The brilliant .lalor takes down the subject of the with actual science from , & yours truly.
Here are some key takeaways from the piece, but scroll above for some excerpts & my stories for the link to the article 🔗
PUT DOWN THE GIANT WATER BOTTLE 🤦🏻♀️
You don't need 2.5 L of water for your body to function (or else what? It shuts down??). Your body, including all of its organs, are self-regulating by design.
WHERE DID THE 2.5 L NUMBER COME FROM? 🧐
I didn't know this, but, of course, it came from a misinterpretation of a U.S. guideline in the 1940's.
The document states that a "suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 liters daily", which is what started this decades-long misconception.
However, another statement that went along with that but got lost was that "most of this quantity is in prepared foods."
✋ STOP COUNTING LITERS & LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
The water in your food & drinks (coffee, tea, , .arizonaicedtea, etc) count, so you don't need to chug liters of pure water to adequately hydrate.
If you are thirsty, drink! 💧
If your p*e is a nice pale yellow, you're taking in enough water 👏
It's that simple!
DRINKING MORE WATER WON'T MAKE YOUR BODY FUNCTION BETTER ✋
Again, your body is EXTREMELY good at self-regulating & takes the water it needs to function. Any more than that just gets p*ed out.
If you're adequately hydrated, your skin won't get a super glow, you won't detox, or magically lose a few pounds. Biology doesn't work like that 🤦🏻♀️
IT'S A SCAM 🤑
Being able to drink clean water is a privilege & instead of drowning our own bodies with an excess of water, we should make sure everyone can access enough clean water.
Like almost everything in the wellness movement, it puts the onus on you to make sure your body is functioning correctly.
Luckily for you & me, our organs are way more reliable than we are. If they're healthy, they won't forget to work! 💪
BOTTOM LINE: DRINK AS MUCH AS YOU FEEL LIKE.
Have you felt pressure to drink more water? ⬇️
15/07/2021
MYTH: YOUR SKIN CAN BECOME IMMUNE/ADAPT/USED TO ACTIVE INGREDIENTS & IT STOPS WORKING.
Nope nope nope ✋
This myth is another example of how people tend to anthropomorphize skin! Our skin doesn't have fickle thoughts or feelings, it's a self-regulating organ.
It's not like after 3 months of using a retinoid, your skin is like, "I'm sick of this same old active. Got anything new?" (which is what I said after drinking Fresca exclusively for a year).
👩🏻⚕️ IT'S TRUE, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME REACTION TO PRODUCTS OVER TIME
I think this pervasive myth comes from the observation that you may have less of a reaction to certain actives over time.
This is especially true with retinoids. When you first start using retinoids, most people experience redness and irritation.
Your skin develops a tolerance over time and those side effects diminish with use. This does not mean the retinoid doesn't continue to work!
YOU MAY NOTICE LESS IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME
The visible improvement you can gain from any particular active ingredient is finite.
When you first start using a very effective ingredient like a retinoid or glycolic acid, you'll likely notice a significant improvement from your baseline 📈
As you continue to use this ingredient, the improvements you see will be less dramatic over time.
Once you do not notice any improvement at all, one of two things has occurred ⬇️
1️⃣ You've achieved skin perfection and your skin cannot get any better (without a filter or Photoshop)
OR
2️⃣ You need to increase the concentration of the active ingredient you're using
WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN WILL KEEP BEING GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN 👩🏻⚕️
Eating fruits and veggies will never stop being beneficial and healthy for you, even if you don't notice a difference.
The same thing applies to your skincare. If you're using great ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants, AHAs & sunscreen, your skin is benefiting.
If you feel like you're stuck in a skin rut and still have specific issues that you'd like addressed, a can help with prescription actives or in-office procedures.
Have you felt like your skin got used to a product?
13/07/2021
HOW TO USE THE UV INDEX ⚡️
You may have heard about the UV index, but aren't sure how to incorporate it into your daily routine.
It's a great way to gauge how aggressive you need to be with sun protection on any given day.
Do you just wear sunscreen or do you need a hat & a long-sleeved UPF shirt on top of that? 🤔
🗣 WHAT IS THE UV INDEX?
The UV index was developed by the EPA & National Weather Service as a tool to help guide people on how to protect themselves from the sun on any given day.
It's a scale from 0 to 11. The higher the number, the more intense UV radiation is & the more likely you'll have harmful effects on your skin (burning & increased skin cancer risk).
It considers variables specific to your region: latitude, weather conditions (clouds, etc.), elevation, time of year & ozone levels.
It's typically reported as the maximum UV level during the day, which is during 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with risk based on someone with Fitzpatrick type II skin (fair skin that burns easily, but can tan somewhat).
🗣 HOW SHOULD I USE THE UV INDEX?
You should use the UV index to decide when you go do your outdoor activities & what sun protective measures to use when you do go outside 🧢
Generally, if the UV index is below 3, the risk of sustaining sun damage is minimal & you don't need to do much (unless you're an infant or burn easily).
If the Index is 6 or above, I'd recommend staying out of midday sun ⚠️
Check out the chart above (reproduced from the EPA) on recommendations at each UV level 👀
🗣 WHERE CAN I FIND THE UV INDEX?
Most weather apps include it in their daily forecast.
If you have the Apple Weather app, just scroll to the bottom of the forecast 🤳
Alexa or Siri can also give you the UV index. Ignorance is no excuse!
The UV index here in Santa Barbara is 11 today, which is why I'm indoors writing!
I think the UV index is definitely an underutilized tool, but it can make you smarter about your exposure to UV radiation.
Just like you check the weather before getting dressed in the morning (is it too drafty to wear a crop top?), you should be checking the UV index every morning!
Do you check the UV index? ⬇️
08/07/2021
DRUGSTORE SUNSCREENS 🧴
There are a gazillion sunscreens on the market. It can be so overwhelming that you can't commit & don't end up buying one.
REMEMBER THIS: THE BEST SUNSCREEN IS THE ONE YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE.
Although I think it's worth the splurge to spend a bit more on sunscreen if it means you'll use it, there are great formulations at the drugstore level.
Here are my favorite drugstore sunscreen picks for all your sunscreen needs this summer.
FOR YOUR FACE 😊
My go to face suncreen is the Hydro Boost Water Gel. It's light, non-sticky & water resistant. I use this for face, neck, arms & chest everyday.
DOES SUNSCREEN BURN YOUR EYES? 👀
Stick to a mineral suncreen. Face Sunscreen is a good one, as is Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen.
FOR YOUR BODY 🦵
Tbh, for everyday, I usually use my face sunscreen on my chest & arms (less sticky), but for beach days, definitely get a water resistant body sunscreen.
Melt-In Sunscreen Milk, SPF70 Original Sunscreen lotion & Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen are good ones, as is the Beach Defense stick (just remember to do multiple passes).
FOR SUPER SENSITIVE OR ALLERGY-PRONE SKIN 😩
My favorite brand for patients with lots of allergies is . They have a SPF 50 zinc oxide water resistant sunscreen, which is great if you tend to react to most other sunscreens.
FOR KIDS, TODDLERS, AND BABIES 👶
is a great mineral based sunscreen for little ones with a UV detector cap.
Sticks are great for squirmy and/or independently minded toddlers. Pure & Free Baby Stick is my go to.
*Note: I rely on shade & UPF protective clothing as my primary mode of sun protection for little ones & sunscreen as the last line of defense.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just ones I have tried or friends have tried & liked. (*No financial interest)
None of these sunscreens are on the Valisure list of benzene-containing sunscreen.
You don't need to spend $$ to invest in sun protection! 👩🏻⚕️
What's your favorite drugstore sunscreen? ⬇️
06/07/2021
REAPPLYING SUNSCREEN OVER MAKEUP 💄
One of life's greatest mysteries is how to actually reapply sunscreen over makeup.
👩🏻⚕️ In theory, you SHOULD reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours when you're out & about, but it's not so straightforward when you have bronzer, blush & highlighter top to make those cheeks pop.
Unfortunately, there isn't a great solution that doesn't involve reapplying blush, etc.
💬 WHAT ABOUT SPRAY OR POWDER SUNSCREENS ON TOP?
Using a fine sunscreen mist or a dusting of powder sunscreen may put your mind at ease, but won't give you much sun protection.
*Remember, you must have a density of 2mg/cm2 to get the effective SPF. A light mist or dusting won't give you that.
💬 SO HOW SHOULD I REAPPLY OVER MAKEUP?
There's no right way, but there are a few options.
👉 OPTION #1: MAKEUP WIPES
Fully cleaning the canvas is the most thorough, but most time-consuming way to go.
Wipe your face off, reapply the sunscreen & reapply whatever makeup on top.
👉 OPTION #2: PAT ON TOP WITH MAKE UP SPONGE
If you don't want to bother with taking off the makeup & sunscreen underneath, pat in your two-finger lengths of sunscreen on top & then reapply blush, etc.
Using a beauty blender sponge or cushion sponge can help blend it in & prevent pilling from the buildup of product.
⚡️ Pro Tip: Cheek tint is light and can reduce the layers of stuff on your skin.
⚡️ Another Pro Tip: Tinted sunscreen, like from , can give you sunscreen and coverage without feeling too heavy.
💬 WHEN DO I ACTUALLY NEED TO REAPPLY?
If you put on sunscreen in the morning, sit in your office all day & leave the office in the late afternoon to just go home without much UV exposure, you probably don't need to reapply.
UV degrades sunscreen, so I recommend reapplying after 2 hours in the sun or after sweating or swimming 💦
In those scenarios, minimal makeup is your best bet for making reapplication easy. You prob don't need to contour for a day at the beach.
has a fantastic deep dive post and video (link in stories) ⬆️
Any sunscreen reapplication hacks you use & love?
01/07/2021
🗣 CAN YOU LAYER SUNSCREEN?
I get this question all the time. Read on for WHY you'd want to do this & HOW to do it correctly ⬇️
🗣 WHY WOULD I WANT TO LAYER MY SUNSCREEN?
Most people don’t put on nearly enough sunscreen to achieve the SPF labeled on the bottle 🚨
REMINDER: You need a density of 2 mg/cm2, which is about a shot glass for your whole body, or 2 finger lengths per body area (head/neck, each arm, each leg, etc).
💡 If you layer multiple products, you have a better chance of getting to the appropriate density.
Imagine you're frosting a cake - with one pass of buttercream, you still have some bare cake p*eking through. If you do more passes, you get better coverage of the cake 🎂
IF YOU WEAR MAKE UP WITH SPF like foundation, tinted moisturizer, etc., putting on 2 finger lengths of product feels like spackle & you end up looking crazy.
🧴 Instead, layer a regular sunscreen (I usually do 1-1.5 finger lengths) with your makeup (0.5-1 finger length) on top.
🗣 WHAT ORDER SHOULD YOU APPLY THE PRODUCTS?
It’s really up to you. I like to put on the thinnest texture or the most absorbent product on first & put on any tinted product last.
For example, I put 1 finger length of my UV clear on first & then another finger length of my tinted moisturizer on top. It doesn’t feel goopy, I have enough SPF coverage AND I got some tint on.
👩🏻⚕️ SPF IS NOT ADDITIVE
🚨 If you're layering SPF 30 with SPF 15, you DO NOT get SPF 45.
Although there’s no way to tell exactly what SPF you're getting when you layer multiple products, the safest strategy is to assume that the effective SPF you get is only as good as the lowest SPF you are using.
Example: you apply 1 finger length of SPF 30 moisturizer & another finger length of SPF 50 BB cream. Your effective SPF is somewhere between 30 and 50, which is good!
If you're layering, make sure all your products are SPF 30 or above.
👩🏻⚕️ MAKE IT COUNT
If you're putting the effort in to use sunscreen, doing it properly will ensure you reap the benefits (bouncy skin, lowering skin cancer risk) of good sun protective habits ☀️
Do you layer your products with SPF? What are your favorite products to layer with? 👇
29/06/2021
ARE YOU NOTICING WRINKLES? 😰
I'm definitely looking a bit more haggard now post-pandemic (the longest year EVER) & I'm sure many of you feel that way too.
Wrinkles are a big reason you may feel like you look tired or older when you look in the mirror. I get so many questions about what to do about this or that wrinkle.
*This is not a post about how wrinkles are bad & we must banish them, but it's okay to want to address them if you want.
WRINKLES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL ❌
There are different types of wrinkles & there isn't just one treatment to address them all.
It's important to understand what kind of wrinkle is bothering you. Once you do that, you can choose the most effective treatment for it.
IF YOUR WRINKLES GET MORE NOTICEABLE WITH FACIAL MOVEMENT ⬇️
These are called dynamic rhytides because they're caused by underlying repetitive facial muscle movement.
If you crumple up a piece of paper enough times, there's no getting the wrinkles out.
Crow's feet, the wrinkles between your eyebrows (the 11s), & your forehead are all dynamic rhytides.
🗣 HOW DO YOU TREAT DYNAMIC WRINKLES?
Since the underlying issue is muscle movement, stopping that muscle from moving is the name of the game.
👩🏻⚕️ Neurotoxins, like Botox, act on the muscle receptors, leading to local paralysis.
Without any muscle movement, the overlying skin is as smooth as a baby's bottom.
IF YOUR WRINKLES DON'T CHANGE WITH MOVEMENT ⬇️
These are called static rhytides & are from gravity and loss of skin elasticity.
Jowls & the nasolabial folds are mostly from gravity, while crepe-y skin & fine wrinkling are from loss of dermal elasticity.
☀️ Decades of time out in the sun turn the elastic fibers that give your skin a youthful bounce into overcooked spaghetti.
🗣 HOW DO I FIX OVERCOOKED SPAGHETTI?
Fine wrinkling (crepe-y skin) is an issue with the structural support in the skin. Resurfacing procedures like fractional laser or microneedling stimulates your skin to produce new, bouncy collagen again.
🤔 Caveat: Wrinkles are a part of life & you'd look weird if you actually had NO wrinkles. Trust me!!
How do you feel about your wrinkles? Do they bother you? ⬇️
24/06/2021
💸 FEAR SELLS 💸
Fearmongering is an incredibly prevalent marketing tactic in the beauty industry & you all know it bothers me to no end.
I'm a bit late to share this great article by in (link in stories) that hits on all the biggest, baseless scare tactics.
In addition to some choice quotes from moi, it features the brilliant & .
Here's a summary of the key points ⬇️
👉 If a product isn't labeled clean, it doesn't mean it's full of poisonous toxins. Clean has no legal definition.
👉 Chemicals are not bad. EVERYTHING IS A CHEMICAL.
👉 Parabens used in personal care products haven't been shown to cause breast cancer or endocrine disruption, full stop.
👉 No, moisturizers don't contain anti-freeze.
👉 Formaldehyde in small amounts isn't dangerous.
👉 You don't need to avoid silicones.
👉 It's not your responsibility to protect yourself from every single minute toxin exposure. Your skin is a fantastic barrier & dose matters!!
💬 My favorite quote: "This unnecessary fear-mongering is just harmful to people’s psyches."
Anyone else sick of the wellness industry & its M.O. of self-blame wrapped up in millennial pink? ✋
22/06/2021
GOT OILY SKIN? 💦
Oily skin in the summer is no joke.
Most people with a tendency towards oily skin do need to change up their routines this season to keep their face from feeling like the bottom of a bucket of KFC at the end of the day.
Here are some dos & don'ts for taking care of your oily skin during the summer ⬇️
DON'T TREAT YOUR SKIN LIKE A GREASY PAN ❌
Most people's first reaction to having oily skin is to dry it out with clay masks, toners & drying cleansers.
But your skin isn't a greasy pan, it's a living, dynamic organ. If the skin's dried out too aggressively, it'll respond by producing MORE oil, leading to more breakouts ✋
Treat your skin like you would a cashmere sweater: delicately & with TLC ✨
DON'T SKIP MOISTURIZER ❌
Moisturizers help maintain your skin's barrier. If your skin gets too dry, your oil (sebaceous) glands will step up their game & you don't want that 😰
Use a lighter gel or lotion formulation that moisturizes without feeling greasy 🧴
Hydro Boost Gel Cream is a great one that hydrates but is still light.
This also applies to sunscreen. Don't skip it & look for lighter sunscreen gels or fluids.
DON'T USE ASTRINGENT OR CLAY MASKS ❌
These are too drying & not good for anyone's skin.
Would you clean your cashmere by pouring rubbing alcohol over it?
If your skin feels tight after you use a product, it's likely too drying for you.
DO USE PRODUCTS WITH AZELAIC AND/OR SALICYLIC ACID 👌
Salicylic acid & azelaic acid both decrease oil production from your sebaceous glands.
Glycolic acid & retinoids also have some activity against oil production, so long-term use will likely decrease your oiliness over time.
You can reduce your oil production with a consistent routine without overdrying your skin! It's all about balance! ⚖️
DO EMBRACE BLOTTING PAPERS 👌
(Or in my case, whatever toilet paper I can get my hands on) 🧻
I get it, you'd rather not have oily skin at all, but in the long run, oilier skin tends to look more supple & youthful.
If you're really bothered by that shine, get your blot on!
What are your favorite oily skin products/hacks? ⬇️
15/06/2021
YOU NEED A WIDE-BRIMMED HAT.
Trust me, ya do. Sunscreen isn't enough to protect your skin from UV, especially on those summer days when you're out & about.
Hats are the best way to protect your face, which is the highest risk area for the development of skin cancer ⚠️
When I'm wearing a hat, I can relax a bit more without worrying about reapplying sunscreen.
Here are the 3 things you need when looking for a hat:
➡️ Wide brim
➡️ Cute
➡️ UPF protection
🗣 WHY WIDE-BRIMMED?
Face protection is great, but with a wide enough brim, you can get shade for your neck, chest & shoulders too!
I find that baseball caps don't provide enough shade to the sides & lower part of the face, as well as the ears and neck.
🗣 WHY CUTE?
You're not a martyr. You DO NOT need to wear one of those hats with a flap in the back.
Hats won't protect you from UV if you don't wear them, so it's gotta be versatile enough to go with all your lewks.
🗣 WHY UPF?
UPF measures how much broad-spectrum UV radiation (UVA & UVB) can pass through clothing & reach the skin.
A UPF rating of 25 means that 1/25th (or 4%) of the UV radiation can pe*****te to the skin. I recommend going for something UPF 30 or above.
💡 Many hats don't have UPF ratings & that's okay. If it's a pretty tight weave & no light is coming through, I think it's acceptable (better than not wearing one).
👩🏻⚕️ REMINDER: YOU STILL NEED SUNSCREEN
Hats don't block UV that's reflected off the sand or the periphery. The most effective UV protection is via a multi-pronged approach.
👩🏻⚕️ THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS
Although hats are a personal style choice, here are my top hat picks ⬇️
👉 STRAW SURFER HAT
This is my everyday, bum around hat () for errands and beach walks with the baby.
👉 ROLL UP VISOR
Visors are in again! I just got one from and it's cute, compact, which makes it great for travel.
👉 GLAM FLOPPY HAT
Who needs a beach umbrella with the Shady Character hat from ? Perfect for avoiding paparazzi and chats with strangers.
👉 WIDE BRIMMED BUCKET HAT
Love this one from !
has great UPF options!
What's your favorite hat?
10/06/2021
FRAGRANCE IS NOT BAD ✋
Fragrance seems like persona non grata in skincare lately & TBH, I don't agree.
Although dermatologists have likely played a pretty big role in kicking pleasant aromas out of your skincare routine, I'm willing to stand up for having a lovely olfactory moment while washing my face 🧖🏻♀️
Although I love my drugstore formulas ( ), I do wish my skincare smelled like white tea, bergamot & jasmine instead of Elmer's glue.
🗣 WHY IS FRAGRANCE CONSIDERED EVIL?
Fragrance-free became the gold standard for high-quality skincare because fragrance has the potential to cause irritation & allergy 😣
Many dermatologists recommend avoiding products with fragrance because of this potential, especially for our patients with sensitive skin & active skin diseases like eczema or rosacea.
This suggestion has now become dogma in skincare social media, fodder for the free-from movement & has taken on a life of its own 🤦🏻♀️
🗣 IS NATURAL FRAGRANCE BETTER?
Nope, put down those essential oils (especially the citrus ones) 🙅🏻♀️
Both natural and synthetic fragrances can cause allergies at about the same rate. Remember, natural is not better.
🗣 WHY USE FRAGRANCE IF IT COULD HARM YOU?
Nuance, my friend 💡
Although fragrance allergies are pretty common, common is relative. The rate of allergy in the general population is about 1%, which is a pretty small proportion of us.
Yes, if you have a known allergy or sensitivity to fragrance, you should DEFINITELY avoid it.
But the other 99% of people that don't have a fragrance allergy should feel free to use & enjoy products that do have fragrance.
Remember, the dose makes the poison.
👩🏻⚕️ FRAGRANCE IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF LIFE.
Much like music & art, fragrance is an important part of the human experience.
Fragrance is an integral part of the ritual of skincare for many people, including me.
✋ You shouldn't feel bad for wanting to have a mini-spa moment while you take care of your skin.
👩🏻⚕️ YOUR SKINCARE CAN BE EFFECTIVE AND LOVELY.
Bottom line: use what you want & don't let other people scare you with dogma.
What's your fave smelling skincare product? ⬇️
08/06/2021
WHAT IS UVA? WHY YOU SHOULD CARE + HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF 👩🏻⚕️
I've gotten a lot of questions lately about the lesser-known UVA ray. Here's a basic breakdown of everything you need to know & how to protect yourself from it ⬇️
🗣 WHAT IS UVA?
UV radiation consists of both UVB & UVA rays.
UVB rays lead to sunburn 🔥 & are the primary driver of skin cancer development. They have a short wavelength that doesn't pass through glass.
UVA, however, has a longer wavelength & is able to pe*****te glass & reach the collagen & elastin fibers in the deeper layers of our skin.
🗣 WHY SHOULD I CARE?
UVA radiation turns your youthful, bouncy collagen & elastin fibers into mush (solar elastosis) which leads to wrinkles, sagging - the dreaded signs of skin aging ✋
It also plays a role in skin cancer, particularly melanoma, development.
👩🏻⚕️ NOPE, SPF WON'T CUT IT
SPF only measures a sunscreen's protection level against UVB rays & tells you nothing about whether or not it protects against UVA.
👩🏻⚕️ HOW TO TELL IF A SUNSCREEN PROTECTS AGAINST UVA
In the United States & Europe, if a sunscreen is labeled "BROAD SPECTRUM," it means has UVA protection which is proportionate to the stated UVB protection.
The higher the SPF, the more UVA protection you will be getting 💡
🗣 WHAT ABOUT THE PA+ RATING?
The PA+ rating system comes from Japan & quantifies how much UVA protection is in the sunscreen.
It ranges from PA+ (some UVA protection) to PA++++ (extremely high UVA protection).
I recommend sticking to PA+++ and PA++++ products for the best protection from sneaky UVA rays.
There's no universal standardized UVA rating system, but with sunscreens labeled broad-spectrum or PA+, you'll be getting adequate UVA protection.
UVA = U VILL AGE 🧛♂️
Sunscreen filters like avobenzone & zinc oxide protect against UVA, as well oxybenzone, octocrylene, & titanium dioxide, although less well.
There are other, more photostable UVA filters in use outside of the US, like Tinosorb & Mexoryl (FDA, get it together!).
👩🏻⚕️ BOTTOM LINE: LOOK FOR BROAD-SPECTRUM OR PA+ ON YOUR SUNSCREEN! AND DON'T FORGET YOUR HAT! 👒
What's your fave broad spectrum sunscreen? ⬇️