Hello and welcome to another Mailbag Friday! My name is Dr. Ryan Shelton and, if this is your first mailbag and you’re not quite sure what’s going on, every Friday I answer two questions from customers who need my advice on helping them create a more youthful appearance that can boost their confidence and make them feel beautiful in their own skin. My first question today comes from Anna-Louise in San Mateo, CA.
Q: Hello Dr. Ryan! What’s the difference between daytime and nighttime products for a skincare routine?
A: Hello Anna-Louise! When it comes to skincare ingredients, there are certain options that may be better used in the daytime vs nighttime and vice versa. To start, let’s look at a few ingredients that are best suited for daytime use.
First up is an obvious one - Sunscreen.
Sunscreen shields your skin from UV rays, preventing sun damage that leads to premature aging. Of course, SPF would be useless in your nighttime routine, so it’s not something you’d want to apply before going to bed.
Our next type of ingredient is a little less obvious…
I’m talking about Antioxidants!
These ingredients are better suited for day use because they help to protect your skin from pollution and free radicals, which you’d be exposed to while you’re out and about during the day.
I have Vitamin C in my Dark Spot Corrector to help shield your skin from dark patches, and the Aloe Extract in my Collagen Filler Serum is a great source of Vitamin E, which will help plump your wrinkles and keep your skin hydrated throughout the day.
Now, let’s talk about some ingredients that will help boost your nighttime routine…
First up, we have Retinol.
Retinol works wonders while you sleep by promoting cell turnover, reducing fine lines, and boosting collagen production.
I just added two new Retinol products to my skincare lineup - the Retinol Defense Cream and the Retinol PM Booster - which will help kick your nighttime routine into overdrive and boost your complexion while you sleep!
Our next option can be used during the day and at night, but the results can be extra surprising when you add them to your nighttime routine! That option is none other than Peptides.
I have so many products in my store that have peptides - The Collagen Filler Serum, The Repair and Release Cream, and The Neck Firming Cream, to name a few.
These ingredients help in repairing and renewing your skin, supporting collagen synthesis for a firmer, more youthful complexion, so using them at night while your body is in repair mode is a great idea.
Now bear in mind that all these tips are not hard rules but more guidelines. You can use most skincare ingredients day or night, but being strategic about using them at specific times can really make a difference in your skin.
I hope this clears things up for you, Anna-Louise!
My next question comes from Bernadette in Shoreline, WA.
Q: Hi Dr. Ryan. What ingredients should I avoid that are not great for mature skin?
A: Hi Bernadette! This is a great question that I don’t think I’ve had the chance to answer in a while! There are a ton of ingredients and treatments that are not so great for aging skin. Let me tell you about a few and what you can use instead…
The first things that come to mind are chemical peels and harsh scrubs.
As you get older, your skin tends to get a little more prone to damage and damaged skin ages faster.
While a lot of people have seen great results from Chemical peels and scrubs, they can do a number on mature skin, which will only speed up the aging process, making things like sagging and wrinkles become all too evident.
Instead, it’s a good idea to use gentle exfoliating ingredients like AHAs and BHAs, which help remove dead skin cells gently and keep your complexion healthy.
My Lavender Oil Cleanser contains both AHAs and BHAs, so if you’re looking for a gentle cleanser that exfoliates at the same time, this is a great option!
Next, let’s talk about Parabens.
While the link between parabens and negative health effects is still debated, some prefer to avoid them due to potential hormone-disrupting properties. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
My entire skincare line is completely Paraben-free so you don’t have to worry about what these ingredients might be doing to your complexion.
Now this last suggestion might not be so popular with some, but in my professional opinion, it’s best to stay away from DIY treatments and at-home remedies.
This is because some DIY skincare treatments might sound appealing, but not all of them are backed by science.
What’s more, is that creating skincare products in your own home isn’t as sanitary as products that are created in a clean and controlled environment.
By mixing up your own products, you could be making your skin vulnerable to germs and bacteria which could speed up the aging process.
Instead, opt for products that have been manufactured and sealed properly in a hygienic facility where all the necessary precautions are taken to protect your skin and your health.
Other than these types of products, you should feel good about trying out new ingredients to help you create the complexion you want! Just be sure to patch-test any new products on your skin if you’re not sure about whether it will harm your complexion or not.
Good luck, Bernadette!
