Hello and welcome to another Friday Mailbag! My name is Dr. Ryan Shelton and every Friday I answer two skincare-related questions from customers who need help with their routines. Our first question today comes from Karen in Concord, CA.
Q: Hi Dr. Ryan! I’ve started to notice lines forming around my lips in the last few years. I tried to look up a product for lip lines but I couldn’t really find anything. What can I use?
A: Hi Karen! This is a great question! There aren’t a whole ton of products out there that are specially designed to help erase wrinkles around your lips but don't worry, I have some neat tricks that you can use to help get the results you want!
When it comes to signs of aging around your lips, it can be tough to know what the best treatment is because most skincare companies don’t focus on this area very much.
Sure, there are a lot of lip plumpers out there that claim to help with wrinkles, but the truth is that these products aren’t going to have a long-term effect.
Most of them last a couple of hours and you have to reapply the product all over again!
But I know of a trick that people have been using for ages that works amazingly…
Instead of using a lip plumper, you might want to try an eye serum!
Eye products - Like my Eye Recovery Serum - work great when you apply them to your eye area to help smooth out crow's feet and they have the same effect on the wrinkles around your lips.
The best part is that you don’t have to add a whole new product to your routine!
What I like to do when I’m applying my Eye Recovery Serum is to treat my eye area first, then apply whatever is left on my fingers to my lips.
You can also apply it to your smile lines to help smooth those wrinkles out too!
Once you’ve done this, don’t forget to seal the moisture into your lips by applying lip balm.
Even though the Eye Recovery Serum is meant to work best on the eyes, it has wrinkle-smoothing ingredients that help to reverse those crevices and give you a more youthful look.
As much as I love buying new skincare products, I’m all about being smart with my routine. If that means using a product in more than one spot to get more out of it, I’m all for it!
I hope you get the results you want, Karen. Let me know how it goes!
My next question comes from Hillary in Olathe, KS.
Q: Hi Dr. Ryan! I don’t usually have oily skin but since it started getting warmer I’ve noticed my face gets shiny and oily really fast. What can I do to stop this?
A: Hi Hillary! Having a slight sheen to your face isn’t always the worst because it can make your skin look dewy and youthful, but in the summer that can be a different story. I can certainly suggest a few tips to help stop your skin from looking too oily!
When the weather gets warmer, it’s normal for our skin to sweat a little more than usual. For some people, the difference is barely noticeable, but for others, it can be incredibly uncomfortable and make you feel insecure about how you look!
The best way to stop this oily, sweaty look is to make sure you’re keeping on top of your skincare routine, but not overdoing it.
You see, when most people feel an excess of oil on their face, their first instinct is to wash it off and redo their skincare routine.
Unfortunately, this will only make the problem worse…
When you wash your face too frequently, your body notices that those natural oils are missing and starts to produce more of them.
If you're struggling with oily skin, the last thing you want is for your body to get into the habit of producing more oil!
Instead, stick to your regular cleansing routine and make sure your cleanser can effectively clean your face without stripping it too much.
My Lavender Oil Cleanser is perfect for this as it creates a decent amount of foam to wash away any impurities, but it also helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated at the same time!
In your case, I think you could really benefit from using a cleanser like this one.
Otherwise, it’s always a good idea to keep blotting papers handy - they work great in a pinch!
