Ever heard of a moisture sandwich?

Ready for a round of Q&A?! I’m answering YOUR pressing skincare questions, straight from my inbox. I think it’s time to have a little fun, {NAME}! So, I’m bringing back another round of ‘Ask Dr. Layke” — Where I answer some crucial skincare questions straight from my inbox. After all, if one person is asking — there are probably many more wondering the same thing... And selfishly, I have so much fun with these emails! (You guys never fail to ask great questions, and I’m happy to address them.) So with that, let’s get started: 1. “I recently heard makeup wipes are bad for your skin. Is that true? I’ve been using them for years and had no idea they could be doing harm.” - Jessica P. I hate to be negative, but what you read is true: makeup wipes are bad news. Now don’t get me wrong — I understand they are incredibly convenient. The problem is, wipes leave behind traces of makeup, dirt, and oil because they don’t really clean your skin. What’s worse, the friction from using makeup wipes on a daily basis can cause microtears in your skin — leading to dryness, sensitivity, and faster-forming wrinkles.1 To top it off, makeup wipes are terrible for the environment. Many wipes are made from synthetic materials that take decades (if not hundreds of years to decompose — like polyester. So do your skin and the planet a favor: Skip the wipes and give your face a good ol’ fashion cleansing.  If you’re wearing makeup, I recommend doing a double cleanse (washing first with an oil-based cleanser, and then a water-based cleanser) to ensure you’ve removed any traces left behind.   2. “My BFF has been using hemorrhoid cream on her eyebags and neck. This sounds a little scary. What do you advise?” - Kimberly H. Thanks for the question, Kimberly! Funny enough, this “hack” has been around for a long time. (I remember it being big news in the 90s when beauty pageant contestants admitted to using this trick themselves.2) So here’s the deal: Hemorrhoid cream actually CAN temporarily reduce discoloration and puffiness because it contains: - Phenylephrine, an ingredient that shrinks blood vessels - And hydrocortisone, a steroid that helps relieve inflammation HOWEVER, I don’t recommend applying hemorrhoid cream anywhere near your face. First off, using this cream as a long-term eye treatment could actually cause your skin to become thinner, more fragile, and swollen. (Making it likely to cause wrinkles with continuous use.3) And secondly, there’s a safety issue here. The skin around our eyes is naturally thin and sensitive. So when active ingredients from hemorrhoid cream soak into that skin, it can cause eye issues ranging from irritation to extremely dilated pupils. (In fact, one of the biggest hemorrhoid cream brands has a warning on the label advising users to keep it AWAY from their eyes.) My recommendation? Keep hemorrhoid cream, you know, down there. You’re better off avoiding wrinkles with lifestyle changes, like wearing sunscreen EVERY DAY, drinking lots of water, and sleeping for at least 7-8 hours a night. And for those times when you need immediate help for the look of eye bags and puffiness, you can’t beat our instant [Emergency Under-Eye Fix]( — it was formulated specifically for this purpose.  3. “I live in a desert climate and it seems like no matter what I do, my skin is always dry. What do you recommend?” - Robyn Y. Well Robyn, I actually have a question for you… You ever heard of a moisture sandwich? I’m not kidding. This is really a thing, and it works wonders for dry skin. A “moisture sandwich” refers to a skincare layering technique that gives your skin an extra dose of hydration… And it couldn’t be simpler to do: - Step 1: Dampen your face with water - Step 2: Apply your moisturizer - Step 3: Lastly, cover your face in a rich occlusive product, like petroleum jelly. (Occlusive products have a thick, heavy consistency that creates a barrier between your skin and the air to “trap” the moisture underneath.) This “sandwiching” method works because the occlusive product seals the water and moisturizer underneath it, giving skin a chance to absorb all that juicy hydration.5 If your face is particularly dry, try this method every night. Otherwise, you can utilize this routine a few times a week. Hope that helps, Robyn.  4. “I thought most aging is genetic. Some people just naturally look younger than others. What’s the point in using skincare products if it won’t make a difference anyway?” - Margaret F. Yes, there are certain things out of our control when it comes to aging… But most of it is up to us. Scientists believe genetics only account for about 25% of the aging process… While the remaining 75% is determined by environmental factors and lifestyle choices. In fact, scientists have studied people who lived into their 90s (called nonagenarians) and their 100s (called centenarians)... And they found most of these long-living people are6: - Women - Non-smokers - A healthy weight - Good at managing stress Interestingly enough, these individuals differed greatly in their amount of education, wealth, and profession. Now environmental factors — the main two being exposure to sun and pollution— also play a huge role in visible aging. So the way we care for our skin (like keeping it protected with sunscreen, clean with cleanser, and hydrated with moisturizer) plays a much bigger part in how “old” we look than our genetics do. And isn’t that great news? :) Alright, that does it for this round of “Ask Dr. Layke.” (I’ve gotta run and pick up the twins from school!) In the meantime, I’d love to know what other skincare questions you have. Send them my way by replying to this email… And you may see it in my next Q & A. :) Till then — Your Beverly Hills MD, Dr. John Layke � � Sources: 1. Yarbrough, J. (2020, June 16). 7 trendy skin care products to never put on your face. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from 2. Webb, D. (1992, September 30). SITTING PRETTY BEAUTIES FACE FACTS ABOUT HEMORRHOID REMEDY. Phoenix New Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from 3. Cafasso, J. (2018, May 01). Hemorrhoid creams for wrinkles: Under eyes and side effects. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from 4. Sethi, A., Kaur, T., Malhotra, S., & Gambhir, M. (2016). Moisturizers: The slippery road. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 61(3), 279. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427 5. Santos-Longhurst, A. (2021, May 24). Why applying products to damp skin may be the key to your healthiest skin yet. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from 6. Is longevity determined by genetics?: Medlineplus Genetics. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2022, from     This email was sent to {EMAIL} by jlayke@beverlyhills-md.com [Edit Profile]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [VIP Discounts]( | [Join Text Club]( | [Subscribe](  Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group 436 N. Bedford Dr. Suite 214 Beverly Hills, CA 90210   [Report Spam](  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Â