She’s tired of pore behavior.
Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a board-certified dermatologist based in Southern California, is sharing three skin care sins that she sees often — using too many products, skipping sun protection and copying your friend’s routine even if it’s not what’s best for you.
“I see patients making these mistakes all the time,” Shirazi lamented in a Monday TikTok.
Using too many products
Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat, likens the skin barrier to “armor, in that it breaks down aggressors” such as pollutants, allergens and irritants “so that they are rendered harmless.”
Each ingredient you put on your skin threatens the barrier, Robinson told the New York Times last year. Stressing your skin — the body’s largest organ — can lead to redness, dryness, breakouts and other woes.
Shirazi says only three products are necessary — cleanser, moisturizer and an SPF to protect against harsh rays.
“If you have acne or you want to do something for anti-aging, add in a treatment step in between your cleanser and moisturizer,” she advises in the video.
Skipping sun protection
Skin care experts insist upon sunscreen use. For her part, Shirazi is highlighting the importance of focusing on delicate skin that’s prone to sun damage.
“I remove a lot of skin cancer from these areas — the eyelids, the lips, the ears, neck and chest, as well as the back of the hands,” she shares.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, according to estimates. It’s the most common cancer in the US.
Copying a friend’s skin care routine
The global skin care market was valued at $146.7 billion in 2021, with one research firm projecting it will reach $273.3 billion by 2031. There are a lot of product options for every skin type.
Shirazi recommends developing a regimen that’s best for you.
“Make sure that you are using specific products that are good for your skin type and your concern, because everybody’s skin is different,” Shirazi says.
“You see all these people, all these influencers online that are promoting this product and that product, and people get distracted,” she continues. “Their friend is using this miracle gel and so they started, but it’s not the right treatment for them.”