Dr. Shereene Idris

So don't let fear get in the way of you getting checked and just go in for a yearly skin exam.

The same way you go in for dental cleaning, get your skin checked.

But you can, of course, help yourself, at least from a cosmetic standpoint, because how does that damage usually show up first?

It shows up in the form of brown spots, sunspots.

hyperpigmentation, discoloration.

And so understanding how to use skincare over the counter as a baseline routine married to prescription is going to give you a very solid way to help your skin to look fresher and better.

Am I catching on?

And to just think of this conceptually, anything that is promising instant results, it's probably not going to be for the best of your long-term benefit.

Anything that is breaking your skin barrier, it's not going to be for the best of your long-term benefit.

And anything that is irritating or inflaming your skin, similar to breaking your skin barrier, it's not going to be for the best of your long-term benefit.

So...

Number one, right?

It's not sheet masks as a whole category, but when the format doesn't match what the product is trying to give you, it's a red flag.

Okay.

So the point of a sheet mask is to calm your skin down, to hold onto that hydration, to keep that gunk in, right?

Okay.

When you find a sheet mask with an active, like a retinol, this is a red flag because the format of the product doesn't match the ingredient.

The last thing I would want to do is put a retinol under occlusion in a sensitive area.

It's like a recipe for chaos and disaster.

So understanding what you're purchasing is very important for you.