WITH so much conflicting advice on social media when it comes to skincare, it can be hard to know which way to turn.
But luckily one New York-based dermatologist had collated a few of the fail-safe tips she wishes she’d known earlier.
Dermatologist Dr Joyce has shared the four things she’s learned as a dermatologist that she wishes she’d known earlier in lifeCredit: TikTok/@teawithmd
Here’s hoping that she washed her hands before sticking them into the potCredit: Getty
Dr Joyce is a beauty whizz who’s racked up 650k followers on her TikTok account, @teawithmd, sharing her skincare tips and debunking the ridiculous myths she sees on the app.
And in a recent clip which racked up more than 40,000 views, she shared four pearls of wisdom she wishes she’d stumbled across earlier.
Her first warning is that you should “NEVER put a concealer wand directly on a pimple”.
It’s because bacteria from the spot can transfer to the application stick, meaning that you’re spreading the germs everywhere where you apply the product.
Instead, Dr Joyce recommends to “apply to a clean concealer brush or to your clean finger” – that way, you can apply to the area and then wash to avoid spreading the bacteria and risking a bigger outbreak.
Her second snippet of advice is that duct tape can help with wart removal.
If you have a verruca on your foot, for example, you can cut a small piece of the tape and apply it directly to the area.
Once every three to five days, you then want to remove the covering and gently exfoliate the area.
It works because the tape gently fuses to the skin, so when you peel it off, a layer of the wart often comes off with it.
According to one study, it can speed up the disappearance of the common blemishes in 80% of cases.
There’s obviously instances when duct tape isn’t the best idea – near sensitive areas including the face or armpits – but it’s generally an effective method where the skin’s a bit more tough.
The dermatological buff’s next no-no is slugging around the eyes.
Slugging is basically the process of lathering your skin with a jelly-like substance – vaseline, or the like – and leaving it on overnight.
According to Dr Joyce, it can be “occlusive”, which means it blocks the necessary airflow in and out of your pores.
This can contribute to the formation of milia: the tiny white bumps that can appear around the eyes, often seen in young babies.
Her final suggestion is a rather straightforward, but often overlooked one – “wash your hands before scooping out moisturiser”.
Our fingers are teaming with bacteria we pick up from things we touch throughout the day, and if we dive into a product without washing them first, we inevitably transfer those nasty germs into the pot.
The helpful Dr shared the clip alongside the caption: “If only I could go back and undo some damage…”
And it quickly reached its intended audience, with viewers confessing in the comments that they’d tried slugging under the eyes – and, true enough, now had tiny bumps.
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