Stay AWAY from these popular skincare trends 🙅‍♂

Some are pointless. Some are downright dangerous. The internet can be a scary place, {NAME}... Especially for your skin! I have patients ask me about wild online skincare trends all the time… And these hacks almost ALWAYS do more harm than good. Over the last month or so, I started writing down some of the most interesting “tricks” I’ve heard about… And today, I’m sharing them with you — so you know which trends are pointless and which are downright dangerous. Let’s dig into it on on this edition of:  Gimmick or Gamechanger: Trend Edition 1. Nasal Suntan Sprays As weird as it sounds, this creation is exactly what it sounds like: A nasal spray that’s supposed to give you a suntan. On the outside, these look like any average nasal spray you’d use for allergies... But on the inside, nasal tanning sprays are meant to increase your body’s melanin production — essentially giving you a tan from the inside-out. One popular company says most users reach their desired color by using the spray 3 times a day for up to 6 weeks. At that point, the tan can last for 6-12 months. But there’s a huge red flag here: the main ingredient that accomplishes this effect, Melanotan II, is not regulated at all… And there have been no credible tests done to validate its safety. What’s worse — some dermatologists believe tanning nasal sprays can actually increase your chances of getting skin cancer because they can promote the growth and darkening of moles.1 Plus, they still require you to get sun exposure in order to “activate the tan” — again putting you at risk for skin cancer. Other side effects include nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting…2 All of which makes this trend a big “no go” for me. Pro-tip: There is no such thing as safe sun. So if you really want a sunkissed glow, you’re much better off booking a spray tan appointment… Or using a self-tanning lotion at home. As a reminder, you should be using SPF 30 or higher every day to keep your skin visibly youthful and healthy. I recommend using the 3-finger sunscreen method to ensure you’re applying enough product. To do this, simply squeeze a line of sunscreen down the length of three fingers, just as shown in the photo below… 2. Sunscreen Contouring Again, the sun is your skin’s worst enemy… And the sun contouring trend only makes things worse. Much worse. In this practice, people only apply sunscreen to the areas of the face they don’t want to look tanner… And skip sunscreen on the areas where they’d like more color — like their forehead, chin, and contours of their cheeks. (The same places you’d normally apply a bronzer.) But of course, there’s a major fault in this trend: you’re leaving larges areas of your face completely vulnerable to the sun’s dangerous rays! This not only ages your skin faster, but increases your chances of skin cancer. So please, don’t try this trend for yourself. Pro-tip: After a quick search on social media, I learned how to recreate a similar "contouring" effect with self tanner. Simply use a beauty blender or makeup brush to apply self-tanner to the same area you’d contour with makeup. Blend it out to diffuse any harsh lines, and let the tanner sit for 2-3 hours. Wash it off with water — and you’re good to go. Enjoy that glow! 3. The 7 Skin Method The 7 Skin Method comes from Korea — a country hailed for its skincare techniques. But as much as I admire K-beauty, this technique isn’t my favorite. In Korea, people often refer to toners as “skin.” So the 7 Skin Method basically means using 7 different toners everytime you perform your skincare routine. The idea is to apply a layer of toner or essence, allow it to dry, and then repeat the process until you’ve reached your 7th layer. The goal is to get incredibly hydrated, dewey, and plump skin from this routine… But let’s be honest… 7 toners is a lot! Not only can it be wasteful — it can be incredibly expensive. Plus, this maximalist approach can actually flood your skin with too much moisture. This can lead to oily skin and large, clogged pores. While I don’t think you need to ditch this trend altogether, I’d do recommend minimizing the number of products you’re applying. 2-3 layers of a hydrating, antioxidant-rich formula should do the trick. (Just be sure to stay away from toners that include drying ingredients, like alcohol or acids.) Pro-tip: Remember to apply your products thinnest to thickest. Toners and essences are usually nice and watery, which means they can be applied directly after cleansing. To apply them, simply put a few drops on your fingertips and pat the formula into your skin. Wait for it to absorb before moving onto the next step. 4. Skincare refrigerators A tiny bathroom refrigerator just for your skincare products? A quick scroll on social media might convince you it’s absolutely NECESSARY to prolong the shelf life of your favorite lotions and potions… But in reality, this is a bunch of baloney. (And after seeing a luxury brand selling one for a ridiculous $1,300, it’s downright frustrating.) Sure, these refrigerators often come in fun colors, and it can feel refreshing to put cold skincare products on your skin… But chilling your skincare products will make absolutely no difference in the way they work.3 Yes, some ingredients — like vitamin C — can become unstable in hot temperatures… So you wouldn't want to leave it in your car on a warm day… But these products will be totally safe in a bathroom cabinet or drawer, making skincare refrigerators totally unnecessary. Pro-tip: I love the feeling of applying a cold facemask after a long day. Talk about refreshing! If you want to incorporate this cooling step into your routine, simply place the facemask in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes. This gives it the perfect “cooling” effect — without allowing it to get too cold (which can make some products thicker and harder to apply.) Enjoy! 5. Banana... “botox”? Tik Tok bloggers claim rubbing a banana peel on your face can help diminish wrinkles, reduce under-eye circles, and soothe inflammation. In fact, the trend has become so popular, you can find hundreds of videos about it under the hashtag #bananabotox… But of course, banana’s can’t give you the same results as botox. In fact, there are zero scientific studies that back up the supposed benefits of using banana peels topically. So rubbing one on your face will likely make little — if any — difference in your skin at all!4 As such, I definitely recommend skipping the #bananabotox trend… And stick to eating your bananas. (They're fully of healthy potassium and antioxidants, after all!) Pro-tip: There are so many better ways to reduce visible aging around yours eyes In fact, if you really want something that DRAMATICALLY lifts the look of sagging lids, visibly smoothes crow’s feet, and evens out the looks of dark spots, I’ve yet to come across a better solution than our Radiate + Revive Hydrating Eye Cream. It’s lightweight, super concentrated, and feels silky-smooth on your skin. If you’re interested, I put together a $15 off code you can use right now. [Just add Radiate + Revive to your cart by clicking here.]() Then enter code 15OFF at checkout, and we’ll automatically knock $15 off your jar. :) Okay, {NAME}... That does it for this round of “Gimmick or Gamechanger.” If you’re ever scrolling on social media and see a skincare trend that sounds a little “fishy” to you… Please send it my way by responding to any of our Beverly Hills MD emails. I’ll do a deep dive on the trend to see if it’s legit… Or a total bust. Till next time! Your Beverly Hills MD, Dr. John Layke  �     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