In this episode of the Mel Robbins Podcast, dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss identifies three common skincare products that she considers wasteful and explains why. She first warns against sheet masks that contain active ingredients such as retinol, arguing that the occlusive sheet format is incompatible with potent actives and can cause irritation. She then critiques the use of natural loofahs on the face, noting that their abrasive texture can damage the thin facial skin and that they harbor bacteria if not meticulously cleaned, recommending chemical exfoliants instead. Finally, she cautions against the daily use of makeup remover wipes, highlighting their potential to over‑strip the skin and cause irritation. Throughout, Dr. Idriss emphasizes the importance of understanding ingredient‑format matching, focusing on simple hydration‑focused sheet masks, and adopting safer alternatives like chemical exfoliants and limited‑use wipes.
Chapters
Now let's talk about the things that you should skip because they are a waste of money.
Number 1. All right. Uh-oh. 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.
So you're holding these masks that I see at every checkout now that have all the— like, my daughters wear these like crazy. I typically will put one on on a plane, but I don't know what I'm buying. This is where you have to understand what an act is.
Okay. So the point of a sheet mask is to calm your skin down, to hold on to 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. That's why I think it's important to have a basic understanding of what are ingredients, what are we trying to achieve with them, and then what are the different formats that exist that I can layer into my skincare once I have my foundation in place.
You know, if you were to buy a mask, what are you looking for? Just like cooling, moisturizing?
Honestly, really just hydrating, moisturizing, because I'm looking for that instant kind of plumping glow and then I'm done.
Okay. What is the next product? We should not waste money on.
All right, here goes. Ready? Uh-oh. It's a little controversial, but like a loofah. Okay. Why should I not have a loofah? Number one, what worries me a bit about loofahs is people use this on their face. And I've seen this time and time again. If it's not a loofah that looks like this, like a synthetic one, the traditional natural loofahs.
Yeah, those spines.
People have used them on their faces. And I've seen this in my practice. It is a physical exfoliant that's getting rid of dead skin cells physically. Right. But the skin of your face is much thinner and it can be extremely irritating and aggressive. Not to mention the fact that many people don't clean this and bacteria can build up. Water can be stuck in there. It can get moldy, gross, and just not necessarily the best thing. So unless you're super on top of cleaning this and just using it on your body, I would probably hold and focus on chemical exfoliants instead. Okay.
All right.
Number 3. Now, this is not the complete devil. There are moments when it can be useful, but this is not something I recommend every day.
Makeup remover wipes. She's coming after the makeup wipes, everybody.
But I prefaced it.
Not every day.
Not most days. Definitely. Maybe once a week. It's like this is reserved as your SOS by your bedside. If you had a night out and you're too tired to wash your face, at least you're guaranteeing that you're trying to show up for yourself and get that makeup off your face.
