Hey Dr. Marta

Click on me to watch a “Hey Dr. Marta” Q&A video.

I LOVE hearing from people who have questions about the best ways to take care of their skin and maintain a healthy, glowing, youthful look. There are many wonderful products in the marketplace, and I’m constantly researching them to find out which ones are the safest and most effective products. This page is dedicated to YOUR questions and my responses.

Please don’t be cautious or shy. I won’t share your email address or any other personal information about you. I will simply post your question and provide my response. You can send your questions to me here.  I look forward to hearing from you.

To read my response to a question, click on the ‘+’ sign.
To close the question click on the ‘-‘ sign.

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Are chemical SPF sunscreens dangerous?

Although they can be effective because of the way many of them work, they can create free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage skin cells. There have also been studies that indicate some of these products may be detrimental to coral reefs and marine life. Finally, I’m not sure how much chemical sunscreens do to packaging materials, which ultimately may be recycled or more than likely end up in garbage dumps.

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I’ve been thinking about getting Botox injections. What is your opinion of Botox?

Surgical solutions such as Botox provide a quick fix. These quick fixes often revert the skin to the same or worse as it was pre-injection. Your skin is not going to like anything that doesn’t naturally occur. So, it will fight back against it, especially when a toxin is involved. There are several solutions in the market that may work. I’ll be talking about them soon. Stay tuned.

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What are the best ways to protect your skin from the sun?

I use what is called a “physical SPF” also known as a mineral or inorganic SPF, which typically contains mineral salts (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). Both are common minerals. There are two theories about what a physical SPF does. It may either reflect the sun or filter it. Either way both are safe to use.

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Why do they use talc as an ingredient in some cosmetics? I heard that it wasn’t safe.

Talc is a naturally-mined, fairly common ingredient in cosmetics. It is used in foundation, loose powder, lipstick, blush, shadow, and even eyeliner. Talc makes a good flowing agent and texturizer. It makes powders, whether loose or pressed, have the desired consistency and quality (silky texture and the ability to easily apply and spread). It is also a great binding agent for pigments, which make them desirable in color formulas.

It is a fairly common belief that talc may contain asbestos, which is not only an irritant, but a demonstrated carcinogen. Talc-containing cosmetics should not generate any adverse skin unless they contain some contaminants that can cause irritations.

Author

  • Dr. Marta

    Supported by a BSc. in Chemistry, MS in Polymer Science and doctorate in Polymer Chemistry, Dr. Marta began a fifteen-year journey into the health and beauty industry ultimately leading to the founding of “dr. mp”, a company dedicated to among other things, formulating skincare products for private labels. She is the author of many informative blog articles.

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