Our skin in February is like a base camp at 30,000 feet: ravaged by wind, dry air and bitterly cold temperatures. Which makes local plastic surgeon Dr. Munique Maia (maiaplasticsurgery.com) and her new medical-grade skincare line, Maia MD (maiamdskincare.com), welcome additions to our winter. We asked Maia about her new line and to steer us through skincare routines for the chilly days ahead.
What prompted you to launch a skincare line?
When it comes to skincare products, many of my patients are quite confused and overwhelmed, and they buy products that don’t fit their needs, and, as a result, many patients don’t establish a proper and consistent routine. I wanted to give them a product line that cuts through the noise and delivers results. And because I know how important expert, customized advice is when choosing skincare products, I decided to offer complimentary consultations with highly trained estheticians before each purchase.
What might surprise consumers the most about your products?
Anyone who considers herself a skincare snob will recognize the concentration of the potent ingredients is much higher than well-known alternatives. A great example is our Antioxidant Serum with vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid. I also made sure each product contains a variety of active ingredients. Our retinol has a unique combination of retinol, amino acids and antioxidants. Retinol promotes collagen growth; amino acids are the building blocks for collagen formation; and antioxidants minimize collagen degradation.
What are a few skincare routines that everyone should practice this time of year? You should switch to a heavier moisturizer in the winter. I recommend our UltraMoist in winter and Light Coconut Milk moisturizer in summer—but don’t stop exfoliating. A lot of people think exfoliating products like our Exfoliant Cleanser are used only when your skin is oily; in fact, clearing away those dead, dry cells allows your skin to absorb the products more efficiently and improve moisture. Sunscreen is also a must.
Other important routines and procedures?
I’m a big believer in microneedling and radio frequency. I think they’re game changers in the way they improve skin texture and fine lines. If you can make time, I recommend doing it every other month for a few months. I also recommend chemical peels and lasers in the winter to renew your skin.
What routines don’t help our skin?
Bead exfoliators break the skin barrier and are especially harmful for those with sensitive skin.
Also, [be careful about] over-exfoliating. I recommend exfoliation only two or three times a week. The skin barrier can become compromised by aggressive exfoliation. I actually recommend no cleanser in the morning. Your skin is clean in the morning, and you simply need to wash your face with water. Keep the natural oils on your skin, and don’t strip them away. Also, don’t over-wash—this happens with acne patients. They think their skin is too oily, and they strip the natural oils in their skin, which send signals to the cells to produce more oil. It’s a vicious cycle that only makes the skin worse.
Photography by: Mauricio Cordeiro, courtesy of Maia MD
