One of the biggest debates in the aesthetics world is the one about medical grade products versus over the counter products. Now coming from a point of view as a certified medical aesthetician I do have some thoughts on this. What prompted me to write about this was a post I made a couple of weeks ago when I implied that medical grade products were superior to over the counter products and the comment section and my DM’s were filled with negative commentary about how I was being inconsiderate of people’s money and time. That is definitely not the case and not what I was trying to convey in that particular post. The point I wanted to make was that it is important to know what you are putting on your skin.
Over The Counter (OTC) Products
Now I have spoken to many people about different products and ingredients that are intended for certain skin types and skin concerns. What it all boils down to is the ingredient list and how much of said ingredients are in the products. When it comes to standard OTC products at the drug store or grocery store, it is not that they are ‘bad’ products but most of the time these products don’t have sufficient percentages of the right ingredients to make them the most beneficial for one’s skin. An example I can share with you is that a night moisturizer that has retinol in it may not have a sufficient amount to actually cause a significant change in the skin; ten bottles of an OTC retinol moisturizer would equal one bottle of a retinol serum at the medical grade level. The true test is by looking at the ingredient list and historically the first five ingredients listed are the most heavily ingredients in the products. A lot of the OTC products have a lot of ingredients that are harmful for the skin; some products also have ingredients that cause allergic reactions to some people. If you are looking for more cleaner products, it’s best to steer clear of some OTC products. Most OTC products are heavily alcohol or water based and have very little of the good ingredients like lactic acid and retinol; ingredients that are beneficial for healthy skin.
Medical Grade Products
With medical grade products the biggest difference is that the most beneficial ingredients are the most potent which is shown on the ingredients list. Medical grade products are formulated specifically to treat, correct and maintain healthy skin. It’s important to understand that certain ingredients can heal the skin simply by having the right amount of the ingredient in a product. medical grade products will use highly stabilized ingredients that last longer, a lot of them also use more involved mechanisms of absorption to enhance delivery to deeper areas of skin. The higher cost of medical grade products results from the inclusion of more effective active ingredients at higher concentrations and may make them seem unaffordable. However, less product is typically needed to deliver superior results, so the cost/benefit calculation actually makes medical-grade products a better bargain in the long run. There are great medical grade skin care lines only available through medical spas, but there are other great skin care lines that are readily available to everyone. It’s just a matter of being educated and understanding different ingredients and what they are used for.
Pro Tip – When it comes to achieving healthier skin (and other aspects in life) one thing to remember … Trust The Process; the results will come.
What Ingredients Are Important In Skin Care
Niacinamide
Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B-3, an essential nutrient. There’s much more to this nutrient, especially when it comes to general skin health; topical niacinamide may help treat certain skin conditions, including acne and eczema. Overall, niacinamide can help build proteins in the skin and lock in moisture to prevent environmental damage. Continue reading to see what benefits niacinamide has for the skin. Niacinamide minimizes redness and blotchiness. Niacinamide reduces inflammation, which may help ease redness from eczema, acne, and other inflammatory skin conditions. Niacinamide can also help regulate the amount of oil the sebaceous glands produce and prevent your glands from going into overdrive. Niacinamide can concurrently rebuild healthy skin cells while also protecting them from damage caused by ultraviolet rays. Niacinamide helps build cells in the skin while also protecting them from environmental stresses, such as sunlight, pollution, and toxins. Niacinamide may be helpful for severe acne, especially inflammatory forms like papules and pustules; you may see fewer lesions and improved skin texture. It’s a fantastic ingredient that will aide and assist in healthier glowing skin.
Vitamin C
As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin c is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals, vitamin c assists in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells. Did you know, vitamin C’s skin-saving benefits aren’t limited to its antioxidant status; it has plenty of other skin-healing properties that make it worthy of a permanent place in your skin care routine. One of vitamin c’s main benefits is how it can accelerate the production of collagen and elastin. Remember: Collagen and elastin are both naturally occurring protein fibers that help keep skin plump and firm. Therefore, in helping to promote collagen production, vitamin c can help prevent premature aging of the skin. When introducing vitamin c into your routine the best skin care product to use is serum, because serums are more effective than creams or toners.
Retinol
What I would consider the holy grail of skin care ingredients. Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, an ingredient that promotes skin renewal and enhances collagen production, it also lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, retinol can also reverse some of the side effects of sun damage. Retinol has multiple benefits. It is able to improve the production of collagen and stop it from being broken down; this leads to firmer, plumper skin with diminished fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol can also speed up the skin cell regeneration cycle, which encourages a smoother, more even complexion. Finally, retinol can help in reducing hyperpigmentation for a bright and even skin tone. All skin types can benefit from adding retinol into their nighttime routine. Even blemish prone skins can benefit from the power of vitamin A. By speeding up the skin cell renewal process, retinol clears out clogged pores which could cause blemishes to promote a clear complexion.
There are other ingredients that are important in skin care like salicylic acid and lactic acid, but I could be here for another two thousand words explaining them all! The above is the most important and the most effective in skin care. It’s important to consult with a skin care specialist to guide you through what’s best for your skin and skin’s health.