One of the most common questions I get asked is “Do I really need to buy professional skin care products or can I get something just as effective at Sephora, Bloomingdales or Walgreens?”
While there are articles claiming that store bought, over the counter, products contain the same ingredients, the fact is over the counter products are legally NOT able to contain the higher strength and ‘active’ ingredients found in medical grade/cosmeceuticals and pharmaceutical products.
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) separates products into 2 distinct categories, “cosmetics” and “pharmaceutical/ cosmeceutical products”. The FDA does not regulate claims made by over the counter cosmetics but does regulate the claims of medical grade products.
All that glitters is not gold. Don’t be fooled by photos of doctors or the even by the fact that the physician has developed a line. That alone DOES NOT make it medical or cosmeceutical-grade. Ingredients make a line medical-grade, the fact that the developer is a physician – does not.
Cosmetics/ Over the Counter (OTC)– This is the majority of creams, serums, and cleansers found readily available in drug stores, department stores, or by skincare sales reps. These products have similar ingredients to cosmeceuticals with MUCH lower percentages and INACTIVE INGREDIENTS. With its lower efficacy, the FDA does NOT require cosmetics to support their claims with RESEARCH AND ADEQUATE TESTING So they can say and market whatever they want…“Hydrates! Fights breakouts! Erases fine lines and wrinkles! Refines pores!” These are all claims of OTC cosmetic lines but with no required research or proof. Scary right?
Contact our esthetician to help figure out what skin care products are going to work best for your skin.