Why Use Medical Grade Skincare?
“My philosophy when it comes to skin health and skincare is always, ‘Prevention is Easier Than Correction’. So start young, take great care of your skin with the right products, wear SPF everyday and you will need less ‘correction’ later on. But even if you didn’t start young, you can start now using the right products and make a huge difference in your skin health.”
-Dr. Sclafani
What is the Difference Between Medical Grade, Organic and Over the Counter Skincare?
Medical Grade Vs. The Rest
MEDICAL GRADE SKINCARE
- Contain Higher Concentrations of Active Ingredients Than What You Can Buy In Over The Counter Skincare
- Medical Grade Skincare Products Use Prescription Strength Ingredients To Promote Overall Skin Health
- Penetrate Deeper Into The Skin Going Into the Dermis.
- Go Through Extensive Testing And Research
- By Law, They Must Have 99.9% Pure Active Ingredients
- Typically Made In Smaller Batches
Read More About Medical Grade Skincare
WHAT MAKES MEDICAL GRADE SKINCARE DIFFERENT?
Medical Grade Skincare can only be prescribed by medical professionals and/or are backed by medical professionals. Products like tretinoin need a prescription. Some products like Alastin, Skinbetter Science and SkinCeuticals are backed by medical professionals. The cosmetic product industry does not need FDA testing, but many medical grade skincare companies will go through extensive research and clinical testing, and only use pure ingredients. Therefore, the products are backed by trials and extensive research. Medical Grade Skincare delivers deeper into the skin, going into the Dermis (the deeper layer of the skin). This is where collagen and elastin producing cells (the fibers that give skin it’s structure and elasticity) are located so you are getting more of a boost in collagen and elastin and more results driven skincare.
ORGANIC SKINCARE
- Over The Counter Skincare Products Made of “Natural Ingredients”
- Requires More Research As There Is No Legal Guidelines As To What Makes Something “Natural”
- Most Of It Is Just Marketing
- Organic Ingredients Are Grown Without Pesticides, Herbicides, Synthetic Fertilizers, GMO’s etc.
- Not Required To Have Clinical Studies Done
- Not Held To The Same Standards As Medical Grade Skincare
Read More About Organic Skincare
WHAT IS ORGANIC SKINCARE?
Organic or “Natural” skincare is a big trend going on currently. It is important to remember that everything in skincare is technically a chemical. Each ingredeint must go through a chemical process to make it into a product. Since Organic Skincare is still over the counter (OTC) skincare and does not have to go through testing or research, it is important to do your own research on the ingredients. Sometimes the ingredients are not effective because the molecular size is to large to penetrate the skin barrier and/or is in an unrefined state (natural, not processed). These products can be too gentle and therefore not effective at curing skin conditions. Also, some ingredients can cause skin irritation such as citrus or essential oils.
OVER THE COUNTER SKINCARE
- Not Required To Have Clinical Studies Done
- They Are Not Held To The Same Standards As Medical Grade Skincare Products
- Only Penetrates The Epidermis (The Outermost Skin Layer)
- Typically More Product is Used Because The Ingredients Aren’t As Potent
- Products Are Made In Bulk In Large Facilities
Read More About Over The Counter Skincare
WHAT ARE OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS?
Over The Counter (OTC) Products can be found at Sephora, Ulta, Department Stores, Target etc. These products can range in price from very low to very high. However, no matter what the price is (very low or very, very high), OTC Products are not required to go through any clinical studies or research to support their claims on how the products work on the skin. Therefore you can be paying a high price without the research and potency of a Medical Grade Skincare Product. Often OTC Products have filler and/or preservatives in them and are made in bulk to work on all skin types so they only penetrate the Epidermis (the outermost skin layer).
Skincare & Ages
Everyone should be using high quality skincare no matter the age but what skincare products should you use at what age?
TEENS & 20'S
- A good cleanser specific for your skin needs not what is “trendy”. Someone who has oily acne prone skin should not be using a thick cream cleanser made for someone with dry skin.
- A mild acid for resurfacing and clearing away dead skin cells. Think products with lactic or salicylic acid.
- A good moisturizer suited to your skin needs. Not uncommonly you need different moisturizes for the winter vs. the summer.
- A good SPF (the higher the better) worn everyday religiously rain or shine 365 days of the year.
- A good vitamin C or antioxidant product that contains vitamin C to be applied in the morning after you cleanse and before your moisturizer.
- Vitamin C and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage, free radicals, pollution and can reduce inflammation which can all lead to visible signs of aging and wrinkles.
- Vitamin C and antioxidants can also brighten the skin giving it a healthy glow and boost collagen production to help skin look firm and supple.
30'S & 40'S
- A good cleanser specific for your skin needs.
- As we age, those “skin needs” will likely change. What might have been a great cleanser for your skin when you were in your 20’s is no longer good for your skin in your 30’s and 40’s.
- Medical Grade Vitamin C or some type of antioxidant preferably with Vitamin C.
- A good hylauronic acid that will not only add HA back to your skin but also help your skin produce more of it’s own HA. Production that unfortunately starts to diminish as we age.
- Hylauronic acid is an important molecule because it has the ability to hold nearly 1,000 times its weight in water helping to plump and moisturize the skin.
- A good eye product to help with the think skin around our eyes that gets thinner as we age and loose collagen and elastin.
- A retinol product at night for cell turnover. As we age our skin cells don’t turn over as quickly as they did when we were younger. This is what leads to dull visibly aged skin.
- The benefit of using a medical grade retinol skincare product is that the retinol is buffered by all the other “good for your skin” ingredients around it. For example niacinimide and more HA. This makes the medical grade skincare products better than just straight prescription retinol cream because you are getting all the benefits of prescription retinol but they are more easily tolerated.
- A good moisturize. Just like your cleanser, your skin needs may change in your 30’s and 40’s so that moisturizer you used in college will most likely not be the best choice for your skin anymore. Your skin will also be more sensitive to the drying winter air and most likely you will need a thicker moisturizer for the winter.
- Add on signal Peptides. Depending on how your skin is fairing in the aging process, you may want to consider adding a product with signal peptides to your routine.
- Add on non-hydroquinone containing skin brightener or illuminator.
50'S +
- All the essentials from your previous decades (Gentle Cleanser, Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen, Moisturizer, Antioxidant Serum, Exfoliant (less frequently), Eye Cream, Retinoid (if tolerated))
- Rich Cream or Balm: Opt for a richer, more emollient moisturizer to combat dryness and provide a protective barrier. Look for “rich moisturizer for dry skin” or “nourishing face cream“.
- Facial Oil: Incorporating a facial oil can provide an extra layer of hydration and nourishment, leaving your skin feeling supple and comfortable. Search for “best facial oil for mature skin” or “hydrating face oil“.
- Peptide Serum: Peptides are amino acids that can help support collagen production and improve skin firmness. Look for “peptide serum for aging” or “firming face serum“.
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