A client recently asked if I stocked medical grade skincare. I didn’t at the time but she got me thinking. I’ve bought lots of skincare products over the years. All of them were “over the counter” brands purchased at a pharmacy, supermarket or online. Whether I used budget brands or premium brands like Elemis or Clarins, I never achieved the results promised on the bottle and didn’t notice much difference between budget and premium. After researching medical grade skincare I now realise why!
Reasons to choose medical grade skincare
Clinical research
Medical grade skincare products must undergo clinical research studies to back up any claims they make about their benefits. These companies spend a large amount of their profits on research and product development, rather than the massive marketing campaigns seen in over the counter brands.
Better quality ingredients
Medical grade products are required to contain ingredients that are 99% pure. Over the counter products are not held to the same standards and can contain fillers and synthetic additives.
More of the active ingredient
They have higher concentrations of active ingredients (retinoids, vitamin C, antioxidants). Over the counter brands can contain only a trace of these ingredients. This may not be enough to have an effect, or it may take much longer to see an effect.
Delivery to deep skin layers
Medical grade skincare products penetrate deeper into the skin due to more sophisticated delivery ingredients. They can reach the deep dermis where they can stimulate collagen and make a real difference. Over the counter brands sit on the surface and only work on the epidermis.
Medical grade can only be prescribed by a medical professional
Medical grade products are recommended and prescribed by a medical professional, such as Dermatologists and medical aesthetic practitioners. They have a wealth of experience dealing with the skin but also receive extensive training before they can prescribe medical grade products. Meaning they can prescribe the perfect regimen for your specific skin type, without the guesswork on your part. A medical grade regimen can be tailored to your individual skin to achieve your desired results.
Medical grade products are better value for money
Even though medical grade products are superior to the commercial brands, their prices are usually comparable. This is because these companies do not spend vast sums on advertising campaigns as their results speak for themselves. You also get better value for money because the higher active ingredient concentrations penetrate into the dermis so you achieve better results with the same or even less product. You also have to consider the piles of money wasted on over the counter products that you purchase and stop using because they don’t work, leaving you frustrated and disappointed. The product graveyard in your bathroom is proof!
Cosmeceuticals
What about cosmeceuticals? True cosmeceuticals are medical grade products that prefer to use the cosmeceutical term. However, many skincare brands market themselves as cosmeceuticals when they are not. These particular brands claim the same benefits that medical grade products but have much lower concentrations of biologically active ingredients and don’t need to undergo the rigorous research that medical products do. As a rule, if you can buy the skincare product from a pharmacy or online, it is not a true cosmeceutical product. True cosmeceutical or medical grade products can only be purchased from a Dermatologist or Aesthetic Practitioner. There are lots of medical grade brands around. My favourites are Alumier MD, Zo Skincare and Obagi.