Our Social Media feeds are packed with brands / influencers & skincare professionals all advertising, chatting about the benefits of different skincare. Natural, vegan, clean, medical are just some of the strap lines we see and hear, and for the end user it can be totally overwhelming. So, what really is the difference? Can you really get those banging results from a product you grab off the counter or do you really need a prescription?
I want to break this down for you and give you some points of difference between the two to help you understand what’s the best route for you.
Right, the first thing I want to discuss is Product Delivery, no not how it arrives at your door but how it’s delivered into the skin. In order for a product to make a real change and change the way the skin is functioning it must hit the bottom layer of the skin known as the dermis. This is where your collagen scaffolding is and all your living cells are. An over-the-counter product doesn’t have the sophisticated technology to penetrate this far down, so they tend to linger more on the surface levels known as the epidermis. They will hydrate the dead skin cells that are on the top layer of the skin and then when they drop off In a few days your skin feels dry or oily again. So essentially you treat the symptoms but you never correct the root cause of the problem.
The next key point is, medical grade products are specific to skin concerns. An individual medical grade product is created to treat a specific skin condition and not just for the wider audience. If you purchase a product over the counter, you’re basically self-diagnosing – these products need to work more broadly on all skin types. This is why it’s great to speak to an expert and have a tailor-made prescription created for you. One of the biggest differences is that a medical grade skincare line has to be prescribed by a skincare professional. This person will have undergone extensive training in the products and will best understand how to treat YOUR specific skin needs. They are going to arrive at a more appropriate regime for you, saving you money and ensuring you gain the best results.
The next big point of difference is quality and quantity of ingredients. OK, so you’ve seen one of the many skincare buzz words on the packaging of the OTC serum and you think bingo, that sounds good. BUT unfortunately, this product will not have the scientific and specific ingredient dosage required to make changes in the skin. They have to abide by laws that limit their ingredient dosage. The same applies to quality. Yes, ok it contains vitamin A – but does it contain the ingredient in its rawest and most stable form, to ensure it’s used at its fullest strength – definitely not, and that’s what is reflected in the price.
So, the last point I want to highlight is research and testing. Medical grade skincare is backed by actual science, there are papers and papers that back up their claims. They have to undergo extensive research before they reach the market. They must be not only safe, but also effective at treating the skin concern they claim to. They must pass the FDA & MHRA which are regulatory authorities. Whereas OTC products need to pass just a safety test and have no medical backing in treating the skin concern mentioned.
So the bottom line is this ;
THE MOST EFFECTIVE PRODUCTS HAVE
THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS,
IN THE PUREST FORM,
AT THE APPROPRIATE STRENGTH,
IN THE CORRECT COMBINATION,
BACKED BY ACTUAL CLINICAL RESEARCH,
AND ARE ALWAYS PRESCRIBED BY A PROFESSIONAL.
I hope these points help you feel more empowered when choosing your skincare range next. If you’re looking for a range that is going to change your skin and get that long lasting glow you need to turn to the medical grade world .
Here in my clinic, I only work with brands that have the scientific backing to change the skins functioning. That goes for my treatments too. I want to always ensure that I have the right tools up my sleeve to ensure I can get you, my client, to your skincare goals.