Pearl of the Month April 2013 | Skin Care Science

It Does Matter Where You Buy Your Skin Care Products

A frequent question in our office is: “Is there really a difference between your products and products I can buy at the department store or the drug store?”  The answer is YES!

Marketing of over-the-counter (OTC) products has resulted in unrealistic expectations with regard to results. Anyone who is serious about their skin should focus on products that can only be sold through a physician’s office.  Why?

Science

Many products in department stores or drugstores have little or no associated clinical science and offer minimal true value to the patient. In contrast, physician-grade professional skin care products provide a level of treatment that goes beyond that of over-the-counter product lines. At the Visage Center, we also have years of training and expertise that you can’t get in a drug store or cosmetic counter. We can discuss with you exactly what the active ingredients are doing for your skin.

Mark-up

Department store brands can be marked-up 80% for packaging and marketing and generally contain less-effective ingredients. Physician-grade skin care products often have a lower price point than comparable OTC brands, which provides better value at a more reasonable price.  I can’t begin to tell you how many people I know who buy the most expensive product in the department store! They assume that if it’s expensive, it must work. However, there’s no correlation between cost and results.  Remember, an OTC product that has no benefit to the skin is a waste of 100% of your money!

Hype vs. FDA approval

The sellers of OTC products rely on the fact that consumers are looking for the next best thing—but the newest ingredient doesn’t equate to results. At the Visage Center pride ourselves on being an innovative practice with a pulse on what’s “hype” and what works. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) only reviews efficacy claims of products thought to be at a “prescription” level. In contrast, marketing claims made by skin care companies sold in department stores are not regulated, evaluated or verified by a government agency like the FDA.

Amount of Active Ingredients

Physician-dispensed products contain active ingredients at a higher percentage than OTC products. You also have the added benefit of your own skin care consultant to adjust as necessary. Topical skin care is essential in preventing signs of aging and maximizing your cosmetic procedure results. Investing in procedures without investing in good skin care is like leaving your new car out in a hailstorm.

Internet Hoaxes

Though you can sometimes find a deal on a product online, be careful!  There is no assurance that what is in the bottle is what you think you’re buying. Products may be tampered with, expired or improperly stored, which causes the active ingredients to deteriorate. Purchasing from a medical office that buys directly from the skin care company helps to assure that you are getting a high quality and properly handled product.

There will never be a “facelift” in a bottle, and there is no single approach that works for everyone. Schedule a consult with our aesthetician, Michelle, to develop a personalized and comprehensive physician-strength skin care regimen to correct skin damage and prevent future problems.