It’s a Sunday afternoon… you’re perusing the aisles of your local TJ Maxx when you just so happen to stumble upon their infamous skin care aisle. The shelves are overflowing with an abundance of shiny bottles, wrapped in alluring labels. You pick up one bottle, then two… You begin to notice some familiar brands that you’re itching to try, so you decide to take a look and do some exploring, because after all.. Everything is on sale! “$5.99 for a Retinol!?? I’ll take them all!”
If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.
To some clients, the thought of splurging on a $130 overnight cream sounds absolutely insane, leading many to seek out cheaper alternatives.
With the plethora of beauty bloggers out there posting their “skincare dupes,” it’s easy to get sucked in. But before you make sudden decisions, let’s look at what a dupe really means. In terms of skincare, a dupe is basically any budget-friendly product that mimics a higher end one. Perhaps social media has contributed to the obsession with the perfect skin. Influencers will have you convinced that their $30 Retinol is going to drastically change the overall health and appearance of your skin. It’s important to understand that although your income may be more limited, it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve quality products that work.
So often, many of these products are just a marketing ploy. This isn’t to say that there aren’t some great products on the market, but most OTC brands take advantage of the power of marketing by placing more focus on how their products are packaged, and less on the quality or effectiveness of the ingredients inside their bottles.
Beware of fillers and added ingredients
As with all over the counter brands, they are not held to the same rigorous and regulated standards as medical-grade products. This is because they need to be cheaper and more effective on a mass scale. As such, many of them contain low-quality filler ingredients such as harmful parabens, sulfates, and silicones that can cause irreversible damage to your skin. We recommend that you avoid these ingredients if they cause irritation to your skin. If you are affected by them, these reactions can range from mild to severe. Sulfates are used to foam up the product, and make it feel creamy. However, these ingredients can actually strip the proteins and lipids from your skin. This may lead to dry, flaky skin.
Most over-the-counter exfoliants and scrubs contain “microbeads” as a main ingredient to exfoliate your skin. These “microbeads” are actually tiny solid plastic particles or even jagged crushed walnut shells. These exfoliants may however cause tiny micro tears on the surface of the skin. Ouch!
How does medical grade skincare work?
The medical grade skincare industry has grown steadily over the past few years. With the expansion of medical research, new technology and increased awareness, the products being made today simply do not compare to older ones. Medical grade skincare brands are formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients for optimal results.
Powerful and clinically researched, pharmaceutical grade skincare products are formulated to reach the hypodermis, or deepest layer of skin. These products contain ingredients that are safe and effective. Medical grade skincare is clinically proven to protect your skin from harmful elements and encourage cellular regeneration. This helps promote healthy skin cells from the inside out, allowing users to achieve optimal results quickly and efficiently. Targeting specific areas of your skin health, medical grade skincare products help you achieve a radiant complexion. They promote a vibrant, radiant complexion by supporting essential skin proteins and exfoliating dead, dull surface cells.
Our commitment to clinical excellence extends beyond the in-office experience. We’re committed to providing our patients with information and resources they can use at home to help them get the most out of their time with us.
Skin care is a lifetime commitment. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why products like chemical peels and microdermabrasion are so effective: they leave your skin looking smoother, younger, and more radiant long after they’ve been used. And when you combine those treatments with a home care regimen of medical grade skin products, you can maintain those results for a lifetime.
Our selection of facial treatments use pharmaceutical-grade products customized by our team to suit your unique complexion needs. Each facial treatment will enhance, protect, and rejuvenate your skin with customized treatments that are created specifically for you.
With medical grade skin care, you can enjoy the comfort of knowing that your personalised regimen is designed specifically for your natural beauty and needs. By treating each client as an individual, we help you develop a daily skincare routine that works best for you.