Skincare Products: Medical Grade VS Over The Counter (2024)

Skincare Products: Medical Grade VS Over The Counter (1)

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I get a ton of DM’s on my Instagram (@laelaryn) about what skincare products I use and have used and recommended. Since joining Reward Style (Like To Know It) I get so many requests to link the skincare products I use and most of the time my response is I can’t link them because I only use Medical Grade Skincare and most of those products have to be purchased at a physicians office.

However, I just discovered that through Dermstore I can link the skincare products that don’t require a prescription and then I will just share the names of the ones that do!

I know it can get confusing knowing the difference between Medical Grade and OTC Skincare. When I am hanging out with my Dermatology, Plastic Surgery and Skincare specialized Esthetician friends its always a topic of frustration that not enough women know the difference so I will try my best to break that shiz down!

When I think about the differences between the two I often think of these 3 things:

1.) FDA Regulation & Scientific third-party Research Studies: Because MedicalGradeskincareproductspenetrate the surface of the skin and go into the dermal layers they arestrictlyregulatedbytheFDA.BeforeaproductcanbeputonthemarkettheFDA requiresextensivestudiesanddatathatprovetheproductiseffectiveatwhatitsaysitwilldoandtheproductmustcontain99.9%oftheactiveingredient!

OvertheCounter (OTC)productsthatyoufindindrugstores,departmentstoresandthroughindividualssellingthrough home parties or online areNOTconsideredMedicalGrade.Theseproductsaredesignedtositonthesurfaceoftheskin, can and require zero scientific data before they can be sold. When you see a report saying 99% of women said such and such improved that could simply be a poll sent via email and therefore not very accurate or provable.

2.) 99.9% Stabilized Active Ingredients in the purest form:Medical Grade skincare products are required by law to contain 99.9% of the active ingredient in the purest form which basically means the most effective form the ingredient can offer.

This is not to say that some OTC products are not effective because there are plenty that are. However, you must do your research on them and their effectiveness for the area of concern. Typically these products keep the amounts of active ingredients low so they’re irritation-free for a broad consumer base. There is still no guarantee that a product will deliver on results likely because it does not contain enough of the active ingredient and if it does it will likely take several, several months or a year to even produce minimal results. What most people fail to consider is that you often will spend more on OTC skincare products to achieve lesser results in a longer amount of time.

3.) Highly effective Medical Grade skincare products will often require a doctor’s prescription: This is why most of the Medical Grade skincare lines are sold at doctors offices. The skincare lines will contain some products in their range that don’t require prescriptions and some that do. With products this potent you want a physician to prepare the patient for possible side effects,such as irritation and sun sensitivity, and to oversee the treatment.

I always look at it like this you can buy the OTC teeth whitener, pain reliever, whatever ails you cream BUT when you need something to get the job done and get it done fast you often turn to a physician.

Your dentist’s whitening treatment will always be faster and more effective than white strips! Doesn’t mean white strips don’t work. They just take way longer and never deliver quite the same result!

I hope I did an ok job of explaining that in lament terms.

In my experience, I find that buying cleansers, exfoliators, toners, sheet masks, clay masks, some serums, etc are totally fine to buy OTC. When you are looking for products that are more or less fixing aging concerns or preventing aging, wrinkles, texture, brown spots, pores, fine lines, acne, acne scars; etc that is when you should rely on more potent medical grade products.

Here are some of my favorite Medical Grade Skincare Lines:

My holy grail line is Zo Medical by Dr. Obagi (This is NOT the same thing as the Obagi you might have heard of. Dr. Obagi sold that line years ago and its quality is no longer the same, in my opinion. He started his new line Zo Skin Health & Zo Medical.) I have tried tons of products from different lines but when I strictly followed Dr. Obagi’s program I saw the best results I have ever seen with my skin.

I also like Neocutis, Skinceuticals, Skinmedica, Biologique Recherche, IS Clinical, Glytone, Dermalogica & Elta MD. These skincare lines as a whole offer fantastic range of Medical grade products!

Here is a list of OTC lines that I have personally researched and have found to have effective products within their range: Tula Skincare, Dr. Brandt, Dr. Perricone, Dr. Dennis Gross, Drunk Elephant, SK-II, ROC & Peter Thomas Roth.

So there ya go ladies! A little breakdown on the major differences between Medical Grade and OTC skincare products. If you have certain skincare issues that you are looking to resolve and want to know if I have a recommendation in terms of skincare product or line; please shoot me an email via my contact page or DM on Instagram (@laelaryn) as I am more readily available on there.

I will be doing more articles talking about specific skin issues and products that have proven to be effective for treating those issues and linking what I can!

Xo

Lael

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Skincare Products: Medical Grade VS Over The Counter (2024)

FAQs

Skincare Products: Medical Grade VS Over The Counter? ›

Medical grade skin care products have higher concentrations of active ingredients. If there is an active ingredient in an over the counter cosmetic product, there just may not be enough of it to have an effect, or it may take much longer to get an effect.

Is medical grade skin care better than over-the-counter? ›

Medical-grade skincare products are formulated to penetrate deeper into the skin, which allows them to deliver more effective results. OTC products, on the other hand, are not as likely to penetrate deep enough to make a difference, they sit on the surface and may not be absorbed fully.

Is medical grade skin care really worth it? ›

Medical-grade skincare tends to use higher-quality ingredients with increased absorption mechanisms that can lead to potentially better results. OTC skincare products cannot make medical claims but medical-grade products can. For example, a drugstore facial serum cannot claim to 'treat acne.

What is the difference between medical grade and prescription skincare? ›

Prescription skincare products are FDA approved, are backed by rigorous science, and must be prescribed by a licensed physician. Medical-grade skincare is a marketing term used to promote certain OTC products, and many are backed by clinical studies and adhere to FDA standards, but they don't require a prescription.

What is the difference between medical grade skincare and natural skincare? ›

What is the Difference Between Natural & Medical-Grade Skincare? Natural skincare is derived from ingredients that are naturally occurring in nature. On the other hand, medical-grade or synthetic skincare is either man-made or altered.

Is skin better in medical grade? ›

SkinBetter Science® creates medical grade skincare products that we feel are truly worth the price.

Is CeraVe considered medical grade? ›

Available at most major retail outlets, CeraVe dermatologist-approved skincare products are an accessible option for those who want high-quality products without a prescription.

What is the number one medical grade skincare? ›

Most Popular: The SkinMedica Line

Allergan knows what they're doing, and it really shows in the SkinMedica line. This medical-grade product line includes a rich array of serums, cleansers, and other products that plump, hydrate, and soothe the skin in amazing ways.

Which skincare brand do dermatologists recommend? ›

SkinCeuticals, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, Murad, and Dr. Barbara Sturm are some of the top skincare brands that are beloved by dermatologists and customers alike. Offering a range of products to treat different skin concerns—as well as hero products endorsed by celebrities—these brands are industry favorites.

What is the best skincare brand? ›

20 Highest Quality Skincare Brands in 2024
  • SkinMedica.
  • La Mer.
  • Dr. Barbara Sturm.
  • The Ordinary.
  • The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. ( NYSE:EL)
  • Sunday Riley.
  • Avene.
  • Drunk Elephant.
Feb 24, 2024

Why switch to medical grade skincare? ›

Medical-grade skincare uses high-quality ingredients that are designed to provide effective results. In addition, they usually have a stronger concentration of active ingredients than over-the-counter products. As a result, they can be more effective at treating skin conditions like acne, wrinkles, and sun damage.

Can estheticians use medical grade skincare? ›

In the State of California an esthetician cannot: Tint or dye eyelashes or eyebrows. Shave a client's face. Use medium-grade or medical-grade skin exfoliates.

How long does it take for medical grade skincare to work? ›

You may be able to see improvements after three weeks, but for significant fading of dark spots, it can take about two months. Medical-grade products such as anti-aging serums also fare better than pharmacy or drugstore brands.

Why is medical grade skincare better than over-the-counter? ›

Medical grade products contain better quality ingredients. They are required to contain the purest form of their medical ingredients – ingredients that are 99% pure. Products that are purchased at Sephora, grocery stores, or online are not held to the same standards.

Is La Roche Posay medical grade? ›

They may use less pure water. However, there are some drugstore brands that are considered medical grade like la Roche Posay and Cera Ve.

Is medical grade skincare FDA regulated? ›

Medical-grade is not a regulated term, so there are no FDA rules or industry standards determining what products fall into this category,” said Aegan Chan, a board-certified dermatologist.

What is the best medical grade skincare brand? ›

The Sun Savior:
BrandKey FeaturesSkin Types
iS ClinicalUnique blends of actives for specific concernsNormal, oily
EpionGentle formulations for post-procedure careAll
Skinbetter ScienceData-driven approach, science-backed formulasAll
EltaMDLightweight, broad-spectrum sun protection$$$
6 more rows

What is the difference between medical and cosmetic skincare? ›

The main difference is that medical skincare will have a higher concentration of active ingredients and has been tested to be effective on specific skin conditions.

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