Professional skincare products vs over the counter skincare products (OTC). What makes them different and why. In a world that is completely saturated by beauty products, advertisements and false claims, it makes it hard to know what products to choose. One of the biggest advantages that over the counter products have over professional products is their stellar marketing and their accessibility; moreover, they make for the perfect impulse buy. Marketing is a valuable tool for OTC companies. But most importantly, OTC makes false promises with little to no proof to back it up.
YOU CAN NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR, SEE OR READ!!
Did you know that most people have no idea what their skin actually needs. Therefore, they go into it blindly and come out with something that will most likely give them issues in the long run. This keeps them going back until they have depleted all of their resources and they usually give up and do nothing. However, once desperation sets in, they find themselves repeating the same behaviors that left them frustrated, broke and hopeless.
It’s department stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom’s and many others that monopolize on the fact that most people are not educated on how to take care of their skin. Most products sold in these department stores do not stick around; furthermore, brand-new products are pushed on the consumer with the knowledge that it will be soon replaced by the next best thing.
Some people may argue that the people working the counters are very helpful and knowledgeable. This can be the truth in some cases, but the people working behind the counter are pushed to sell the latest and the greatest dream cream, and usually have very little if any education. A skincare professional, already knows there’s a difference between professional skincare products and over-the-counter options. They spend the better part of their career directly interacting with clients to assess and resolve myriad skin concerns. A big part of a skin professionals job is knowing what products and what ingredient to use.
So why do these (OTC) products usually cause issues?
First, a low percentage of active ingredients results in not being able to achieve the desired result. Certain skin concerns like severe acne require a higher concentration of the active ingredient than you can’t find in over-the-counter products. Second, there is no regulation required for non-professional products which are made in large batches. Over the counter (OTC) skincare, are not tested for effectiveness and are not held to the same standard as professional grade skincare. Professional products are tested and are made with quality active ingredients that have proven results with proper use. As active ingredient levels increase, it becomes even more important to choose a high-quality product made for professional-only. Professional grade skincare is created in smaller controlled batches which results in a higher quality, better formulation and exceptional ingredients.
Formulation matters to skincare products!
Professional skincare products vs over the counter skincare products (OTC). Formulation is key to any good product. As discussed before, it’s the percentage of active ingredients, the regulation, testing and effectiveness that is required to deliver results. Professional grade products are formulated with a pH value of skin which is between 4.7 and 5.7. Moreover, professional products are formulated to support the integrity of the skins protective barrier. If a product is too alkaline it can leave the skin vulnerable to damaging free radicals and bacteria that could potentially cause acne or other skin care disorders. OTC products don’t take pH into consideration.
Penetration is another key to formulation. The size of a molecule matters when it comes to penetrating the skin. Our skin is designed to prevent large molecules from penetrating the skins barrier. Most over the counter products contain ingredients that have no chance of penetrating the skin. Professional products are created with permeability in mind, which are small enough to deliver clinical results.
Honesty above all else.
As a skincare professional and founder of Baby Me Club, it is my job to be honest and true to what I believe in. Education is above all else the key to my success. My last and final point is the difference in cost effectiveness. You pay for what you get; professional products are priced more honestly. In conclusion, you may pay more for a similar volume of product; however, professional skincare products are more potent, made with higher quality ingredients, are formulated for maximum penetration and highly concentrated, so you don’t need to use as much. When used properly, they last longer and work better than over-the-counter remedies which equates to a much better value long-term.