Does ‘medical grade’ actually mean anything when it comes to skincare? (2023)

FAQs

Is it better to use medical grade skincare? ›

Since medical-grade products are vigorously tested and specially curated to be effective on the skin, they offer better results. In addition, most medical-grade skincare companies use highly stabilised ingredients, which prolongs their durability.

Only 5% of the skin care industry is under the regulations established by the FDA and considered pharmaceutical grade skin care products. RODAN + FIELDS is a Pharmaceutical Grade skincare company! The FDA requires that pharmaceutical products be 99.9% pure ingredients. Products must contain 0.1%, or less, of bacteria.

If you've invested wisely in medical grade skin (skincare proven to make a change in the skin - definitely what your skin needs) and are using Active ingredients (ingredients proven to make a change to the skin - absolutely what your skin needs) then you need to be using the product for a minimum of 8-12 weeks before ...

Products like The Ordinary, Murad, Paula's Choice, Living Proof, and La Roche-Posay as well as countless other brands are known as Medical Grade Skin Care Products.

OTC cosmetic products aren't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medical-grade skincare is a marketing term used for some OTC products. Medical-grade products can only use ingredients approved for OTC use, though many of them are backed by clinical studies and adhere to FDA regulations.

Medical grade skincare products contain more potent ingredients. Only a small amount of the product is needed for each use, so they generally last longer than less expensive OTC brands. Medical grade skincare products are held to high standards by the FDA.

Neutrogena. The brand: You don't need to spend tons of money for effective products that derms love; Neutrogena is touted as the number one dermatologist-recommend skincare product and you can find it at the drugstore.

Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand¹.

The traditional way to buy medical-grade skincare is at your doctor or dermatologist's office. Because of the more potent ingredients, it is first best to talk to your dermatologist or doctor to find out which medical-grade product is best for your specific issue.

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Are ordinary products medical-grade? ›

This collection of skincare products offers medical-grade formulas at a price that won't give you sticker shock.

Again, it comes down to intricacies regarding skin type: if you are prone to redness and irritation, you will probably prefer La Roche Posay, whereas if you are mainly struggling with congested skin, you will most likely see better results with CeraVe.

CeraVe products are not designed specifically to get rid of acne scars. If acne scars are a key concern, the Effaclar Duo+ moisturiser from La Roche-Posay is likely to be more effective since it works to control the appearance of marks on the skin.

How do we know is not a fake product? Answer: Hi there! To ensure you are buying an authentic La Roche-Posay product on Amazon, only purchase La Roche-Posay items that are designated as "Ships and Sold by Amazon.com”; products sold by distributors or third parties are not necessarily authorized.

Legally, only products deemed “medical-grade” can contain certain, high-powered skin care ingredients and at higher levels. No matter how much you spend on fancy products, they simply can't have the same level of quality at the same concentration as medical-grade products.

Developed by a board certified dermatologist following years of research on the role of antioxidants in skin health and cancer prevention, SkinCeuticals has become one of the most highly recognized medical grade skincare lines among plastic surgeons and skincare professionals.

Medical grade, or pharmaceutical grade products are required to contain ingredients that are 99% pure.

The fact is that professional products have a higher concentration of high-quality active ingredients than over-the-counter or OTC products. This ensures that you will get better results from the professional products. The optimal pH of skin is between 4.7 and 5.7 which is mildly acidic.

What dermatologist does Kim Kardashian use? ›

Camille Howard, a New York-based dermatologist who has tried all nine of Kardashian's products, expensive skin care isn't abnormal: A hyaluronic acid serum "can cost over $150," and brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm and La Mer have been praised for their even more expensive yet high-quality effects.

According to research from Dermstore—the e-tailer also compiled Google searches from the past 12 months—there's one skin-care brand that America calls a clear favorite, and it's dermatologist approved. Taking the number-one spot is SkinCeuticals, which topped online searches in a whopping 30 states in 2021.

Without a doubt, yes. If you're ever unsure of what to use on your skin, regardless of your skin type or condition, turn to Cerave. The brand has products that contain ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for treating acne, SPF for sun protection, retinol and vitamin C for anti-aging, and more.

Japan. Here is the answer to the question of which country has the best skin care products. Charcoal is popular in Japanese skincare because of its ability to make skin clearer and brighter (charcoal naturally attracts toxins).

Despite Rodan + Fields' “good brand name recognition in niche markets,” an April 2021 Moody's report said it maintained a negative outlook due to continued revenue declines, with sales dropping to $1.077 billion in 2020 from $1.3 billion the year prior, along with further reductions in the number of independent sales ...

Celebs like Britney Spears and Lisa Rinna are sharing the secret to their radiant glow — they're just using Rodan + Fields!

While bottling the spring's revered water in various formulas may not be as effective as soaking in it, La Roche-Posay remains one of the most dermatologist-recommended brands out there due to their mild formulas and special attention to skin conditions such as eczema, dryness, and acne.

The Ordinary's Granactive Retinoid* 2% Emulsion ($9.80) is a retinoid active, part of the family of age-defiers that helps reduce wrinkles. While retinoids (a.k.a. a vitamin A derivatives) often get a bad rep for being irritating, The Ordinary's formula is designed to make the serum gentle while still being effective.

Why is ordinary cosmetics so cheap? ›

The The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil is exactly what it says, there is only one ingredient on that list and it's the seed oil. By focusing simply on the ingredients which work, The Ordinary are able to keep their costs massively down and sell their products for a smaller price.

How to tell if it's bad: “If you notice a change in smell, color or consistency, throw it out,” she says. You might also notice oil beginning to form and it not mixing or absorbing into your skin, which is an indicator that it's no longer good to use.

Your Skin Has Acclimated

A common reason why skincare products seem to “stop working” is simply because they have acclimated. So they're still working their magic, but you're just not seeing the same side effects since your dermis has had time to get used to the ingredients.

In general, expect to begin seeing results at between six and twelve weeks, but remember that ingredients like retinol may take up to around six months to truly start showing visible improvements, as they structurally change skin in a more impactful way.

Medical grade vitamin C serums applied topically are 20 times more potent than ingesting these vitamins and ensure your skin is receiving the dose necessary to stand up to the free radicals you'll encounter on a daily basis.

“The chance that products made by the same brand will complement each other is higher than using products from different brands.” This also reduces the chances of irritation. There are some rules in skin care about ingredients that shouldn't be layered together, such as retinol and vitamin C.

The fact is that professional products have a higher concentration of high-quality active ingredients than over-the-counter or OTC products. This ensures that you will get better results from the professional products. The optimal pH of skin is between 4.7 and 5.7 which is mildly acidic.

Korean beauty products use much gentler formulas thanks to the Korean tradition of using natural, unique, and harsh-free ingredients passed through multiple generations.

This collection of skincare products offers medical-grade formulas at a price that won't give you sticker shock.

“I think the one serum everyone should use is a vitamin C antioxidant serum,” explains New York dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD. “Vitamin C is one of the most potent antioxidants we have and has a number of skin benefits. Revision Vitamin C Lotion 30% ($128) is one of the strongest concentrations of vitamin C available.

Why is SkinCeuticals so expensive? ›

SkinCeuticals are so expensive because of the potency levels of high-quality ingredients used. The brand also focuses intently on research and development, testing, and formulation, which is a costly process. All of this helps ensure their products are highly effective.

Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out the skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol. As for benzoyl peroxide and retinol, they cancel each other out.

When it comes to skin care, more isn't always better. “Very few skin care ingredients have actually been shown to benefit patients clinically,” says Dr. Amber Leis, a UCI Health plastic surgeon and assistant professor at the UCI School of Medicine.

Experts agree that the skin only needs three to four products—and sometimes zero skincare products—to thrive. “Our skin knows what to do—we just need to learn how to support, rather than force and suppress, healthy functioning,” Angela Peck, the holistic aesthetician behind Wholistic Skin + Care, tells HelloGiggles.

“An expensive moisturizer will usually have a higher concentration of the 'good' ingredients,” Dr. Jaliman says. “They are usually safer for all skin types. Many times they won't contain added fragrances that can cause allergic reactions for some.”

You've heard it before, but it's really true: Sunscreen is the most important product you can use on your skin every day. It should be at the top of your list of skin care essentials. The more damage to your skin cells from sunlight that you can prevent, the better your skin will be for years to come.

Korean skin care focuses on using natural ingredients and is ahead of the game in beauty product innovation. American skin care has traditional creams and toners but Korean skincare is unique. Korean skin care products have many forms - puddings, jelly creams, hydrating gels, peeling gels, sheet masks, etc.

Asians have thicker skin because we have a thicker dermis due to larger and more numerous collagen-producing cells (known as fibroblasts) in this second layer of our skin. All those extra fibroblasts produce extra collagen which helps to preserve our skin's elasticity.