Does Medical-Grade Skincare Work Better than Mainstream Skincare?

Medical-grade skincare products are in the spotlight now more than ever, with celebrities, influencers, and high-profile dermatologists all touting the magic, skin-transforming effects of brands such as SkinMedica, PCA Skin, and Obagi.

But, behind all the gushing reviews and celebrity outpours of love, are these brands really worth the hype (and the price tag)? We asked our in-house dermatologists to weigh in on the key differences between medical and mainstream skincare below.

HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF ACTIVES

Also known as cosmeceutical skincare, medical-grade skincare contains a much higher concentration of active ingredients than mainstream skincare. This concentration is what yields the high-performing results that make these brands so coveted - that go way beyond simply cleansing, moisturizing, and toning.

Medical-grade skincare also contains ingredients that are backed up by strong clinical evidence to be highly effective on the skin, offering both medicinal and cosmetic benefits in a much shorter amount of time than mainstream skincare. 

SCIENCE-DRIVEN FORMULATIONS

Medical-grade skincare is often created by scientists, dermatologists and experts whose medical training allows them to ensure each product is high-quality, capable of guaranteeing results, and is safe to use. Most medical-grade companies use highly stabilized ingredients that last longer and take longer to degrade, using more involved mechanisms of absorption to enhance delivery to deeper areas of skin. Investing in cutting-edge technology and research is one of the many reasons these companies are able to deliver formulations with highly potent results.

TARGETED TO SPECIFIC SKIN NEEDS

 For conditions such as acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and dryness, each medical-grade skincare product tends to be targeted to one or a few specific conditions, making them a crucial investment for solving a particular skin issue. Many over-the-counter products contain fillers, synthetic additives, and only trace amounts of actives, so many of them lack the ability to deliver the results they promise.

Unlike medical-grade brands, most mainstream skincare brands are regulated not to make any medical claims, so they cannot state they “treat” a skin condition. Ready to take a leap and boost your routine with medical-grade products?