Over The Counter VS. Cosmeceutical Skin Care Products

Do You Know The Difference Between Over The Counter and Cosmeceutical Grade Skin Care Products?

I have been thinking about this topic for a while. I had to run errands one day last week and decided while I was in Costco I would look at all of the skin care products and the ingredients in them. Yes I know how boring right? Not to me...... I love this about my line of work..I am very serious about skin care! My patients, family & friends know this about me. 


I have tested almost every skin care line. I just like to know what's out there. I have people ask me all the time about skin care products, it's my job to know. So I just wanted to put this information out here so you would know the difference between Over The Counter and Cosmeceutical skin care products. I hope this helps if you are undecided on what is best for you and your skin! 

So here we go! OTC VS. Cosmeceuticals

Over the counter is any skin care product that can be purchased without a prescription. OTC's products do NOT have the same amount of active ingredients that cosmeceuticals have, They are NOT allowed to.

Cosmeceuticals are pharmaceutical grade products that are only available through doctors or licensed aestheticians!  Cosmeceuticals contain a higher amount of active ingredients than you could purchase OTC and they penetrate deeper into the skin the Dermis to be exact.


Why are active ingredients important? These are the ingredients that MAKE a change in the skin. Some of the conditions or concerns that most consumers are trying to correct: Hyperpigmentation, Melasma, Fine lines & Wrinkles, Hydration, Sun Spots ext. 


Ok.... So OTC products ONLY work with the outer most layer of the skin. This is the skin you see when looking in the mirror. So when you use OTC products you are applying the product and it just sits on the surface of the skin. It will not penetrate any deeper! Bummer RIGHT! I know. Think of all the money spent over the years on products that just work on the surface. OTC products have so many fillers, parabens, dyes, fragrance ext and they are most likely watered down. Look at your products, what is the first ingredient? This is what your product mostly consists of. 

  Epidermal & Dermal Layers Diagram #1

Medical Grade products work with the LIVE tissues in the Dermis !!!! Cosmeceuticals make changes in the dermis. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!!!

Now when you use Cosmeceuticals they actually penetrate through the Epidermis all the way to Dermis where your collagen, elastin, and new skin cells reside... This is what we want to target with skin care products!!! We want to get rid of any unhealthy skin cells that cause pigmentation problems or uneven skin texture. You want to BOOST collagen, elastin and speed up cell turnover, this is what makes healthy skin. 


When our collagen and elastin are broken down we will not have that tight plump looking skin. It is very hard to replace collagen and elastin after it's been damaged, this is why you should be using a cosmeceutical on a daily basis so you can preserve and protect what you have!  

Cosmeceutical Skin Care Products Move Through Multiple Layers of Skin Penetrating The Dermis.

Epidermal & Dermal Layer Diagram #2

One the BIGGEST reasons consumers purchase OTC products are because they think they cannot afford medical grade cosmeceuticals. This is not true. Most OTC products you get from the drug store, department stores, independent cosmetic sales consultants or even a mall kiosk are often the same price or more expensive. You end up using more of the product and replacing it sooner. Which means more $$$$!  Also cosmeceuticals are more affordable because they have a higher concentration of great quality ingredients, they last longer because you do not use as much, and they don't pay for T.V. commercials or big advertising campaigns. 


So does this mean OTC products do not work? If you have never used a skin care regime before... maybe but only with a minimal result. They will only work superficially. And this is where you end up with multiple skin care products that you get tired of because they do not work and you throw them in a drawer or trash can. Again waste of $$$$. 


If you have any questions please feel free to email or post a comment and I will get back with you as soon as possible. 

If you would like a free skin consultation call for an appointment with me at Azalea Laser & Skincare 910-452-3666.