Just because a product makes a bold claim or promise, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. In the case of skincare, you might be investing money in too many products that you don’t need—and they might not be doing you any good.
“There are a lot of money-driven products out there that don’t really help, but there are also really good products out there that do,” explains Dr. Kelly Sullivan of Sullivan Surgery & Spa.
The key is to do the research into the science behind each of the products. It is one of the reasons it’s helpful to have a professional’s guidance, and why the medical-grade products available only through your doctor’s office are more reliable than what you would buy over the counter at the grocery store or pharmacy.
“Few consumers are going to want to do the research on each single product,” Dr. Sullivan adds. “It’s helpful to have a physician, a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who has done that research and can say what works and what doesn’t.”
Don’t think that medical-grade skincare products are always more expensive. In fact, most of the time, the prices are comparable. And they’re not something you need to be prescribed to buy. Instead, they’re simply products that are backed by scientific research and are distributed by their manufacturer to a physician’s office instead of a retailer.
One major benefit to investing in medical-grade products? You can probably pare down your collection. As Dr. Sullivan states, some people find themselves buying more products than they really need, and the cost adds up. “It’s easy to overdo it and have $600 of creams and lotions you bought at the store,” she says. “There’s a lot of product out there and you need someone to help you weed through it.”
The four primary products that Dr. Sullivan recommends every person have for their skincare routine are:
Sunscreen—Protecting your skin from damage in the first place is of the utmost importance, and you should wear sunscreen every day, not just when you’re going to the beach or the pool. Sun can cause skin damage even through the windshield of your car. Get a sunscreen with an SPF 50 for your face. Products at the store work just fine, but the products you can get through a doctor’s office are comparable in price and might feel better on your skin. A large bottle for $30 is enough to last a person for an entire season.
Repair—Your skin needs regular repair with a product containing vitamin C, an antioxidant that fights damage caused by free radicals. But it’s not enough to simply put a product rich in vitamin C on your skin—you need a medical-grade product that is proven to penetrate deep into your skin cells so the vitamin C can do its work.
Moisturizer—Many over-the-counter face moisturizers, such as Neutrogena or Olay, are reliable and good for everyday use. The exception to this would be if an individual has excessively dry skin, acne, rosacea, or some other condition, as they will want to get a specialty product from their doctor that is suited to their specific skin type and issues.
Nighttime repair—Most people will apply a product to their face before bed to repair any damage their skin has sustained from daily living. For these products, a professional’s guidance can be helpful to ensure you’re using something proven to fix the specific damage you tend to have, whether that’s discoloration, wrinkles, acne, or something else.
But there’s one more thing patients should be getting from skincare professionals if they want their face to look the best: a regular exfoliation with a medical aesthetician under physician supervision to remove dead skin cells and other debris every six to eight weeks. “You can have the best products in the world, but if you’re not doing regular skin care, they’re just sitting on the surface and not getting in,” Dr. Sullivan says. She compares skincare to dental care in this situation—you brush your teeth at home, but you still need to make routine visits to your dentist for a professional cleaning.
And don’t forget the daily habits that are just as important as what products you use. Be sure to wash twice a day, stay hydrated, exercise, and get good nutrition. “The skin is the largest organ of the body, and we need to take care of it,” Dr. Sullivan concludes. “Taking care of your skin is not just about looking good—it is about taking care of your body and maximizing good health.”
