SKINCARE GUIDE: PROFESSIONAL SKINCARE PRODUCTS VS OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS

PROFESSIONAL SKINCARE PRODUCTS

While you may be familiar with professional skincare, there's always more to learn about its products. Here's why they are worth your clients’ investment.

PURPOSE

Professional skincare products are high-grade, potent formulations designed to address specific dermal concerns. They contain active ingredients in concentrated amounts to target specific skin concerns and provide visible results.

While cosmeceuticals are only required to be 70 percent pure, pharmaceutical-grade products are 99.9 percent pure and only offered by licensed professionals.

Pharmaceutical-grade skincare can enhance any client's daily skincare routine. They are formulated to work synergistically with one another and provide a custom treatment plan for each client. By incorporating these specialized products, skincare professionals can significantly enhance treatment outcomes, ensuring clients' skin health and vibrancy are consistently maintained.

INGREDIENTS AND FORMULATIONS

Key ingredients found in professional skincare products vary greatly, each playing a vital role in the health and vitality of the skin. These ingredients are meticulously chosen for their proven effectiveness and synergistic actions. Here are a few commonly found in formulations:

• Retinoids
• Peptides
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Vitamin C
• Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
• Niacinamide

For pharmaceutical-grade products, scientists strategically select and balance these active ingredients while crafting specialized skincare formulations. The resulting blends are tailored to target particular skin concerns, such as aging, acne or pigmentation. For example, our Serious Action Masque combines natural ingredients with skincare acids to effectively treat acne.

BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS

As a skincare professional, you can empower your clients by recommending high-quality pharmaceutical-grade skincare products. Incorporate these products into your customized treatment plans to offer your clients visible results for specific skin concerns. 

A major client concern regarding pharmaceutical-grade products is the price tag. Is spending a little extra worth it? In the long run, professional skincare is a much better investment. The high quality will prevent future skin concerns that may require expensive treatments, and they’ll do the job right the first time. In other words, they’ll actually save your clients money.

If your client is still unsure about these benefits, recommend they start their skincare routine with our Idyllic Cleanser, suitable for all skin types. This product is a gentle, pH-balanced formula that will provide lasting results they can't deny.

OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Pharmaceutical products are known for targeting specific concerns with clinically-tested formulas, but what about over-the-counter products?

DEFINITION AND AVAILABILITY

Over-the-counter (OTC) skincare products are readily available, making them a common choice for many consumers. They can be found in drugstores, supermarkets, beauty shops and online marketplaces. This means customers can easily access an array of these products at their convenience.

INGREDIENTS AND FORMULATIONS

OTC products typically include a range of ingredients designed for broad-spectrum skincare. However, these ingredients are often less potent than those found in pharmaceutical-grade products. They’re also not required to be 99.9 percent pure, so they contain many fillers and impurities that can irritate the skin. Typical ingredients found in OTC skincare products include:

• Salicylic Acid
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Vitamin C
• Lactic Acid
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Retinoids

The stark difference between pharmaceutical-grade and OTC products lies in their formulations. Professional skincare products contain high concentrations of active ingredients that effectively target specific skin concerns. On the other hand, OTC products, while more readily accessible, contain a broad range of ingredients in lower concentrations, making them less targeted in comparison.

LIMITATIONS OF OTC PRODUCTS

While OTC skincare products can be beneficial for a short time, they have many limitations. The lower concentrations of active ingredients often result in less noticeable outcomes. 

Additionally, the lack of targeted solutions will delay desired results and frustrate customers who are looking for visible changes in their skin. This is where pharmaceutical-grade products come in, providing clients with potent and customized formulations.

With products like our Rosacea Relief, your clients will see immediate changes to their specific skin concerns. Plus, as a skincare professional, you can offer personalized advice and support for long-term skin health using pharmaceutical-grade skincare.

PROFESSIONAL VS. OTC: 6 KEY DIFFERENCES

Now that you know the major differences between pharmaceutical-grade and OTC products, here is a recap with additional variances:

1. STRENGTH AND POTENCY

Pharmaceutical-grade products contain significantly higher concentrations of active ingredients with 99.9 percent purity. They're more potent and effective at solving numerous skincare concerns.

2. CUSTOMIZATION

Professional skincare products are tailored to address specific skin concerns like aging, acne and pigmentation. OTC products are generally designed for broad-spectrum skincare.

3. PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION

Skincare professionals can offer guidance and support while monitoring the effects of pharmaceutical-grade products on their clients' skin. After a chemical peel, look to a professional serum like our Essential Serum with Amino Acids to establish a healthy stratum corneum and monitor your client's skin health.

4. PH ADJUSTED INGREDIENTS

Pharmaceutical-grade products have a pH-adjusted formulation to enhance their potency and ensure ingredient stability. OTC products don't always take this into consideration—meaning active ingredients may be less effective or even inactive.

5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Since GlyMed offers pharmaceutical-grade products, everything must be clinically tested and proven effective before it can be sold to the public. Many products also receive FDA approval after going through up to 10 years of testing, like our Moisturizing Protection Cream with SPF-15 and SPF-30.

6. BATCH SIZE

Professional skincare products are often made in smaller batches to ensure quality control and freshness. OTC products, on the other hand, are often mass-produced, resulting in lower quality and less effective ingredients.

CONCLUSION

The choice between professional skincare and over-the-counter options is clear. An investment in pharmaceutical-grade skincare is an investment in the health and vitality of your client's skin.

As a skincare professional, arming yourself with the most up-to-date knowledge on skincare products is essential for delivering the best to your clients. Become a GlyMed Pro to participate in advanced skincare courses and webinars so you stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving industry.