OTC vs. Medical Grade Skincare: Does It Matter?
If you’ve ever perused the shelves at your local aesthetician’s studio or dermatologist’s office, you’ve probably noticed different brand names than you’d see in a beauty supplier or drugstore. Not only are there different brand names, there are often different ingredients and price points! Maybe you’ve wondered just how much it really matters where you shop for skincare. Today, we’ll break down the categories and help you decide what products are best for you.
What’s the Difference?
Over the Counter (OTC) skincare products are available for purchase anywhere – from grocery shops to department stores to beauty retailers. They don’t require a prescription, aren’t limited to licensed sellers, and are not typically evaluated by the FDA.
Medical-grade skincare products are often sold exclusively by doctors, aestheticians, and licensed skincare professionals. They are formulated with many of the same active ingredients as OTC products, but often have higher concentrations, are backed by clinical studies, and adhere to FDA standards.
Prescription skincare products must be prescribed specifically to you by a licensed physician. Many prescription ingredients are not available for purchase in OTC or medical-grade formulas. They have all been approved by the FDA.
Medical-Grade Skincare Benefits
Choosing medical-grade products may come with fewer retail options and a higher price point, but their efficacy makes them well worth the purchase. Here are a few of our favorite medical-grade product benefits:
Higher percentage of active ingredients: OTC products are often subject to low active ingredient percentages in their products. Medical-grade skincare can offer a much higher percentage of the active ingredients that can effectively transform your skin over time. If you’ve ever used an OTC formula without noticing a change in your skin, you may need a product that packs more potency in with each use.
Proven benefits: OTC products do not have to scientifically prove the benefits they provide your skin. This means that many of the claims you find on packaging could be nothing more than good marketing. Medical-grade products have FDA oversight, and they’ve been extensively studied and tested for efficacy.
Higher quality ingredients: When you have higher quality active ingredients in your products, they penetrate deeper into the skin. Instead of just working on the epidermis, the surface layer of the skin, they can reach all the way to the dermis, generating healthier cells from the inside out by stimulating collagen production and reversing disease or damage.
Recommended by professionals: If you want to spend your money well, go straight to the source. No need to try multiple OTC brands of the same product, only to discover that none were potent enough to treat your skin concerns. Medical-grade products have been tested and approved by dermatologists and aestheticians, so even though you may see a higher price tag, your investment will be backed by the expertise of industry professionals.
Skincare at The Comstock
At The Comstock, you’ll find an extensive lineup of medical-grade products. Our team has decades of expertise in the aesthetics space, and we’ve used that knowledge to carefully curate a collection of the best medical-grade products. We use them in our offices – and in our own homes, on our own skin! We’re committed to giving you the best results possible, from in-person services to your at-home daily regimen. Stop by The Comstock today to shop our shelves, or schedule a consultation to learn which products will help you get the results your skin craves most. We can’t wait to meet you!
