When perusing the drug store or flipping through the pages of your favourite magazine, do you ever feel overwhelmed and confused by the myriad cosmetic brands and beauty products that are available? The countless choices, not to mention the marketing dollars spent on persuading us of their transformative powers, can leave one feeling at a loss for what to do. How do you separate fact from fiction and get the best results for your skin? In this article we discuss what to look for – from the advice you receive to the elements of an effective formulation. By the conclusion, you should feel equipped to seek out a routine that achieves your ideal results.
Expert recommendations.
Something to decide when you set out to shop for your skincare is where you plan to make your purchase. Are you visiting a beauty boutique, a pharmacy or a medical professional? While beauty boutiques and drug stores offer a wide variety of familiar brands, there are some advantages to visiting a medical professional to consider:
- A medical professional who specializes in the skin has the knowledge and expertise to assess your skin condition and make recommendations accordingly.
- An emphasis on nurturing optimal skin health to achieve beautiful skin that is lasting.
- Access to pharmaceutical-grade skincare brands is often exclusive to physicians. These products contain higher levels of active ingredients for therapeutic results than what can be safely administered in a department store or beauty boutique setting.
In a nutshell, you wouldn’t go to the hardware store for milk, so it only makes sense to consult a skin specialist to get the recommendations that best suit your needs.
At The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, we offer a skin analysis service with the VISIA® system. This imaging device is able to measure qualities such as skin texture, wrinkles and sun damage in order to provide an individualized and thorough assessment of your skin health. From this information, a tailored plan can be established to match your unique complexion profile.
The qualities of a premium and effective skincare brand.
The following list of features to look for when exploring a potential skincare brand can help to guide you through the maze of options.
Is there research and evidence to support claims?
Drug-store brands often use consumer perception statements such as “72 percent of women noticed an improvement in their skin tone.” versus an evidence-based statement such as “Clinically proven to reduce skin redness by 35 per cent.” Need we say more?
Quality and quantity of active ingredients.
This aspect of understanding the effectiveness of a skincare product does require effort. There are many fantastic anti-aging and therapeutic ingredients that can be used to treat the skin. A skincare expert can explain the benefits of specific ingredients, but until you become more familiar with ingredients, a quick tip for reading product labels is to analyze the list of ingredients. You want to see the active ingredients at or near to top of the list of ingredients. The further down the list you find them, the less their concentration in the formula. This could influence how effective the product is in addressing your skincare concern.
Results.
The proof is in the pudding. After looking at the research and development, as well as the quality and quantity of active ingredients, the next step is to try the product to see if it’s right for you. It is good to give a regimen at least 4 weeks (roughly the time of a skin renewal cycle) before you decide if it’s working well for you. It can take time for improvements to take hold if the skin has acute dehydration, sensitivity, pigmentation or acne present. Reputable brands will often have a return policy to account for potential reactions.
By following these suggestions, you’ll be well on your way towards achieving beautiful and healthy skin. The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic proudly carries Alyria Skin Optimizing System, Obagi Nuderm® System, RejudiCare Synergy and SkinMedica® brands, which subscribe to the qualities we’ve outlined. Curious how a medical-grade skincare regimen can benefit your skin? The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic welcomes you to book a consultation with one of our skin experts. Call (519) 746-1132 or email [email protected] to request an appointment.
