Cosmetic vs Cosmeceutical
Choosing the right skincare is essential for maintaining the health and integrity of your skin, as well as preventing premature ageing.
But what are the differences between products purchased from a department store and those from a clinician? Do they really make a difference to your skin?
Let’s take a look at the development of cosmeceuticals.
Cosmetic
A cosmetic skincare product can be bought from any retailer, without prescription or recommendation from a professional. It is only applied to the outer layer of the skin, and is unable to penetrate the epidermis and through to the dermis, where structural changes occur.
Instead, they exfoliate, add fragrance and hydrate the surface of the skin, which can make the skin appear to look brighter and feel smoother. This can trick consumers into thinking they are preventing the signs of ageing. In reality, they are simply masking them.
As the strength of active ingredients is low, the products are generally “bulked out” with filler ingredients that offer no benefits to the skin. They can also contain chemicals and preservatives which may further harm your complexion (unless you have chosen a natural or organic brand).
Given that cosmetic products are readily available, consumers are left to self-prescribe their skin types and concerns. This can lead to misdiagnosis and even exacerbation of a condition. For example, rough, dry skin may be thought to need exfoliation to remove bumps. However, hydration and barrier repair may instead be needed to reduce inflammation. Without correct advice, concerns may be ongoing and lead to further skin damage.
Cosmeceutical
The term "cosmeceutical" refers to a product that sits between a cosmetic-grade and pharmaceutical-grade product. These are “professional” products that contain active ingredients to promote skin health. These include antioxidants, such as vitamin C, anti-ageing ingredients such as Vitamin A as well as marine extracts and peptides. The reason these ingredients are considered “active” is that they produce changes in the structure of the skin; whether it’s improving skin tone and texture, reducing pigmentation or plumping ageing skin.
The main difference between cosmeceutical products and those from a department store is the potency of the ingredient. Cosmeceuticals contain a higher percentage of active ingredients that penetrate deeper through the epidermis to the dermis where your collagen, elastin and new skin cells are found. In contrast, brands found at the supermarket will likely only penetrate the epidermis and will be unable to reach the cellular level, thus producing inferior results.
Cosmeceuticals are generally found at licensed practitioners and require consultation with a professional to purchase. This can help to ensure the correct regime is prescribed to clients, results can be monitored and adjustments made to ensure lasting changes.
When it comes to your skincare, best results will be achieved when using potent active products sold from reputable practices with real ingredients, rather than the derivatives. The earlier you adopt a medical-grade skincare regime, the sooner you will see results. Ageing causes a loss of elasticity in the skin as collagen and elastin breakdown. Once these fibers have been damaged, it is harder to rebuild them. Daily use of active ingredients can help preserve and protect skin cells, slowing the effects of ageing.
Our Cosmeceutical Skincare Brands
At The Aesthetic Edit, we stock the highest quality skincare products including Jan Marini Skin Research, Medik8 and Mesoestetic.
Jan Marini Skin Research is a leading manufacturer of medically validated skincare and aesthetic products for the professional marketplace. This market principally includes Physicians, PA’s, RN’s and licensed estheticians.
Medik8 is also backed by scientific research. Based in a tailor-made UK superlab, Medik8 consistently develops never-seen-before technologies that maximize the health and vibrancy of skin. Founder and biochemist, Elliot Isaacs crafts each product with pharmaceutical-grade precision, so you can rest assured you’re receiving high-quality formulations that will make a real, noticeable difference to your skin.
Mesoestetic offer a wide range of skincare and body care treatments that feature innovative ingredients and release systems, with home support products to maintain and continue care at home. All products are manufactured with the highest pharmaceutical quality and safety assurance and control standards, using significantly higher concentrations of clinically proven active ingredients than conventional cosmetics and exclusive formulas for maximum efficacy and therapeutic benefit.
If you’re looking to take your results to the next level, speak to our team about our range of result-driven skincare. You can also view products and pricing here.
