Professional Skincare-Why It’s Different From OTC Skincare

Last year, we saw an influx of celebrity skincare lines that hit the market. It’s easy to think that your favorite celebrity is selling something that is great, right? I mean, look at their skin! Who doesn’t want skin like theirs?

Partly, due to the launching of many celebrity lines last year, I have been asked what is the difference between what I sell (professional skincare) and what they (the celebrity or over-the-counter) sells.

There is a huge difference between professional skincare and products one sold at your local drug store or online. In this article, I will explain why I recommend professional skincare over OTC (over-the-counter) skincare without getting into specific ingredients or specific brands.

OTC will be a general term that refers to skincare purchased at, but not limited to, your local drug store, online, indie brands, and from your next door neighbor. The purpose of this is to give you a little understanding about professional brands and why, as an esthetician, I only carry and recommend them.

Let’s define the difference between professional and OTC skincare.

Professional Skincare Products

Professional skincare refers to skincare products that are marketed and sold by licensed professionals, such as dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and estheticians. The majority of these products are result-base, and driven by data and clinical studies. 

Professional skincare are:

  • Backed by scientific research.

  • Have more targeted treatment products with active ingredients.

  • Have specific clinical treatments that coincide with their products to maximize results.

  • Their budget is invested in ingredients, clinical trials,  and studies to ensure their products are results-driven.

  • Made in small batches for quality control and freshness.

  • Only sold by licensed professionals who understand your skin needs and have studied the brands they sell.

  • Contain higher concentrations of active ingredients.

  • Typically made with higher-quality ingredients for increased efficacy.

  • Offer a range of formulations that are tailored to meet the needs of different skin types and conditions.

  • Recommended by a license professional therefore there is less risk of skin irritation.

OTC Skincare

OTC skincare is a term that is used to describe skincare products that are marketed and sold to the general public in the form of advertisements in tv ads, magazines, and in the stores, by celebrities or influencers.

OTC skincare products:

  • Usually has a celebrity who promotes that products.

  • Their budget is invested in marketing (paying celebrities and all the advertisements you see), and packaging of their products.

  • Mass produced to keep manufacturing costs down and fill the shelves in the majority of stores around the country.

  • Mass produced using low active ingredients, to prevent skin reactions that can occur for customers using the product incorrectly or because it is not suitable for their skin type.

  • Customers have to blindly purchase products, hoping for the best because there isn't someone there recommending skincare specifically for their skin type.

  • These products are typically less expensive so they often contain low or zero concentrations of active ingredients to protect the brand and have a less significant impact on their customer's skin because of it.

In conclusion, there are many benefits that come from using a professional skincare line as opposed to those sold by celebrities and OTC. Professional formulations are designed specifically for the needs of different skin types and skin concerns, they’re not mass-produced.

They have better quality ingredients with a higher concentration of active ingredients. There are clinical studies performed to show their effectiveness and are only available from a professional only. 

If you’re unsure of what professional products you need for your skin, reach out to Roman Esthetics to schedule a skin consultation. We’ll help you find the perfect products for your individual skincare needs.

* Please note, I am focusing on professional skincare in this blog. I do not invest hours and hours studying OTC (over-the-counter) skincare. There is a lot of time and research that I put into the products that I carry. Purchasing professional skincare is an investment in your skin. For this reason, I'm passionate about finding and making sure I'm offering proven quality products to my valued clients. 

It would be impossible for me to research every product on the market. But, I understand professional skincare lines don't fit in everyone's budget because of the higher price points. I will always work with clients who want to change their skin by also providing budget friendly skincare options.

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