Why Cosmeceuticals
There are three grades of skin care available to the consumer; traditional cosmetics, medical grade prescription products and non-prescription clinical grade cosmeceuticals.
Clinical grade cosmeceuticals
Clinical grade cosmeceuticals are a hybrid. They are formulated with non-prescription concentrations of ingredients are substantiated by scientific evidence based clinical studies to prove efficacy.
True cosmeceutical ingredient formulations are high performance compounds contained in simple unit dose airless pump packaging to protect the potent product inside. Cosmeceuticals are recommended by licensed and certified skin care specialists trained in how to analyze skin conditions and match active ingredients to your skin care needs.
Definition of Medical Grade prescription products
These products must be approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) and are regulated as prescription drugs. Prescription products contain specific ingredients in various concentrations formulated to penetrate through the epidermis to the dermis delivering powerful medicines to the body. Topical and oral antibiotics, tretinoin (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin), and tazarotene (Tazorac), hydroquinone and hydrocortisone are all considered medical grade skin care products.
It’s important to understand the potency of the ingredients, what condition the product will be used to treat, what skin type it is best suited for and what side effects, if any, can be expected from prolonged use.
Definition of a cosmetic
A cosmetic is defined by the FDA from its intended use when applied to the human body such as: for cleansing, beautifying or promoting attractiveness. Moisturizers, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, shampoos and deodorants all fall under this category. Cosmetic products do not require FDA approval before they go on the market and traditionally have low concentrations of active ingredients. By design cosmetics for use on the skin do not penetrate the skin barrier. They work primarily on a superficial level, with no therapeutic change in the skin.
Cosmetic products are traditionally offered through mass marketing efforts which is why they contain high amounts of preservatives, fillers, perfume fragrances, and dyes.
Definition of a Cosmeceutical product
A cosmeceutical product is formulated with a higher concentration of active ingredients, but less than a pharmaceutical grade product for improving the appearance of the skin’s resilience and elasticity while reducing the look of aging, acne prone, oily, uneven skin tone and brown spots. Institut’ DERMed cosmeceutical product line is also formulated without the use of gluten, parabens, fillers, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfates, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances.
NO animal testing.
Clinical • Professional • Results