The world of over-the-counter cosmetics can be daunting. With new ‘buzzwords’, ‘super ingredients’, and status categories like ‘clinical grade’ constantly appearing, what used to be an enjoyable experience has turned shopping into a minefield.
Navigating this complex landscape is overwhelming unless you learn how to cut through the noise and discern fact from fiction. Opulent Aesthetics believes in sharing honest information so you can make decisions that serve you, rather than the profiteering companies seeking to exploit your ignorance or blind faith.
Opulent Aesthetics upholds this ethos when delivering professional beauty treatments in Caterham, ensuring that our clients always receive the gold standard in aesthetic procedures. You can book an appointment at our dedicated beauty clinic in Caterham, inside Time, Hair, and Beauty.
In the meantime, this article will help you streamline your shopping choices by filtering through the information overload when it comes to terms like ‘clinical grade’
What does clinical grade mean?
The term ‘clinical grade’ is used by skincare product manufacturers to attract attention and sales. The term subtly implies a superior quality product or effect without actually saying it.
In reality, however, it does not mean anything at all. All product manufacturers can use that term, irrespective of what they produce or its quality, and doing so will attract little or most likely no regulatory intervention.
Why is this so?
This is because the term ‘clinical grade’ is not defined or protected by UK regulators or law, and the same is true in America, where many of the leading cosmetic brands originate.
As ‘clinical grade’ is not a category that falls under regulatory or legal supervision, there are no restrictions that apply to its use, meaning any brand can use it for almost any reason.
Their reason for doing so is primarily to generate marketing hype around their products.
Does this mean that the products are not any better?
Here is where it can get confusing because, actually, no.
Even though many companies manipulatively use the term ‘clinical grade’ to drive sales, there are honest companies that use the term responsibly to denote that they use higher concentrations of key ingredients, normally consistent with those used in professional clinics like Opulent Aesthetics’ studio in Caterham.
A good example is vitamin C serums. Some manufacturers use higher concentrations of 15-30%, the highest concentration permitted by regulators, compared to those using just 5%.
When considered from that perspective, those products do offer more, but it is not because of the term ‘clinical grade’, but rather the higher concentration of the key ingredient. Sadly, these two components don’t always go hand-in-hand.
Put another way, you can find brands with products delivering higher concentrations of active ingredients, but do not use the term ‘clinical grade’, compared to some that do use the term, but have lower concentrations.
What to look for when buying cosmetic products
When buying cosmetic products, pay attention to the concentrations of key ingredients, rather than fancy titles like ‘clinical grade’, ‘medical grade’, or ‘professional grade’.
Examples include:
- Vitamin C serum – 15-30%
- Retinol – 0.5-1.0%
- Glycolic acid – 15-20%
- Lactic acid – 5-10%
- Hyaluronic acid – 4%
- Hydroquinone – 2-4%
These concentrations are the highest available without a medical prescription.
Why concentrations matter
The concentration of the active ingredient matters because ultimately, it is the active ingredient that you rely on for the effects. As such, lower concentrations allow less possibility for the desired outcome.
At the same time, sometimes less is more. There are optimum quantities for desired effects, and this may differ for people with different skin types and sensitivities. That said, it is imperative that you patch test and see what works for you and your skin type.
Using a reputable brand is also imperative, especially in the modern era where people can ‘whitelabel’, i.e. create their own brand using a generic manufacturer’s product that they purchase from countries that have different safety regulations. These products are often found on Amazon and may not always have all the ingredients that they claim to have, or may have higher or lower concentrations than they advertise or is legally permissible, without declaring it in their ingredients.
The best ways to get professional results
There are only two ways to ensure professional results, and both are essential.
- Professional treatments
- Reputable brands
Professional treatments like those offered by Opulent Aesthetics in Caterham are the most effective way to ensure significant results. This is because professional aesthetic treatments go beyond the superficial nature of over-the-counter cosmetics. They tend to work with your body, triggering internal biological processes that enhance the quality of your skin over time.
For example, microneedling creates superficial punctures in the skin’s surface, prompting a cascade of wound healing reactions, including the production of collagen and elastin, which are integral for skin quality and structure. Over time, the process of repairing micro wounds leads to clearer and smoother skin. Additionally, exosomes can be applied after the treatment, allowing deeper penetration into your dermis, giving your skin everything it needs to heal and glow.
These kinds of results can’t be achieved without specialist equipment.
Other treatments, like skin booster and polynucleotide injections, enhance your skin from within by providing it with essential compounds and amino acids necessary to increase cell turnover, collagen and elastin production, while hydrating the deeper layers, something that is not so easily achieved with topical creams.
Having said that, skincare doesn’t stop at the clinic. True skincare requires a regular routine with around-the-clock care. This is where your topical treatments step in.
Final thoughts
Be wary of products marketed as ‘clinical grade’, ‘medical grade’, or ‘professional grade’. Instead, focus on the concentration levels of active ingredients, particularly peptides like niacinamides, ceramides, exosomes, etc.
Having good quality cosmetic products is an essential part of your daily skincare routine; however, they are no substitute for professional beauty treatments, like those provided by Opulent Aesthetics in Caterham.
In fact, your home routine should be considered ‘aftercare’ for those professional treatments, maintaining skin quality and improving healing between treatments.
The aim of professional beauty treatments isn’t to change what you have – you are already beautiful. Professional treatments serve to enhance your skin naturally, correcting any blemishes, making it healthier, smoother, and more radiant.
To find out more about professional beauty treatments in Caterham, book an appointment with Sadie at Opulent Aesthetics.