| There are so many questions about buying a | | | | sensitizing agents, "natural ingredients," and various |
| professional skin care product: Will it work better? | | | | emollients. |
| What makes it work better? Is it worth the | | | | Sensitizing agents are anything that may produce |
| money? Well, I'm here to help you sort through it | | | | irritation. When you see various fragrances and |
| all - you just need some guidelines to make the | | | | colors added, these may very well cause irritation. |
| right choices. | | | | They may also make the price go up |
| There some fundamentals that are the | | | | considerably. Watch out for this - you may be |
| foundation to all I have to say on this topic:There | | | | able to get the same cleanser (by ingredient) |
| are professional skin care products that work | | | | without the fancy smell and container. |
| very well and are very inexpensive...there are also | | | | Look out for "natural" ingredients. |
| some very expensive professional products that | | | | "Natural" ingredients tend to show up in salons |
| are terrible! | | | | and also tend to have a high price tag. If you see |
| With this in mind, let's break it down so that you | | | | an ingredient list that includes things like honey |
| are armed with the knowledge you need to make | | | | extract, almond oil, coconut oil, or grape seed oil, |
| smart purchasing decisions. | | | | you may well see some nice results. But you may |
| What exactly is a "professional skin care | | | | NOT! |
| product?" Well, there are a couple different ways | | | | What you can be sure of, is that exotic |
| to consider this. Skincare products fall into four | | | | ingredients will make the cost go up |
| general categories:1. Products that an esthetician | | | | considerably.Type III - the department store |
| uses in the salon and does not provide for resale2. | | | | products. These products are the most insidious |
| Products that an esthetician may use on you in | | | | largely because they are usually the closest thing |
| the salon and does offer them for re-sale3. | | | | to drugstore brands. There are THOUSANDS of |
| Products available at department stores, usually at | | | | products out there and MILLIONS of combinations |
| a premium price4. Products available at your local | | | | and formulas. "Professional" skincare products sold |
| drugstore or grocery storeLet's go through each | | | | under prestige names in the department stores |
| category and explain. You'll soon realize that it is | | | | are very often no better than those available at |
| ALL ABOUT INGREDIENTS.Type I - Products | | | | your local CVS, although they are MUCH more |
| used in salons but not available for re-sale. These | | | | expensive.Type IV - Drugstore brands. I have |
| are not typically sought after by most women, | | | | nothing against drugstore brands. Nothing at all. But |
| but they do require a short discussion. | | | | you do need a word of caution. In my |
| When you get a facial, depending on your skin | | | | experience, drugstore brands are much more |
| your esthetician may use a product that is much | | | | likely to have harsh detergents and other |
| stronger than anything you would (or should) ever | | | | sensitizing agents without the appropriate buffer |
| use on your own. This is usually a highly | | | | or desensitizing agent. Just make sure to look out |
| concentrated glycolic or salicylic acid peel. These | | | | for products like toners that are alcohol based, |
| are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) or Beta | | | | cleansers that are the classic lauryl/lareth sulfate |
| Hydroxy Acids (BHA's) respectively. While you | | | | (a good cleanser, but just too harsh!). There are |
| may very well use a product containing an AHA | | | | many drugstore brands that I would match well |
| or BHA, you should not be using anything stronger | | | | against many a professional skin care |
| than an 8% solution for AHA or a 5% solution for | | | | product.There are also various emollients in |
| BHA. Stronger than those concentrations, you | | | | professional skin care products that may garner a |
| may be susceptible to irritation and swelling. The | | | | hefty price tag and others that are a little lower |
| decision to go to a higher concentration should | | | | on the food chain. For example, mineral oil is often |
| only be left to a qualified skin care professional. | | | | regarded in negative terms and typically appears |
| Your esthetician may apply a 20-30% peel in | | | | in less expensive drugstore brands. But newer |
| some cases, if you have skin that is very thick or | | | | research suggests that mineral oil is an excellent |
| is in desperate need of major exfoliation. Some | | | | emollient (though it may not absorb so well in |
| common reasons would be for severe acne, | | | | some products).Shea butter is another great |
| severely neglected skin, or maybe for a smoker | | | | example. Shea butter is a GREAT emollient and is |
| (did I tell you smoking is BAD for your skin, | | | | found in some VERY high-priced Professional skin |
| among other things?). | | | | care moisturizers. Funny thing is...you can find Shea |
| Bottom line is that peels of this strength should | | | | butter in many drugstore brands - just read the |
| NEVER be self-administered. Using this type of | | | | label.Remember, manufacturers are required to |
| professional skin care product is best left to only | | | | print ingredient lists on every cosmetic, in order of |
| qualified estheticians.Type II - Products used by | | | | concentration. To settle the drugstore brand vs. |
| salons and only available for sale at a salon. These | | | | professional skincare product debate, all you have |
| products are of many different varieties and | | | | to to do is - read the label!Melissa Brooks is the |
| require some knowledge to sort through. Here, | | | | owner of SpartaWorks, Inc. SpartaWorks has |
| you MUST know a little bit about reading a label. | | | | been providing massage and skin care services |
| You may find the same ingredients in VERY | | | | for nine years in the Washington, D.C. area. Melissa |
| EXPENSIVE products, but you may also find them | | | | is a licensed esthetician and massage therapist. |
| in VERY INEXPENSIVE products. You need to | | | | She owns and operates the Facial Skincare |
| read the label. | | | | Product Guide, where this article first appeared. |
| Some other things to look for on the labels are | | | | |