by SARAH GILLETT, MARKETING DIRECTOR AT LEWISVILLE LASER & AESTHETICS 

Physician-dispensed “cosmeceutical” skincare is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors of the aesthetic industry. Experts say consumers in the US are on track to spend more than 31 billion dollars on this segment by 2029! Professional grade skincare brands such as SkinMedica, Neocutis and SkinBetter are just a few of the powerful players that aesthetic physicians stand by, and they’ve got the science and results to back up their claims. Additionally, each brand has its own unique recipe of active ingredients. But, just what are those active ingredients, and what are they actually doing to keep our skin healthy and glowing? Let’s take a look at a few major categories and learn more.

Retinoids are foundational to an effective anti-aging skincare routine, due both to their efficacy and the backing of years of scientific research. They vary in strength, from the retinol products you can purchase at the drugstore to the prescription-only brands that feature retinoic acid. Retinoids are all part of the Vitamin A family and have multiple benefits for skin health, from stimulating cell turnover to slowing the loss of collagen. They’re also scientifically proven to help manage and clear acne. With this many benefits, there’s room in every skincare routine for a retinoid – it’s just a matter of finding the one that’s right for you.

Any woman of a certain age can tell you that brown spots (or age spots, an even more awful name) seem to be inevitable. Sun damage, hormones and the passage of time all cause melanin production to go into overdrive, triggering hyperpigmentation, melasma or those pesky age spots. Adding a product with a brightening agent (look for ingredients like hydroquinone, vitamin C, kojic acid or alpha arbutin) will help to fade existing discoloration and regulate the body’s production of melanin.

Prestige and pharmaceutical brands are particularly excited about the potential of products that include growth factors and exosomes. A growth factor is like a cellular messenger, telling specific tissues when it’s time to regenerate and heal. Exosomes are the phone lines these cellular messages travel on, carrying growth factors and antioxidants to needy cells. The exosomes in physician-grade skincare have a unique lipid (or fatty) layer that acts as an insulator of sorts, protecting their precious cellular cargo until it reaches deep within the skin. This process boosts collagen and elastin production, which helps to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by providing a stronger framework beneath the skin and more elasticity on its surface. 

Hydration is an essential step in any effective skincare routine. In terms of your skin, it’s a two-step process: we hydrate skin (with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin) by helping cells to draw in and retain more moisture, and we moisturize (with ingredients like ceramides or squalane) by applying a barrier topically that helps keep that water from evaporating off the skin’s surface. Each step is vital, and to be worth the investment, your physician-grade product should do both well.

No matter your age or skin type, no regimen is complete without an effective sunscreen! This one is non-negotiable, and don’t skimp on the amount you use daily. Chemical sunscreens (look for ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate or homosalate) turn the sun’s rays into heat energy which is then released by the skin. Many aestheticians swear by mineral sunscreens (they’ll have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their main ingredient) which sit on the surface of the skin, reflecting and scattering UV rays. These products tend to be gentler on sensitive or acne-prone skin, and they’re also safer for marine life and coral reefs if you’re using them on the beach.

Now that you’ve got a good working knowledge of how professional-grade skincare products work, you can take the next step – schedule a free aesthetic consultation with one of the pros at Lewisville Laser & Aesthetics! The LLA team has been focusing exclusively on aesthetic medicine for more than 16 years, and they can help you create a customized, effective skincare routine that gets you the beautiful results you’re looking for. Visit us online at lewisvillelaser.com, or call our office at 336.945.2076 to schedule your visit today!