Sometimes I just cannot decide if I want to run down to the drugstore and pick up a skin care product off the shelf or look for a professional or salon exclusive product. I know there are a lot of women like me who wonder if there really is a difference in these two skin care product lines…after all the beauty industry does rake in millions from our money! It was time to put on my ‘skin cop’ hat.

Think beauty OTC, that’s a drugstore brand- a product line which is easily available and catering to a large demographic at a drugstore. More often, in a drugstore product the idea of ‘one size fits all’ is implemented. Price is another major differentiating factor between drugstore and professional. L’Oreal is a drugstore brand while Elizabeth Arden is a professional line. Is it a money making strategy of cosmetic companies wanting you to spend a bomb on your product choices? Here are the 3 subtle differentiators between drugstore and professional:

Demographics and Price: One big differentiator is the price. As drugstore brands are targeted for a larger demographic they are priced more competitively.  Also, more often than not, most of the skin care technology and product development is done by scientists working in these skin care companies. This keeps the prices of drugstore brands competitive and less expensive.

Targeted action: Another differentiating factor is the amount of time and research that is spent in developing a professional product vs. a drugstore product. Professional skin care research is far more in depth and detailed. A lot of time is spent in researching individual ingredients creating skin care products that have specific, targeted action. Skin care products that work for acne prone skin or sensitive skin are more effective when from a professional line than from a drugstore brand. Also, a professional vitamin C infused skin care cream is more effective since professional skin care products focus on the ingredients and the molecular structure of a skin care product delivering better results. Acne, lines and wrinkles, skin pigmentation etc. are treated much better with a professional product assistance.

Ingredient concentration: The concentration of ingredients differs between drugstore and professional. AHA for example, is an active ingredient used in many age defying or wrinkle controlling creams. In a drugstore brand the concentration of this active ingredient will be far lesser to avoid potential cases of skin irritation amongst the general demographic. A professional line, on the other hand will be given to you after a skin analysis and with the concentration of active ingredients that your skin can tolerate.

What works for you? If you want to know what skin care brands work for you, log on to mySkin.com. Get a free skin analysis done, compare products, find your skin twin and choose your skin care products once they have been rated and reviewed in an unbiased manner.

What is your skin care preference- drugstore or professional? Write in and share with us.