Seriously? Alcohol!!! But why would there be alcohol in a moisturizer?
This is one of my favorite things that I get asked all the time…”Samantha, can you please look at this product to see if it’s good for my skin?” Me: “Of course!”
However, most of the OTC ingredients I look at are NOT ideal for anyone’s skin.
The sad truth is that manufacturers hide specific items or re-name them so you think that it’s free of XYZ harmful ingredient, when it’s still in there, just not under the name you’re looking for.
Today I’m going to share with you why manufacturers add undesirable ingredients to our products, why OTC skin care products are NOT ideal for anyone’s skin and how to make smart purchases so you end up saving money long-term.
Why is there alcohol in moisturizers?
Here’s the problem with OTC skin care products (and this goes for ALL lines, even the so-called good ones).
In order to mass-produce OTC products that can be shipped all over the world & meet the demands of consumers’ skin problems, means that these products have to be made in enormous quantities, then be boxed, labeled, packed & shipped to warehouses all over the world. They then sit there for up to 2 years before they hit the shelves in your favorite store.
Aside from the time the products sit, why does it matter that these products are mass-produced?
In order to constantly be making enormous batches of products, manufacturers need to use the most cost-effective ingredients possible. This way they can continue to mass-produce products to be shipped all over the world.
Using high-quality ingredients is costly and in order for the active ingredients to remain stable, they would have to encapsulate them or protect them to remain stable.
This process is too time consuming and too expensive, so what ends up happening is manufacturers “hide” these active as preservatives or use a less active form to claim that the product has this ingredient to fight XYZ skin problem.
Here’s the problem, since the ingredient loses it’s effectiveness, it no longer can achieve the results your skin is looking for.
Since it didn’t work the first time you purchased it, you either re-purchase that product or buy another. Maybe this time, you find one that’s more expensive or requires you to use it more.
The problem with this, nothing is going to happen. You’re not going to see results. If you do happen to see results, it’s a false positive because there is an ingredient causing irritation or harm to your skin & the skin is now in fight or flight mode, swelling or rapidly working to fix the barrier. This results in “forgetting the original problem” and fighting to repair the skin from damage.
The bottom line…
Manufacturers know that by causing MORE skin problems, you are only going to continue to purchase products searching for that magic one that will fix your skin for good.
However, you’re just spending money on products that are never going to get to the root of the problem and it’s a vicious cycle.
Why should you avoid OTC products?
Manufacturers use alternate names of certain irritating ingredients when formulating OTC products.
You’re probably wondering why on earth would they do that? Like I mentioned above, it’s to get you constantly buying products so you’re always spending money.
The other reason they do that is so you end up over using that product and buy it frequently. For example, they put alcohol or witch hazel in many of the OTC moisturizers I see.
This sounds counterproductive, and it totally is!!!
Think about it from a money standpoint. A drying agent is added to your moisturizer that you think is going to totally repair your dry skin. It doesn’t feel hydrating enough, so you think you need more. You apply a double dose of moisturizer or add in a second moisturizer to help fix your dry skin.
Nothing helps. But what’s happening? You’re overusing product. You’re using it up quickly and not achieving results, so you buy more frequently. Or you like some of their products, so you try another moisturizer or a few other products from that line thinking you’re going to solve the problem.
Nope! Same results.
By this point, you’ve now spend hundreds on that line and still aren’t any closer to solving your skin problems than when you began.
Now what?
This means it’s time to seek out a skin expert and really look into what’s going to work for your skin.
There are plenty of inexpensive lines out there recommended by skin experts, such as estheticians, that WILL help you achieve results.
I’ve been licensed for 15 years and have watched not only my own skin improve but helped so many clients who are skeptical of trying yet another new skin care line, but put their trust in me and end up thanking me in the end.
It’s because I’m educating clients about their skin and helping them understand how to use the right products that work.
The added bonus: I help them save money in the long-term!
How to make smart skin care purchases
You’re at that point where you’re sick and tired of not getting results for your skin. You finally decided to break down & call an esthetician.
Such a scary step, because you’ve tried so many options over the years and really don’t believe that the esthetician can help you. Plus you don’t want to be sold on more products. Ugh, who wants that?
During your facial, you learn about your skin and how to care for it properly. When your facial is over, your skin not only looks amazing, but it feels hydrated, helped reduce the appearance of your skin problems and you feel really good.
You decide to take your esthetician’s recommendations and purchase a few key items to use at home.
This is crucial because you & your esthetician are now working as a team to clear up your skin & improve the way it looks and feels.
We go to the dentist every 6 months for cleanings. Would you stop brushing & flossing in between? Or would you take his or her recommendations and continue to maintain what they worked on during the cleaning?
Think of your skin care in the same manner. Your esthetician gave you a deep cleaning of your skin. The products you take home are you maintaining the results twice daily.
What you do to your face morning & night makes more of an impact than your facial. The facial is just the maintenance part to keep your skin in check. Plus estheticians can ensure that the products are working & tweak your home care for each season of the year or season of life.
What my clients tell me at their second appointment is that they are happy that their products last so long. They don’t have to constantly buy more and are feeling good because they are now seeing results.
How is it possible to see results from good skin care?
The first thing you need to know about achieving results from your skin care products is that you MUST use what actually works for your skin.
Estheticians are great at customizing your home care & selecting products that will work for your specific skin’s needs.
In my treatment room, I only use products that are healthy, achieve results and work not only for my skin, but my clients are happy too.
It has taken me years to design the skin care lines I choose to carry here, but I’m glad I took my time, because the products I can offer my clients actually work.
These products don’t have the alcohols, skin irritants or skin-stripping ingredients. They achieve real results and clients are able to repair their skin and maintain their results just by changing their daily skin care products.
It might seem costly at first, and yes your skin care SHOULD be an investment. But when you choose products that work for your skin, over time, you will end up saving money because now you are ONLY using skin care products that work.
You replenish your products less frequently, see amazing results and you feel better about YOU because your skin now looks and feels clear!
It’s a win-win for all.
Any questions, please comment below or reach out to me via email: samantha@skindeepil.com
XO
Samantha
P.S. To book an appointment with Samantha or buy a copy of my book, please visit my website.
