Drugstore Skincare Ingredients Pale in Comparison to High End

Skincare is the most important part of any beauty routine. A quality regimen can make a huge difference in a person’s complexion. The question is, why do high end products cost so much more than the ones from the drugstore?

           

The answer comes down to ingredients. That $5 face wash from CVS is so cheap because it contains many basic – and even some harmful – ingredients.

“I don’t bother with beauty products from the drugstore anymore. They just don’t cut it, and a lot of them have really harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and alcohol that strip the skin of all its nutrients,” said Jessica Arnold, an esthetician from the Esteé Lauder counter at Younkers in the Coral Ridge Mall.

The most common paraben found in low-budget skincare is methylparaben. According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, it is a preservative that can disrupt the body’s hormones and natural cellular levels.

The products below all have benefits, but the First Aid Beauty cleansers and the Clinique moisturizers have had the biggest impact on my skin.

First Aid Beauty states that their products are free of harsh chemicals and known allergens, including parabens, phthalates, alcohol, fragrances, and artificial dyes. Their products are most commonly sold at Sephora, and while they are expensive ($20 for a 5 oz. tube of their best-selling cleanser) compared to their drugstore counterpart, they are much cheaper than other high end products.

Phthalates are proven reproductive and developmental toxicants in laboratory animals with high toxicity, and alcohol is extremely drying on the skin.

“First Aid Beauty is designed for sensitive skin types. They use Allantoin in their products, which is a natural skin soother” said Sephora Beauty Expert Marie Walsh. “I alternate between the Pure Skin Face Cleanser on a daily basis and the Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay when I need a more thorough clean. I rarely suffer from breakouts anymore thanks to these products.”

Another comparatively inexpensive high end brand is Clinique, which is known for their 3-step skincare regimens for all skin types. Two of their highest selling products are the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ and the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. The lotion is a thicker consistency meant for people with dryer skin, but it is also useful in the winter time or as a night cream. The gel has a more lightweight formula and was designed for people with oily skin. These products cost $26 a piece for a 4.2 oz bottle.

Clinique’s skincare products are all dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested, and they are formulated with skin-strengthening ingredients to help combat impurities.

“I’ve been working here for five years now, and I can’t believe I was using drugstore products on my skin for so long. I noticed a huge difference in my skin when I switched to Clinique, and I recommend it to everyone,” said Erin Shelley, an esthetician from the Clinique counter at the Dillard’s in the Coral Ridge Mall.

Two of the products pictured above (the L'Oreal Youthcode Texture Perfector and the Simple Cleansing Micellar Water) are from the drugstore, but I have not found anything else from Tartget, Wal-Mart, CVS, or Walgreens that do anything for my complexion. Taking care of your skin is worth the money, and it's important to know what you're putting on your face. That's why I favor products with quality ingredients.

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