I took for granted decades of smooth, blemish-free skin as soft as a baby’s bottom, and now when I stroke my daughter’s cheeks I am full of love…and some envy. It’s the epitome of not appreciating what we have until it’s gone. Suddenly, I found myself with sagging skin, fine lines, and worst of all, acne that rivaled that of my most awkward teenage years.
I decided to explore skincare lines that targeted my concerns. For all the money I spend on other things, I wondered if the investment in better products would be worth it. There’s a lot of hype around aging, women’s in particular, and this has substantially increased the market for new products.
Medical grade skincare lines are Health Canada approved and backed by clinical evidence, which I appreciate all the more with the growing amount of misinformation out there. I like knowing that scientists are examining the ingredients and their effects to substantiate the claims. I was more confident making purchases when I knew I could expect results.
It used to be challenging to find medical grade skincare products, but they’re much more accessible now. Partly due to online ordering and partly due to the rise of medical spas, you can now have a consultation with a regulated professional without going to your doctor’s office. This consultation gives you the assurance that you’ll be identifying the right products for your skin and desired effects with personalized recommendations. Instead of snagging sale products or falling prey to false marketing, you’ll only be paying for the products most likely to work for your skin concerns. In the long run, getting results with regular consultations and personalized monitoring of your skincare program can actually save you money rather than cost you more.
Another interesting thing I noticed in my trials with medical grade products is how little product I actually used. Before, I’d pump out moisturizer, smooth it on, and feel dry enough to start the process over again just minutes later. Acne treatments took multiple applications and rarely had a better effect than just waiting out the natural healing time of the blemish. Once I started using medical grade products, small amounts of product did exactly what it purported to do. This meant that the high price I initially thought I was paying was actually quite affordable when I measured it out by application. And the best part? They actually had an effect.
It turns out that medical grade products actually have more active ingredients in them. The rigorous testing required for Health Canada approval gives consumers confidence that the ingredients they’re after are present in the products they buy in high enough concentrations to have an effect. This isn’t true for non-medical products that don’t undergo the same tests. In fact, they often advertise active ingredients that are present only in minuscule amounts, leading to disappointing results.
My research indicated that as much as I wanted to know about the ingredients in products, what’s left out can be equally important. Medical grade skincare is a much better choice for anyone who wants to avoid harmful additives and ingredients in their routine. Things like phthalates, sulfates, parabens, dyes, and artificial fragrances that are widely found in commercial products aren’t in most medical grade formulations.
Of the products I explored, AlumierMD was far and away my favourite. Launched in Canada in 2016, AlumierMD has a great selection of targeted skin care products that are backed by their commitment to clean science. They’re transparent about what is (and isn’t) in their products and the results are clinically validated to ensure you’re getting the optimal dosage of active ingredients to give you the best results possible.
I’m counting on my investment in better skincare not only to give me the newfound confidence I’m enjoying right now, but also to decrease the need for costly interventions later. It’s the best of both worlds, to enjoy my best skin now and also prevent future issues.
Of course, my skin doesn’t feel like my daughter’s, but having healthy skin makes me feel confident again. I regret that it took me so long to try something better than inexpensive drugstore products. Switching to medical grade products means spending more on individual ones, but I’m no longer wasting money on stuff that doesn’t work or doesn’t work for me. I get personalized recommendations based on my individual needs and I’m finally seeing measurable results that have me celebrating the idea of graceful aging.
In Winnipeg, AlumierMD products are available at Form Medical Aesthetics. This welcoming medical spa offers a full range of services to help you look and feel your best, with a highly trained team of doctors and nurses on staff led by medical director Dr Corinne Paterson.
If you’re like me and coveting your skin of bygone days, book a consultation. With a small investment in medical grade products and commitment to a consistent skincare routine, the result could very well be the best skin you’ve ever had!
