Cosmetic vs Cosmedical: What’s the difference?

When choosing the right skin care solution it is important to understand what your ultimate goal is. In the past skincare has been more about relaxation than skin correction simply because technology was not as advanced or results driven as it is now. Actives focused on hydration and nourishment and not skin function and cellular optimisation. As a result of international innovation and medical contribution our choices are many hence understanding the different categories of skincare is integral.

Cosmetics

This is the category that most of us know and use when we don’t know any better. Cosmetics are normally luxe (price ranges from $5.00 - $500+ a product), they feel beautiful (because they are laden with silicone), smell great (because they have added fragrance and colour) and have a hint of active ingredients (so that they can make claims of being much more than they could ever truly honour). These products are packaged in gorgeous bottles and jars and are more often than not endorsed by a paid five star celebrity (that we know can’t be using the brand if he or she looks as amazing as they do). These products are sold over the counter because they are safe. They are safe because there isn’t much of anything in them and nothing can go wrong. Beautiful to use but no skin benefit here. Oh and beware of these brands many use high levels of silica, mineral oil, petroleum, parabens, SLS …just to name a few.
 

Cosmeceuticals

“Cosmeceuticals refers to the combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products with biologically active ingredients purporting to have medical or drug-like benefits. Dermatological research suggests that the bioactive ingredients used in cosmeceuticals have benefits beyond the traditional moisturizer…” So what we are hearing here is that unlike cosmetics that have insignificant levels of actives cosmeceuticals are the first category of skincare that can make a skin difference. Whilst they may look and feel like a cosmetic they tend to have the nasties removed (some better than others) and they use the right amount of active ingredients that can make a visible skin difference. Cosmeceutical treatments are indulgent and relaxing without compromising on results.
 

Cosmedics / Cosmedicals

Cosmedics is the acknowledgement of medical science and its entry into skin treatment as recent as only the last couple of years. Through medical research scientists have discovered, developed and engineered active ingredients, peptides and antioxidants that have the ability to retain and regain normal skin function and cell optimization.

Furthermore the discovery of biomimetic bases and peptides as well as the encapsulation of active ingredients ensures optimum delivery of these ingredients at cellular level. Cosmedics isn’t skincare rather skin medicine. Unlike cosmetics, cosmedics requires a skin expert to tailor a personal skin health prescription for every skin, this will ensure the skin has a chance to acclimatize to the actives and avoid sensitisation.
 

Cosmedics may cause visible responses in the skin all part and parcel of an “active” medical grade action. Cosmeceutical and Cosmedics have been developed to combat the five major causes of aging. Without an active approach these five causes and their domino effect would be left untreated and ultimately lead to deterioration of skin health, ultimately resulting in compromised skin function, cellular activity and visible aging.

The Aspect™ range of cosmeceuticals is the perfect example of this and we highly recommend the range to anyone looking for maximum results.