What is the difference between COSMETICS and COSMECEUTICALS?
COSMETICS
Whenever you hear people talking about cosmetics, they generally refer to makeup. The FDA defines cosmetics as makeup and as products designed "for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions". So soaps, shampoo, deodorant, fragrances, makeup, etc are classed as cosmetics.
Antiperspirants that stop you from sweating, toothpaste that whitens teeth, or anti-bacterial soaps, as well as SPF 30 or 50+ sunscreens, are classed (by definition) as drugs.
Albert Klingman
I used to think it was Dr Albert Klingman who first used the term cosmeceutical, however researching it, I found it was Raymond Reed, founder of the U.S. Society of cosmetic chemists, who created the concept of "cosmeceutical" in 1961.The American dermatologist Albert Kligman popularized the term “cosmeceutical” in the late 1970s. In 1980, he went on to research Vitamin A and its effects on acne, sun damage and premature aging. This is when Retinol and its use in skin care were first used, which has revolutionized how we treat skin today.
COSMECEUTICALS
Dr Alber Klingman defined Cosmeceuticals as skin care products combining cosmetics and pharmaceuticals ingredients. They are more active than basic skin care products which cleanse and cover up imperfections, but not as active as prescription drugs.Cosmeceuticals are regarded as skin care products with active ingredients claiming to have stronger benefits than basic cosmetics but not as strong as prescription drugs. Many cosmeceutical lines are known for delivering visible results without using prescription drugs.
COSMECEUTICAL VARIATIONS
In the ever-evolving beauty market, the variations of the cosmeceuticals concept have exploded. Some similar terms I have seen for cosmeceuticals include: nutraceuticals (ingested orally), aquaceuticals (using marine products), floraceuticals (using botanicals), neoceauticals, dermaceuticals, cosmedicals, active cosmetics, nutricosmetics, etc
Regardless of what, they call themselves, they all are essentially the same. Skin care products with active ingredients claim to have stronger benefits than basic cosmetics but are not as strong as prescription drugs.
Cosmeceutical products can now be purchased just about everywhere. I have seen some impressive formulas in pharmacies, not surprisingly, since cosmeceuticals ARE a marriage of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. These days, cosmeceuticals are not restricted to professional products only.
Many department stores, supermarkets and pharmacy products contain ingredients that fall under the classification of cosmeceuticals such as retinol, B3, vitamin C, hydroxyl acids, peptides, growth factors, etc.
High percentages of active ingredients are no longer the only differentiating factor, nor is the delivery system. Encapsulation technology has been around for decades and is used by many big brands. Some pharmaceutical products do have high percentages of active ingredients and department-store products have been using active ingredients and advanced delivery systems for a long time.
So what makes a professional, salon-only cosmeceutical different to a department store or a pharmacy skincare product?
From my experience what makes the difference is the quality of the raw ingredients, the quality of the end product and a professional strength formula that delivers results. Generally, professional-only products do have higher percentages of actives in them, but the thing that sets them apart is the elegant and clever formulations.
The higher percentage of actives, the different variety of actives and the way ingredients are combined to deliver a synergistic effect. Professional-only products rarely advertise to the mass market, they rely on RESULTS and word-of-mouth, not on marketing. So they HAVE TO PERFORM and deliver DRAMATIC results FAST.
Professional-only products usually have an extensive range that can be tailored to individual skin types, conditions or concerns. They are professional only for a very good reason. It takes a thoroughly trained, minimum Certificate IV, Diploma or Degree qualified skin therapist to understand the skin in detail, the complex biological mechanisms and how these are affected by the environment and lifestyle. Only a qualified and trained therapist can confidently develop an effective treatment plan using professional-only products that will deliver results.
