The Best Medical Grade Skincare Lines

Medical grade skincare brands are science-based skin care lines that dermatologists like me sell in our medical offices. You can find a list of these evidence-based medical grade brands in this blog. I will explain what cosmeceutical technologies each brand is known for. For some of these brands, I have links to videos where I interview their cosmetic scientists about prodcut science and research trials.

To make sure you buy the right clinical grade brands, you should to take our skincare routine quiz. We will help you combine products from these science-based brands into a medical grade skincare routine. We customize a skincare routine for you by combining the best products from the top medical grade skin care products from around the world.

Medical Grade Skincare Brands

Below I list the best dermatologist-recommended medical grade skincare lines. Many of the professional skincare lines mentioned below were invented by dermatologists

The advice I give in this blog on finding the best physician dispensed skin care brands is general advice. You will receive more personalized information once you take the skin type quiz. A complete custom skin care routine will be recommended to you and you can choose from different medical grade brands to build your regimen. The best science based skincare lines are described below in alphabetical order.

Alastin®

Alastin was developed by a plastic surgeon Dr. Alan Widgerow.

They have several different interesting peptide technologies including Tri-Hex which helps skin clear away unwanted broken collagen to make room for new collagen.

You can hear my interview with Dr. Widgerow about the science and evidence-based research on Alastin products on our you tube channel:

Defenage®

Defenage is the only skincare brand that uses defensins to turn on the LGR6+ stem cells in the hair follicle. These stem cells repopulate the entire epidermis making skin look younger and brighter in 2 weeks. My favorite product is the Defenage 8 in 1 Bioserum. It is pricey but if you need to even your skin tone and you are not willing to wait the usual 12-16 weeks for results from skincare products. This product will help you get faster results if you use it in the way we show you after you take the skin type quiz.

Derma Made Skin Care®

Derma Made products were developed by Dermatologist Dr. Amy Brodsky. They are designed to be both effective and affordable.

See my interview with Dr. Brodsky here on our you tube channel.

Element 47®

Element 47 is a brand designed for patients with acne to go along with acne treatment medications. It uses natural ingredients to make the skin less hospitable to acne causing bacteria without drying or irritating the skin. My favorite product is Element 47 Skin Fortifying Mist.

Essopi®

Essopi is a science=based brand that consists of the most important skincare products to use to prevent skin aging and keep skin healthy. This basic and important skincare products should be the “Standard Operating Procedure” or “SOP” of your morning and evening skincare routines. (This is where the brand gets it’s name “SOP”. Essopi products include sunscreen, antioxidants and retinols- the most important products to tret skin aging. This brand for ideal for mature skin types.

Nolio®

Nolio is a brand specifically designed for oily skin types. It consists of cleansers to help clear pores and prevent blackheads and remove excess oil.

Plated SkinScience

Plated Skinscience skin care uses the newest antiaging technology known as exosomes.

This product is like PRP in a serum.

You can hear my interview with Dr. Atta Behar here:

Revision Skincare

Revision Skincare uses medical grade ingredients and technologies that target the microbiome and focus on skin aging. They also include ingredients that soothe and calm the skin. This is predominantly an antiaging skincare brand with peptides. They have a retinol in the DEJ Night Cream. You can learn more abut how this medical grade skincare brand benefits the microbiome in this video interview.

Sente®

Sente is the only skincare brand that contains the heparan sulfate analog- also known as heparan sulfate (HS). Heparan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan that naturally occurs in skin. It helps cells communicate with each other. If you choose to use an expensive growth factor skin care product (which I am not a fan of), you are wasting your money if you skin cells cannot “hear” the growth factor signals. HS helps cells hear the growth factor signals better by surrounding growth factors and helping them get to the target receptor. HS is also hydrating because glycosaminoglycans are strong humectants. My favorite is the Sente Dermal Repair Cream. Make sure you take the skin type quiz to know what step to put this in your regimen. If you use it in the wrong order- you are wasting your money on this product.

SkinCeuticals®

Skinceuticals was started by dermatologist Sheldon Pinnell who discovered that ascorbic acid entices skin cells to make collagen. He is also the one who figured out that it is very hard to get vitamin C into the skin and that it penetrates best at a pH or 2-2.5.

Best Skinceuticals Vitamin C serum

My favorite Skinceuticals Vitamin C is the Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+ .

5 reasons Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+ .is the best SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum:

It is the cheapest of the SkinCeuticals serums. This makes it affordable so it can be used 1-2 times a day and the bottle can be replaced every month so it is fresh.

It has 10% ascorbic acid

It is the correct pH for maximal absorption

It is not greasy so it works for all skin types

It has 0.2% ferulic acid which is an antioxidant

Skinceuticals has many good serums, but Skinceuticals C E Ferulic is the bestselling Vitamin C serum because:

It is the most well known

It has a high concentration (15%) of L-ascorbic acid

It has 1% Vitamin E

The correct pH for the best absorption.

It contains 0.5% of ferulic acid is an antioxidant and helps stabilize the Vitamin C so it lasts longer.

SkinMedica®

SkinMedica was the first brand to come out with growth factors. It was started by dermatologist Dr. Fitzpatrick.

Click here to learn about the company’s interesting history and find Dr. Baumann’s favorite SkinMedica products.

shop for skinmedica products online from a authorized dealer

Zerafite

Zerafite is dedicated to repairing the skin barrier as its name implies. (Xerophyte is a plant that loves the dry climate such as a cactus.)

Zerafite is dermatologist-developed for extremely dry skin and eczema prone skin types.

Every Zerafite skin care product repairs and protects the skin barrier. They have 4 barrier repair moisturizers

and all show the maltese cross pattern seen in superior moisturizers.

To learn more about barrier repair moisturizers and the maltese cross pattern, see my interview with Zerafite creator Dr. Youm.

How To Find The Best Medical Grade Skincare Routine?

There are 3 ways to find medical grade skincare solutions:

Find a medical provider here and go to their office

Schedule an online consult

Or do it now- for free. Take the quiz and find the best medical grade skincare routine for your Baumann Skin Type. In 5 minutes you will be on the right track to skin health.

A dermatologist may recommend a medical grade skincare product for one of the 16 skin types and not recommend it for others. So you need to shop using your Baumann Skin Type”

How to find affordable medical grade skin care products?

Take the quiz and we will give you a step by step skin care routine for your skin type.

For each step you can browse through lists of products right for you.

There are many price points and you can easily find affordable options.

You will also earn points for free products and unlock special offers- especially if you buy your entire routine.

We do this because we know that a complete skin care routine works better than just one product.

And- we know if it is affordable you are more likely to use the entire routine.

We want you to get the best results so we do everything we can to help you find low cost skin care that really works!

Take the Quiz

Good medical grade skincare lines

How to find dermatologist reviews on science-based skin care products?

Looking for dermatologist reviews on SkinCeuticals, Skin Medica, Alastin, Derma Made, Sente, Defenage, Plated or other medical grade products? You can find my reviews on the product pages near the ingredient list. I have not reviewed every product yet as we have thousands of medical grade products, but I try to review a few each day.

My dermatologist partners and I test all of the medical grade skincare products independently from the brands. We are brand agnostic and do not accept payment for our dermatologist skincare product reviews and recommendations.

It is the science that matters- not the brand!

But here is the issue-

You MUST know your Baumann Skin Type to choose the best medical grade brands for your skin concerns.

When you take our skincare routine quiz you will find out your skin type and use our regimen builder to make a medical grade skincare routine. You will only see products that dermatologists have approved for use for your skin type.

This is better than reading our dermatologist skin care products reviews on the product pages because you are getting a custom advice based on skin type. Watch your email for even more personalized advice on how to use the medical grade products properly.

Take the Quiz

shop for medical grade skin care

It depends on which products. Learn more about when to refrigerate medical grade skincare by clicking the image below.

How does the FDA categorize Medical Grade Skincare?

The FDA categorizes skincare into 3 defined categories:

Drugs

Over the counter (OTC)

Cosmetics

Drugs are intended to treat disease and require an extensive and expensive FDA approval process. Examples a Retin A®, Tri-Luma®, Aczone®, Onexton®, MetroGel® and other prescription medications.

Over The Counter (OTC)- These are medications that have been “grandfathered in” and can make drug claims if they contain a certain level of set ingredients. The rules and requirements to be an OTC skincare product are found in an FDA “monograph”. An example is a sunscreen product or an acne OTC product.

To claim that a skincare product treats skin disease, the company must follow the requirements found in the monograph. For example, in order for a product to claim that it works for acne, it must:

Go through the FDA drug approval process, or

Contain a monographed ingredient. Examples of monographed acne treatment ingredients are salicylic acid 0.5%- 2%, benzoyl peroxide 2.5%- 10%, resorcinol 2%, sulfur 3-10%. Companies are not allowed to say that a product works for can unless it meets these criteria.

Cosmetics are defined as products to improve the appearance of the skin but not affect skin biology.

Examples include makeup, moisturizers, serums and cleansers.

Of course, many cosmetics affect skin biology, but the regulations are based on what is claimed- not what actually occurs biologically.

This means that many cosmetic skin care products have ingredients that affect cellular processes. These are referred to as medical-grade skincare products, professional skincare, physician-dispensed skincare products or cosmeceuticals- but these are not real terms recognized or regulated by the FDA.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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