At Brightside Aesthetics, we understand that finding the right skin care routine can be easier said than done. With an endless amount of products lining the shelves of your local drug and makeup stores, how can you know which products to choose? And most importantly, how can you know which products actually work?
Fortunately, our team of experts simplifies the process to help you find medical-grade skin care products that support your aesthetic needs. Whether you want to brighten your skin tone or find a high-quality moisturizer, we have the products you need to create the perfect skin care regimen.
Continue reading our blog to learn how pharmaceutical-grade skin care in Des Moines can help you create the complexion of your dreams. Ready to speak with a professional? Head over to our website or give us a call to learn which products are right for you.
Types of Skin Care Products
If you’ve chosen to embark on a skin care journey, you’ve probably tried out plenty of products. But with so many options and recommendations from people who claim they’re “experts,” choosing the right products becomes difficult.
To simplify your search, we divided all skin care products into 2 categories: medical-grade and over-the-counter.
Medical-Grade Skin Care Products
Medical-grade products contain a higher concentration of active ingredients, targeting a specific concern to enhance and protect your skin. Also referred to as pharmaceutical-grade skin care, these products penetrate beyond the outer layer of the skin for enhanced effectiveness. We recommend medical-grade skin care to patients wanting products that deliver on their promises.
You can only buy medical-grade products with a doctor’s note or at practices like Brightside Aesthetics. We recommend using medical-grade skin care in Des Moines to treat a variety of skin concerns, including:
- Acne
- Hyperpigmentation
- Fine lines
- Wrinkles
- Skin laxity
Over-The-Counter Skin Care Products
You can find and purchase over-the-counter products at any retailer or drugstore. Though these products are more accessible than medical-grade skin care in Des Moines, they often contain a larger percentage of synthetic additives than active ingredients, which aren’t as effective.
How to Find the Right Skin Care Products
Though creating a skin care routine can feel overwhelming, the team at Brightside Aesthetics helps take guesswork out of the equation. We recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our experts to discover your personalized skin solutions.
During your consultation, your provider conducts a full skin assessment to determine which products best suit your skin type. These skin types include dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and normal.
Dry Skin
Dry skin, otherwise known as xerosis or xeroderma, occurs when your skin lacks hydration and the ability to retain moisture. Your skin may feel rough, patchy, or flakey if you have a dry skin type.
Skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis can cause excessively dry skin. You may also develop drier skin during the winter months, as cold, low-humidity environments can dry the skin out.
Oily Skin
Oily skin occurs when the body produces too much sebum, or the oily substance secreted by the hair follicles. Though sebum helps your skin retain moisture, too much sebum can create a greasy, oily sheen.
Those with oily skin are often more acne-prone, as excess sebum can clog pores. If you have oily skin, you may experience whiteheads, blackheads, and other pimples.
Combination Skin
Combination skin types consist of both oily and dry skin at the same time. Those with combination skin often experience excessive oil production in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry, patchy skin on the cheeks.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin occurs when the skin barrier breaks down. Those with sensitive skin may experience itching, burning, and stinging—even at the slightest irritants.
As a complex skin type, a variety of factors can cause sensitive skin, including:
- Contact dermatitis – Inflammation that occurs when irritants like strong laundry detergents or perfumes cause minor damage to the skin.
- Allergy – Immune system response when the body protects itself by releasing T-cells that help fight germs and disease.
- Rosacea – Redness, swelling, and warmth in the face and neck most commonly affecting fair-skinned individuals.
- Dry skin – Leaves individuals susceptible to sensitive skin through a skin barrier breakdown.
Normal Skin
Those with a normal skin type have an even balance of oil and hydration. Most individuals with normal skin don’t struggle with acne breakouts or sensitivity to skin care products.
Medical-Grade Skin Care at Brightside Aesthetics
Using information gathered during your consultation, your provider gives product recommendations for medical-grade skin care in Des Moines. We offer 2 clinically proven product lines that deliver outstanding and long-lasting results: skinbetter science and Revision Skincare.
skinbetter science
As a leader in the skin care industry, skinbetter science was founded on the pillars of scientific innovation, rigorous clinical testing, and dermatologist formulation. At Brightside Aesthetics, we love skinbetter science because of its consistent product development and dedication to innovation.
Some of our favorite skinbetter science products include:
- Mystro Active Balance Serum – Evens out skin tone and texture issues for a long-lasting glow.
- AlphaRet Overnight Cream – Addresses fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage—all while you’re asleep.
- Trio Luxe Moisturizer Treatment – Hydrates moderate to severely dry skin and leaves a velvety finish.
- Interfuse Treatment Cream EYE – Eliminates dark and puffy under eyes with a powerful hydrating formula.
- Refining Foam Cleanser – Purifies normal to oily skin while leaving it smooth to the touch.
We recommend consulting your provider to learn how skinbetter science can support your skin care goals.
Revision Skincare
At Brightside Aesthetics, we believe our patients deserve the highest quality products without compromise, and so does Revision Skincare. With their commitment to rigorous testing and pushing the status quo, Revision Skincare strives to help patients achieve transformative results.
Among other products, our experts love Revision Skincare’s:
- Intellishade Original – Reverses the effects of time with a 5-in-1 daily anti-aging moisturizer.
- Youthful Lip Replenisher – Volumizes and defines lips with a kiss of hydration.
- D·E·J Daily Boosting Serum – Improves skin firmness, wrinkles, and laxity to create an ageless appearance.
- C+ Correcting Complex 30% – Brightens the skin using 30% pure THD Ascorbate.
- Nectifirm ADVANCED – Tightens skin laxity in the neck and décolletage areas.
Your provider can give specific product recommendations after analyzing your skin type and specific aesthetic concerns.
Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions
Still have some unanswered questions? Here are a few more details to inform your decision on skin care in Des Moines.
What skin care routine should I follow?
Skin care routines vary from person to person depending on skin type, tone, age, and concerns. At the most basic level, our experts recommend using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer both in the morning and before you go to bed. We also recommend applying a 50 SPF sunscreen throughout the day to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
If you want to up your skin care routine, we recommend incorporating any of the following products:
- Toner – Replenishes and hydrates the skin while removing dead skin cells.
- Antioxidant serum – Uses high concentrations of vitamins C and E to improve skin texture.
- Spot treatments – Targets acne blemishes while leaving the rest of the skin untouched.
- Eye cream – Smooths, firms, and brightens sensitive under-eye areas.
- Exfoliator – Removes dead skin cells to reveal a youthful complexion underneath.
- Acid treatment – Encourages cellular turnover with ingredients like glycolic, salicylic, and hyaluronic acid.
- Face oil – Deeply hydrates excessively dry skin.
Your provider can help you determine which medical-grade products for skin care in Des Moines can enhance your routine.
Can I combine aesthetic treatments with skin care?
Our experts highly suggest combining aesthetic treatments with skin care. While aesthetic treatments create a beautiful complexion, skin care products can enhance and prolong your results.
We recommend asking your provider about aesthetic treatments that would pair well with your skin care routine during your initial consultation.
Do I need to apply sunscreen every day?
Yes, our experts recommend applying sunscreen every day—even when it’s cloudy.
Wearing sunscreen daily maintains your skin’s protective barrier, reduces your risk of developing skin cancer, and helps stop premature aging. Though it may sound counterintuitive to wear sunscreen on a cloudy day, about 80% of the sun’s rays still come through cloud cover.
We also recommend wearing sunscreen if you plan on spending the majority of the day indoors, as sunlight still reaches you through windows and windshields.
Book Your Consultation
Though finding the right medical-grade products for skin care in Des Moines can feel like an overwhelming process, our experts make it easy. We’ll stop at no end to ensure you discover the right products—because you deserve to feel confident in the skin you’re in.
Visit our website or give us a call to schedule your consultation and learn which products suit your unique needs.
Want to learn more about skin care products and aesthetic treatments like the HydraFacial? Check out our blog for more information.
