What about combination products and web based skincare products??

You've mentioned on your blog about OTC Vitamin C/Retinol... here's one that received a write-up in July 2015 Prevention Magazine: InstaNatural Age Defying & Skin Clearing Serum ($22 on Amazon) 2.5% retinol and 20% vitamin C. Joan

Whoa –   I’m “smelling a rat” on this one.   First of all, it’s very difficult, if not impossible to combine these actives and NOT inactivate them.   Also, if the concentrations were truly what they say ……….wow, most people would get a VERY bold reaction, if not a chemical burn and peel.    I don’t know of a single reputable company who makes a retinol great than 1.0% and even that can be irritating.   I’d love someone to convince me that I’m wrong on this one, but I’d be suspicious. In my experience, it’s better to buy from reputable sources – like us. 🙂

Also, be careful when buying on Amazon.  Amazon has no way of really vetting these companies.   Recently a patient of ours, who had initially bought a moisturizer from us, got a refill of the same product from Amazon.   She brought it in to show me and it was a completely different consistency, and looked like it had been diluted somehow.   So odd!!

Hope this helps,  Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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