Patients often ask whether it makes sense to buy the products we sell in our office from online sellers. We do not recommend this, even though it often seems like a great deal! The old “too good to be true” axiom applies to this situation. One of the main risks is that counterfeit, diverted, and mishandled products often show up on online marketplaces and from third-party sellers at reduced prices.

Brands we carry and recommend, such as Alastin®, SkinCeuticals®, Obagi®, iS Clinical®, Ourself, and SkinMedica®, sell through licensed professionals, so their products are highly sought after and widely faked. Fakes can have the wrong concentrations of active ingredients, contaminated formulas, or just a different formula in familiar packaging. Many active ingredients, such as Vitamin C, retinol, and peptides, break down with heat, light, and air. A product that has sat in a hot warehouse or delivery truck may be degraded, and you can’t tell by looking at it.

Beyond the pitfalls of buying from 3rd-party sellers, even if you buy directly from product vendors, you still lose out! Rewards programs such as Allē, Premiere Points, and Aspire, which reward patients for purchasing from our office, do not apply to products purchased online. These rewards perks accumulate and provide savings on future purchases. Also, prices on vendor sites are often up to 15% higher and can add shipping charges. You may be low on a product, and your provider may recommend a different one because of the season or your skin’s condition. If you buy online without checking with her, you may end up with an expensive item you don’t need to replenish.

Prescription-strength products, like tretinoin, should only come from a licensed prescriber. Although you may feel you are following your provider’s recommendations, buying products online can put your skin at risk if you don’t purchase the exact productyour  provider outlined. If you have a specific product in mind, we can help you work out whether a listing looks legitimate or whether you even need that product. We stock all the products we recommend, and you can order by phone or online to have them shipped to you or to pick up in the office.

-Kimberly Laird, Licensed Medical Aesthetician