When I first started in this business 9 years ago, a very prominent Madison Avenue PR maven told me, "the beauty business..it's ugly". After about a decade in this profession, I think I finally understand what she meant.
We started with a formula invented and proven by New Orleans Dermatologist Dr. Nia Terezakis. We are passionate about retinoids because of her passion. I have never met anyone so driven to get a message out to her patients about the proven effects of lifelong Vitamin A therapy.
When we first brought high potency retinol to the market...we were the only company. We had no competitors other than Tx Systems which was not actively selling or marketing its products. When I passionately pleaded my case to this PR maven, she dismissed us like we were nothing and made the above statement about the beauty business being ugly. Oh, how time proves people wrong.
Since we have introduced our product, there is no credible skin care company that doesn't offer some kind of retinol product. They say imitation is sincerest form of flattery...well I'm flattered, I guess. But, I am very happy that more and more companies are starting to see the light...retinoids (vitamin a) are that important to the health of our skin. I only hope that the rest of the public catches on...soon.
Despite the fact that we have more third party independent clinical data on retinoids (do your own search at www.pubmed.com for "topical retinoids") than any other active, we still hear about AHA's, peptides, vitamin c, and now I am starting to hear about stem cells. The fact is, the beauty business is a business built on fads.
Marketing people drive this ship and research and development is propped up and prettied by pseudoscience.
So why do we hear so much about the fads and the science gets ignored? It's for the same reason that we hear about the killer down the street and not the fireman who saves a life. We are drawn towards sensationalism and the belief that a magic potion will make us younger overnight.
The large skin care companies spend millions with magazines and networks to influence their editors (if you don't think editors are swayed by ad money...you are incredibly naive). This is true for websites nowadays (they used to be truly independent) but, as the money flows, the raves follow.
With contradicting research, and information overload...how do you cut through the clutter? Find a skin care professional (dermatologist, plastic surgeon or esthetician) that has experience and will deliver results. In my next post, I will give you some tips on how to find a skin care pro.
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