The story behind Cosmedix
The story behind Cosmedix began in 1998 when a team of aestheticians, chemists, and doctors had the idea to create medical-grade skin care products that combined natural yet effective ingredients to address common skin concerns without causing irritation. Cosmedix also focuses on using “chirally-correct” ingredients. In case you don’t know, chirality refers to handedness, or the direction in which a molecule is rotated. So what does this mean in terms of skin care? According to Cosmedix, this means their formulas have been filtered to contain only molecules that positively interact with the skin, resulting in less irritation and more concentrated formulas capable of real change.
What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?
What are the best selling Cosmedix products?
Cosmedix formulates products for every step of your skin care routine, including cleansers, toners, serums, eye and lip care, moisturizers, sun protection, body care, exfoliators, masks, balms, and more. With so many products to choose from, you may not know where to start! That’s why we’ve gathered the top three best selling Cosmedix products and have the details below.
Cosmedix Pure C
By far the most popular product by this brand is Cosmedix Pure C. This product is actually a mixing powder of pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) crystals that can be mixed with your favorite nighttime serum or moisturizer to boost results. Cosmedix Pure C is said to help firm skin and smooth wrinkles, as well as even skin tone by reducing the look of acne scars, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. Cosmedix Pure C should only be used at night because it may cause sensitivity if you expose your skin to the sun.
Cosmedix Serum 16
Cosmedix Serum 16 is an anti-aging retinol facial serum that is said to help reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone, smooth wrinkles, and boost moisture. The brand claims that unlike other retinol serums, Cosmedix Serum 16 will not cause the typical retinol side effects of redness, dryness, or irritation. This serum should only be used at night because it may cause sensitivity if you expose your skin to the sun.
Cosmedix Opti Crystal
Opti Crystal is the brand’s #1 bestselling liquid crystal eye serum that is said to reduce the look of dark circles and improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging around the eyes. Cosmedix Opti Crystal can be used both day and night.
Cosmedix ingredients: The Five A’s
Cosmedix categorizes the key ingredients found in their products into the five A’s: acids, amino acids, vitamin A, antioxidants, and ascorbic acid. We’ll talk about each of these categories in detail so you’ll know what to expect with Cosmedix skin care products.
The acids used in Cosmedix skin care products include both alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are most well known for their ability to exfoliate the skin by targeting corneocytes (dead skin cells) in a process called corneocyte desquamation. By enhancing their breakdown and increasing the separation of skin cells, the rate of cell turnover is increased, leading to smoother, more radiant skin. Examples of AHAs in Cosmedix products include lactic, malic, and tartaric acid. The beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that Cosmedix uses is salicylic acid, which is known to exfoliate the pore lining and help reduce acne breakouts.
Cosmedix includes amino acids in their skin care products because amino acids are building blocks of peptides, which are building blocks of proteins. You need amino acids to build important skin proteins like collagen and elastin. In addition, amino acids are humectants, which means they attract and hold onto moisture, thereby keeping the skin hydrated.
Vitamin A (aka retinol) is one of the best anti-aging skin care ingredients because it has the ability to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores. You can find retinol in several Cosmedix skin care products, such as Cosmedix Serum 16 and Cosmedix Define Age-Defying Treatment.
Antioxidants are ingredients that help to protect the skin against free radical damage. This is important because the harmful effects of free radicals occur as direct chemical alterations of the cellular DNA, the cell membrane, and cellular proteins, including collagen. Damaged collagen manifests as signs of premature skin aging, including wrinkles, lines, and sagging skin.
The final Cosmedix ingredient we’ll discuss is L-ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. L-ascorbic acid provides potent antioxidant benefits and therefore protects collagen from free radical damage. L-ascorbic acid also stimulates the synthesis of new collagen in the skin. By increasing the amount of collagen in the skin, signs of aging will be diminished and the skin will appear more firm. Another benefit of L-ascorbic acid is its ability to reduce the appearance of dark spots and improve uneven skin tone. This is accomplished through inhibition of melanin synthesis. Melanin is a pigment that gives our skin color, but too much of this pigment can lead to undesirable dark spots called hyperpigmentation. L-ascorbic acid decreases melanin formation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme that is required for melanin synthesis. The result is skin that appears brighter with less dark spots and a more even skin tone.
Where is Cosmedix sold?
Cosmedix skin care products are only sold on the brand’s website and through authorized professional partners. You can use the store locator on the brand’s website to find a spa location that sells Cosmedix products near you.
What is the Cosmedix return policy?
The Cosmedix return policy states, “If for any reason you are not satisfied with your product, simply return it within 30 days and we will be happy to issue an exchange or refund. Shipping & Handling charges are not refundable. If you prefer, you may exchange your purchase for other COSMEDIX products. Only products purchased on cosmedix.com may be returned for refund or exchange.”
Is Cosmedix cruelty free?
Cosmedix is cruelty free. The brand does not test finished products or ingredients on animals, and neither do their suppliers or any third-parties. In addition, Cosmedix does not sell their products where animal testing is required by law.
Cosmedix reviews
Cosmedix reviews on the brand’s website are overall very positive, with most products receiving 4 and 5 star ratings. Cosmedix Pure C reviews rave about how this product really does help with hyperpigmentation and brightening the skin tone. There really aren’t many negative Cosmedix reviews. The ones we did find were concerning the Cosmedix Opti Crystal eye serum. Some customers found this serum to be too greasy, and others said it produced no noticeable difference.
What are some alternatives to Cosmedix?
After evaluating the key ingredients and product formulations, we think that Cosmedix skin care products offer a great combination of well-studied skin care ingredients. But we understand that some Cosmedix products may be out of reach for some consumers (you’ll have to drop $95 for just a quarter ounce of the Cosmedix Opti Crystal eye serum!) That’s why we have an alternative for you to consider: Formulyst.
One product we recommend is Formulyst’s Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream. This lightweight, fast-acting formula contains a rich blend of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals to help visibly brighten and smooth the delicate skin in the eye area. Key ingredients in this Formulyst eye cream include quinoa seed extract, caffeine, and butcher’s broom extract. Quinoa seed extract is rich in essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids help to restore the skin’s barrier function, which keeps the skin hydrated and soft. Caffeine helps to reduce the amount of blood that accumulates under the eyes (dark circles) while also reducing puffiness. Butcher’s broom extract has astringent and soothing properties. Together, these ingredients help to brighten and smooth the under eye area.
Want to know the best thing about Formulyst products? Formulyst allows you to bundle three products together for $108/shipment, so you’ll end up with three products for about the same price as just one Cosmedix product!
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that is effective and safe. Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the power of plants with cutting edge science. Not only is Carrot & Stick good for your skin, it is also good for the environment as the formulas skip harmful chemicals commonly found in skin care products.
