NO BEAUTY BS TRUTHS

Cosmedicine is a new approach to skincare. We’re not here to romance you or make unrealistic promises as so many beauty companies do. We respect you too much. We're here to tell you the truth - not just as we know it, but as science knows it. That's why we've created this list of No Beauty BS Truths. These are universal, indisputable and medically-accepted facts about skin. How it works, performs and responds to aging, the environment and the products you put on it. We're not asking you to believe us, we're telling you how it is. Because that's the very definition of a No Beauty BS Truth.

1. Anti-aging is a myth.

To live is to age. You can't freeze-frame today, much less regain how you looked ten years ago. Yet with the right care, many aspects of skin aging can be postponed and possibly avoided. The key: start young, stay young. The more you use Cosmedicine products, the healthier your skin will become and the better prepared it will be to resist external damage and the effects of time. Your skin will look younger and act younger. And that's a fact.

2. Older skin is slower skin.

As you age, your skin starts to deteriorate and doesn't turn over and renew itself as fast as it did when you were younger. Its support structure weakens, it produces less collagen and hyaluronic acid, and free radical and environmental pollutants can more easily take their toll. Your skin needs an external boost to help speed things up and fortify itself. Cosmedicine uses medical-grade ingredients that help change the skin from below the surface. So skin can help itself stay young... instead of just getting old on cue.

3. Test tubes are not people.

Skin cells can behave differently in a test tube than on living skin. Living skin has to contend with stress, diet, and the sun. That's why, unlike many beauty and skincare products, Cosmedicine was tested on control and test panels of human volunteers (never animals). Cosmedicine products were subjected to scrupulous clinical trials, under the direction of a leading medical institution. Our claims have proven measured results. We skip any kind of misleading information and just give you the facts. And the fact is, Cosmedicine works on real skin in real life, starting with yours.

4. When a product is truly effective, you need less of it, not more.

When you have the right ingredients you don’t need to lather yourself in product. Ingredients need to be pH balanced, the correct molecular size and in therapeutic levels. Most importantly, they need to be readily accepted by your skin – an orange slice on your face, for example, won't give it Vitamin C. Of the many things you need more of in life, BS is not one of them.

5. Skin is programmed to keep out everything, even the good.

Skin cells are created to protect the body. But by doing that, they can also keep out things that make skin healthier. Cosmedicine researchers found a way to unlock skin's lipid barrier so that the molecules of our ingredients have easy access. It's called Instant Recognition Technology. IRT enables a fusion of high-performance ingredients to download directly into the skin and be immediately accepted without obstruction or restriction. Much like a VIP pass. Because if the good things don’t get under your skin, how can they be any good?

6. There is no one magic bullet to skincare.

Many skincare companies tout an all-important magical ingredient they use in all their products. Yet no single ingredient can do it all. It'd be like eating a diet of only bananas, good as they are for you. Skin has a complex chemistry and requires a combination of different ingredients to address different issues. Cosmedicine's synergistic formulations actually increase - and in some cases compound - the effect of each individual ingredient to create a more powerful product. Yet despite their activity and potency, Cosmedicine's formulations are safe enough for even the most sensitive skin. Now that's pretty magical.

7. Over-exfoliating can actually hurt your skin.

Exfoliating skin too much or too often can be damaging. Besides, many exfoliators contain harsh ingredients like ground apricot shells, pumice and poppy seeds. Medi-morphosis, our self-adjusting exfoliator, has "grains with brains." These smart, stop-action crystals dissolve when they reach healthy skin. So even if you wanted to do too much of a good thing, you can't. And that's no BS.

8. Great skincare doesn’t just fix existing problems, it prevents future ones.

It's easy to think if you fix this or that, you'll have great skin. Yet that's shortsighted. Your beauty's lifespan can be extended with just a little extra care and attention. It is all within your control. Cosmedicine products work in two unique ways: they address both the internal and external factors that cause deterioration of the skin and its support structure. In other words, in addition to helping to heal, correct and improve skin, they help skin help itself so that the bad stuff never has a chance to happen. Now that's great skincare.

9. Skin thrives on acid.

Skin in its healthiest state is acidic. Most skincare products that incorporate "acids" are formulated at a pH that is 7 or higher. This renders them alkaline (the opposite of acidic), also known as "drying." So before the key ingredients ever reach your skin's surface they are neutralized, deactivated, and rendered ineffective. All Cosmedicine products are pH balanced – with the same acidic balance as your skin. So the skin accepts them completely and easily. We're happy to embrace skin's acidity because it promotes skin's true nature. And we like dealing with the truth.

10. Cleaning your face thoroughly shouldn't sting your eyes.

Strong can be gentle too. Our Healthy Cleanse Foaming Cleanser & Toner takes it all off but is so gentle that if you had to, you could open your eyes while cleaning your face. Our cleanser is also a toner and eye makeup remover, even of waterproof mascara. There are many great reasons to use Healthy Cleanse and zero eye irritation is one. So open your eyes. The truth won't sting.

11. Your skin is your body's last priority.

Not surprisingly, your body cares more about nurturing your heart and other vital organs. So if you've been eating badly, not getting enough sleep, or going through a particularly stressful time, your skin will suffer first and foremost. That's why skin needs your help to keep it looking great and performing at its best. It's important to "feed" your skin (just like you feed your body) the steady and balanced diet it needs to ward off the damaging effects of everyday life with essential nutrients, antioxidants, botanical extracts, essential fatty acids, hyaluronic acid and vitamins. Your skin will thank you by looking great.

12. The amount used matters as much as the ingredient itself.

Skincare companies will brag about their list of ingredients, yet the most effective ones are often found at the bottom of the list. The lower you go, the less you get. A fairy dusting of a great ingredient does little for anyone. Cosmedicine puts therapeutic quantities of the highest quality ingredients in each and every formulation. Read the labels – the truth is right there at the top of list.

13. Your skin can be older than you.

We all accept we're getting older. But who wants to get there any faster? Fact: if you don't take care of your skin, it will age before its time. Environmental pollutants and UV rays take their toll. So do clogged pores, abrasive treatments, poor nutrition and stress. (And let's not even talk about the aging effects of smoking.) Conversely, if you care for your skin with gentle yet effective cleaning, regular exfoliation, daily sun protection and hydration, it will behave younger than you are. Treat skin well and it will do the same for you.

14. Environmental exposure is public enemy #1.

Don't kid yourself. Sunscreen isn't something reserved for the beach and outdoor sports. Every day, you experience UVA and UVB rays. They pierce through clouds. They follow you down city streets. They even come through windows. By having sunscreen (and powerful antioxidants) in your daily moisturizer, you protect yourself against even the most passive sun exposure, and that includes if your only outdoor exposure occurs between your car and the office. Use any of our daytime treatments and you’re completely covered, whatever the day may bring.

15. You don't need injections to get impressive results.

Our grandmothers had two choices on the vanity table: cold cream and petroleum jelly. Today we have access to an amazing array of ingredients that help to smooth, firm, de-wrinkle, brighten, and soften the skin. Cosmedicine uses all of the usual suspects – and some brand new, exclusive ones in innovative formulations – to bring about real change in skin. We don't skimp on quality or quantity. Our clinical testing captures these results and the proof is in the numbers. It's also in how great your skin will look and feel once you have used the Cosmedicine skincare regime right for you.

16. Clean, tight skin is not happy, healthy skin.

Squeaky clean is for dishes. Stripping skin will remove its protective acid mantle and the natural sebum your skin needs to maintain its proper pH. Harsh cleansers will also make your skin produce more oil. And they will irritate skin, leaving it tight, reddened and/or flaky. Yet not cleansing your skin thoroughly of old makeup and debris will leave a residue of dirt and clogged pores and create a barrier to any treatments you put on your face. Bottom line: You need gentle, but effective ingredients to leave skin clean, soft and squeak-free.

17. Subjective anecdotes are not scientific results.

Subjective tests are often the standard in the beauty industry. In these tests, product efficacy claims are based on what women experience after using a product for a few weeks. It won't necessarily be the same for you. Cosmedicine subjects all of its products to rigorous, objective scientific testing – the same way drugs are tested. We split volunteers into test and control groups and then measure skin’s improvement with scientific instruments. The results are statistically significant – which means they are a reliable indicator of what anyone, including you, can expect from using the product. See, the truth doesn't lie.

18. Like your wardrobe, your skincare should reflect what's happening outside…and inside.

When it rains, you carry an umbrella. When it's sunny, you wear sunglasses. Similarly, when you're stressed and tired, your skin needs additional support and protection. Cosmedicine products contain a complex combination of advanced ingredients designed to work together and give the skin everything it needs to cope with – and thrive under – life's daily circumstances. You need to use the right product for the right circumstance. For example, that means heightened sun protection for outdoor sports and extra hydration after flying or being in an arid climate. We like to think of ourselves as your skin’s wardrobe, ready for anything.

19. Oil-free is a marketing ruse.

Beauty companies know you're oil-phobic. Yet it’s impossible to make a cream or a lotion without some kind of oil. Fact: not all oils are created equal. And not all oils in products are bad for the skin. Cosmedicine products are formulated with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that are safe and effective – as well as proven not to clog pores, encourage the overproduction of sebum or irritate skin. In fact, Cosmedicine's formulations actually balance the skin so it’s neither too oily nor too dry. The truth is properly balanced and hydrated skin is prettier and healthier. And isn't that what you're really after?

20. Natural is not always healthier or more effective.

There's a lot of buzz out there about going organic. But is natural always better? Poison ivy is natural, but you certainly wouldn't want to put that on your skin. That's why Cosmedicine uses a combination of science and technology in selecting ingredients that are right for the skin. What matters most to us is an ingredient’s efficacy and safety. We choose the right version, natural or synthetic, to get the job done well without any irritation. And isn't that the wisest choice of all?

21. SPF is only half the story – to get more, you need more.

It's no secret that sun exposure is responsible for the majority of skin damage. Yet free radicals, which are present everywhere, accelerate aging too. This environmental damage appears on the skin’s surface as well as below, where new skin is born and nurtured. That’s why every daytime Cosmedicine product that stays on the skin contains a combination of superior sunscreens and powerful antioxidants. The sunscreens protect against UVA and UVB rays, and the antioxidants defend against free radicals, as they work to brighten, firm, and smooth skin. Why protect against some of the damage when you can protect against all of it?

22. You can't shrink pores, but you can keep them at their smallest.

The sizes of your pores were determined at birth. You can't shrink them, but you can keep them clean and clog-free. Everyday we pack our pores with creams, gels, foundations and powders – stretching our pores to their limits. Cleansing and exfoliating with Cosmedicine products helps to keep pores their cleanest, clearest and smallest. And we can prove it with our objective, scientifically-tested results. We won't promise to shrink your pores, but we will promise to keep them at their smallest, natural size.

23. Dehydrating oily skin only makes it oilier.

Your first urge is to strip oily skin of any oil at all. Yet that will only make your skin oilier as it works to compensates for what you removed. Cosmedicine's Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion is the one-stop oily skin solution. It mattifies excess oil, while delivering the right hydration. It also includes SPF 20 UVA and UVB protection. So your skin is shine-free, hydrated and protected -- without the BS.