I know what you're thinking, but hear me out. There are so many claims of doctor approved or dermatologist tested on almost any commercialized product today, especially when it comes to skincare. However does that mean it's a wrap, that stamp of approval? That as long as a doctor approves it, it is top of the line and that you should use it?
Well first let's break down what "doctor approved" means. When a product states this it simply means that at least one doctor has used the product and observed it for one claimable feature. "Safety", sensitive skin, personal effectiveness, etc and then they start recommending it. Doctors are people just like us at the end of the day, testing a product just as we can. Though having a greater knowledge base and years of study in certain fields, they are not reviewing these products in any spectacular way.
I don't say this to bag on doctors. Lord knows we need them. What I'm saying is we shouldn't put so much weight into staying with a product, or blindly trying a product, that perhaps may not be the best fit, simply because it's "doctor approved" or doctor recommended. Ultimately you have to test each product yourself and see how it works for you and your skin and you should base your selection off of ingredients.
Check out ewg.org for safety ratings on commercial skincare. They give a letter grade for the safeness of whole products as well as individual ingredients.
I am not a stranger to doctor recommended products by any means and this is why i'm rambling on an obscure blog.
Now let us talk about peer approved, tested and reviewed. This simply means that a collection of your peers or other humans that are not doctors have tried the product for their ailments and determined that it was effective for them. I don't know about you, but when I am on the hunt for products, the first thing I look at are ingredients and the second thing are the product reviews. I do my own due diligence so I know what is going on or in my body and then I see how well it has worked for other people just like me.
Peer reviews are always going to weigh in more for me than doctor approved, personally. I have done my rounds for each stamp of approval and I trust those with my same problem skin over those who do not face the same everyday struggles or trials. Now to shamelessly throw in a plug for Herbbotany.
Our products are peer approved and have been tested by regular everyday Joes, like us. We are not reinventing the wheel. We are simplifying what nature has been providing since the dawn of time. Making our products easy to test, making eliminating ingredients that don't work personally for you seamless and keeping you chemical free. Give us a try!
Love,
Someone like you