A closer look at OTC skin care products

Your local drug store has shelves upon shelves of face lotions, washes and products claiming to work miracles on your skin. Wash away acne and remove wrinkles, but do you really know what you’re getting?

We called in skin care professional Lindsey Beville with Gulf Coast Skin Care and Dermatology to help us look past the hype.

"There are a lot of products tons of advertising about specific products, celebrities endorsing products," said Beville.

Beville says there are a few things to steer clear of.

"You want to look for products that have a lot of preservatives in them. You want to stay away from petrolatum and glycerin. Things that really clog the pores and harm the skin," said Beville.

Beville says to pay close attention to the label.

"If there is some fancy big long word that you have no idea that’s probably something you want to stay away from," said Beville.

Also look for the number of ingredients.

“The longer list of ingredients is probably not a good thing," said Beville.

Beville says stay away from astringents and scrubs. Also, sonic brushes are the hottest thing on the market. Beville says they are good, but not for everyday use.

"When you are scrubbing your face you are actually hurting the collagen and taking away the good natural oils,” says Beville.

Beville says stick to gentle cleansers and brands like Ceravae, Cydaphil, Neutrogena and Aveeno.

Here are some things Beville says look for products that are hypoallergenic and contain ceramids. Ceramids help retain water in the skin.

If you are looking to use a few years…

"What you want to look for are retinols and some over the counter products contain retinols which definitely helps with fine lines and wrinkles," said Beville.

When it comes to makeup, Beville says mineral based is best.

"Definitely a mineral makeup that’s oil free that wouldn't clog the skin," said Beville.

Beville says over the counter products have come along way, but if you have more severe skin problems or want to really clear away wrinkles, its best to seek the help of a professional.

It is also important to protect your skin from the sun, but Beville says recent studies show what the majority of us are probably using aren’t cutting it. We usually determine the amount of coverage by the SPF, but Beville says the higher the number doesn’t really mean it is blocking more harmful rays.

She recommends getting sunscreen with physical blockers like Zinc and titanium.