How to Choose the Right Obagi Skincare Treatment

If you’ve taken a trip to your aesthetician and plastic surgeon’s office lately, you may have been introduced to the Obagi skin care line. Obagi medical products are the latest treatments for anti-aging and skin reconditioning, promising skin rejuvenation and a reduction of wrinkles in a few short weeks.

Instead of applying dangerous chemicals or serums to the skin, aestheticians are turning to Obagi products that recondition skin to reproduce fresh and healthy cells. Here’s an overview of the different treatments available, and what to expect from each:

Obagi Skincare: What Are Your Options?
There isn’t a single system for all people with Obagi, and you’ll be consulting with an aesthetician to find out which treatment will bring the results you need. The current Obagi treatments available are:

Obagi Nu-Derm System
This system is designed for a complete ‘makeover’ over the skin. The aesthetician will give you a specific dosage of each product to stimulate skin cells, remove old cells that are causing age spots or discoloration, and protect the skin from UV damage.

Obagi-C Rx System
This is a good choice for you if your skin has endured sun damage and needs to be more evenly toned. It contains a high concentration of Vitamin C to help enhance collagen production and reduce the amount of melanin in your cells that are causing pigmentation. If you’re constantly getting freckles and sun spots, this is a good choice for you.

Obagi Professional-C Serum
If you live in a warm climate and are often exposed to the sun, this is a great treatment to protect your skin and prevent signs of aging from the sun’s rays. This treatment is also made with a high concentration of Vitamin C to reduce the effects of sun damage and prevent wrinkles from appearing. It’s delivered in the form of a serum, and applied to the face after cleansing and toning.

Obagi Blue Peel System
This is Obagi’s version of a chemical peel, and requires an extra trip to the clinic to remove old skin cells using a Tricholoroacetic Acid (TCA). The peel feels as if it’s burning off the top layer of skin, and leaves you with a bluish tint. Your skin will start to peel within a few days as the cells turnover; after a few more days, it will be completely refreshed with new skin cells. The Nu-Derm system is recommended after the peel cycle is complete, and can help keep your skin looking fresh.

Obagi Clenziderm M.D.
If you have trouble with acne and blemishes, this treatment promises clear skin in 14 days. It’s a prescription-strength acne treatment that fills your pores with liquefied benzoyl peroxide. Benzyol peroxide is available in lower concentrations over the counter, but this formula is designed for longer lasting effects.

Obagi Elastiderm
If you’re looking for an alternative to BOTOX or surgery to get rid of wrinkles, this formula is designed to increase the firmness of your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The formula reportedly works in 9 weeks, and helps the skin cells build collagen naturally.

Obagi Condition & Enhance System
This large set of products is designed to condition and tone your skin after a formal procedure. If you’ve recently had a chemical peel, facial surgery, or even a BOTOX treatment, this system is designed to maintain your results and create a natural glow. It’s a good choice if you’re investing in an expensive facial treatment and want your results to last.

Obagi Skincare: Is it Worth It?

Obagi skincare products can be purchased online, or at many plastic surgery and aesthetician’s offices. Each of the products in the skincare system range from $36 – $60 each, and the serums can cost upward of $75 per bottle. Beginning the Obagi system does mean you will need to keep up with it for the long-term. Since it can take weeks and months to achieve optimal results, this will be a long-term investment that can easily cost between $200-$300 in product costs to keep up.

Still, it’s a lower cost solution than many medical and chemical procedures. Even some facial treatments now cost upward of $100 per session, and this can quickly add up if you need a skin resurfacing or rejuvenating treatment a few times per month. The key benefit of using Obagi skincare products is you can apply them at home (except for the Blue Peel); however, you may need to adjust your dosage as your skin changes and will need to visit with the aesthetician to determine how much you need to use.