Type II - Products used by salons and only available for sale at a salon. These products are of many different varieties and require some knowledge to sort through. Here, you MUST know a little bit about reading a label. You may find the same ingredients in VERY EXPENSIVE products, but you may also find them in VERY INEXPENSIVE products. You need to read the label. Some other things to look for on the labels are sensitizing agents, "natural ingredients," and various emollients. Sensitizing agents are anything that may produce irritation. When you see various fragrances and colors added, these may very well cause irritation. They may also make the price go up considerably. Watch out for this - you may be able to get the same cleanser (by ingredient) without the fancy smell and container. Look out for "natural" ingredients. "Natural" ingredients tend to show up in salons and also tend to have a high price tag. If you see an ingredient list that includes things like honey extract, almond oil, coconut oil, or grape seed oil, you may well see some nice results. But you may NOT! What you can be sure of, is that exotic ingredients will make the cost go up considerably.

Type III - the department store products. These products are the most insidious largely because they are usually the closest thing to drugstore brands. There are THOUSANDS of products out there and MILLIONS of combinations and formulas. "Professional" skincare products sold under prestige names in the department stores are very often no better than those available at your local CVS, although they are MUCH more expensive.

Type IV - Drugstore brands. I have nothing against drugstore brands. Nothing at all. But you do need a word of caution. In my experience, drugstore brands are much more likely to have harsh detergents and other sensitizing agents without the appropriate buffer or desensitizing agent. Just make sure to look out for products like toners that are alcohol based, cleansers that are the classic lauryl/lareth sulfate (a good cleanser, but just too harsh!). There are many drugstore brands that I would match well against many a professional skin care product.