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Tuesday, March 19th
Dermstore is a one-stop skincare shop, created by a dermatologist in 1999 to give his patients access to professional-strength formulas from the best brands. The retailer's flagship scar treatment is SkinMedica's Scar Recovery Gel, offered in a 2-oz bottle.
Solid blend of ingredients
So, what's in Scar Recovery Gel that makes it effective in treating scars resulting from minor injuries, c-sections, or cosmetic surgery? At its core is Centelline, which is described as "a synergistic complex comprising centella asiatica, bulbine frutescens, and oleuropein" . Okay, then! We had to look at the "At a Glance" section to get that in a little plainer language: alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, castor oil, dimethicone, essential oils, lactic acid, and olive oil.
Might be more suitable for new scars
This scar treatment is easy to use. Just apply it directly to the scar morning and evening until it looks flat and white without redness. What if your scar is already flat and white and you want to reduce its appearance? Dermstore doesn't really say if this product would be helpful in that case.
Very costly but there are ways to save
At the time of our most recent visit to the Dermstore site, there was a promotion in place offering 15% off our purchase, no code needed. That brought the price down to $90.10 from Scar Recovery Gel's everyday price of $106 per bottle. Dermstore was also offering a SkinMedica Lumivive sample worth $66 when ordering at least $175 in products in the SkinMedica line. You can save anytime by subscribing to auto-replenish, which drops the cost of Scar Recovery Gel to just $72.08 (on top of the 15% savings sitewide).
More reviews than before
Will this product work for you? There were twice as many reviews this time (we love that), averaging a fairly impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars. Most people said that Scar Recovery Gel did improve the appearance of their scars, but it's hardly a miracle treatment by any means.
No refunds on used products
Also, there's no satisfaction guarantee on this scar treatment. Dermstore only accepts returns within 60 days of purchase if products are in "pristine" condition - in other words, not opened or used. That makes Scar Recovery Gel a spendy experiment.
Store is unreliable
Unfortunately, since our last evaluation of Scar Recovery Gel, Dermstore's reputation has absolutely tanked - going from a praiseworthy "A-" to a bottom-of-the-barrel "F" with the Better Business Bureau. Just two months before this more recent evaluation, the BBB had reached out to the company regarding a pattern of complaints from customers not receiving orders or getting a response regarding refunds - and Dermstore had failed to respond even to the BBB. With 375 complaints filed there in the last three years and 80+ of those coming within the most recent 12-month period, that's not a good look for Dermstore.
Get your act together
It's possible that Scar Recovery Gel works miracles, but unless you actually receive what you pay for, it won't do anything for you. And, when you're spending anywhere from $72 to $100+ per bottle, you should be able to order knowing that Dermstore will respond to you if you have an issue. We're disappointed to have to drop Scar Recovery Gel to the bottom of our rankings until or unless Dermstore gets its act together.
Scars are the visible reminders of our body's incredible ability to heal wounds. While some scars may hold sentimental value, most of us desire smooth, blemish-free skin. Whether the scars are from childhood mishaps, kitchen accidents, car crashes, or surgical procedures, finding ways to reduce their appearance is a common goal - especially when they're visible during our day-to-day activities or when we're wearing our favorite swimsuits.
When the deep layer of skin, known as the dermis, is damaged, our body initiates the healing process by producing new collagen fibers to close the wound. However, this healing area often appears different from the surrounding skin, resulting in a noticeable scar.
Although scars naturally improve over time, they never fully disappear. Understanding the size, color, and location of the scar is crucial in determining the best approach to minimize its appearance. Fortunately, there are numerous over-the-counter solutions that can expedite scar healing and help conceal them more effectively than simply waiting for years and hoping for the best.
There are a lot of products on the market today, making big promises about changing the appearance of your scar. Of course, some are more effective than others. Before investing in a scar cream, it is important to consider the following factors:
To identify the scar creams that are most effective at boosting your body's natural healing process, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated the best - and the worst! - on the market today. We're confident that this will help you make an informed decision and find just the right product to reduce the appearance of your scar in no time.
Select any 2 Scar Creams to compare them head to head