No, I wasn’t implying that the effects of Pro-X taper off after 8 weeks, though one would have to keep using the products to maintain the results, and eventually a plateau would be reached.

In contrast, results from long-term use of tretinoin are cumulative and do, in fact, accelerate after 8 weeks. That’s why it was a bit unfair for Olay to make the comparison so soon.

I diagree that Pro-X products cost less than tretinoin. Generic versions are available for no more than your standard prescription co-pay, assuming you have decent health insurance. If not, even at full price, generic tretinon would cost around the same as one Pro-X product.

Ongoing tretinoin use does not require routine doctor visits. Most physicians will add continual refills for tretinoin into their initial prescription. Of course, if you need to see your physician for another health concern, you can always ask him or her to write another prescription at that time.

In terms of tretinoin use during pregnancy, it isn’t generally advised. However, some physicians believe the same concerns should be extended to over-the-counter forms of topical vitamin A, including retinol and its variations. But presently these OTC forms of vitamin A aren’t regulated by the FDA, so they don’t get assigned a usage-during-pregnancy advisory that tretinoin (a prescription drug) has.

What is likely is that they would taper off at some stage as the limit is reached on their capability to impact the specific skin involved.

However that is really NOT the point. It is that

1. Pro-X and other similarly trialed and reported OTC solutions are cheaper than prescription creams

2. Don’t require the cost of (repeated) visits to a doctor to purchase.

3. Don’t have the side-effects/usage restrictions. Tretinion Topical tretinoin has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA menaing

Item 3 alone would be a good argument for the over 30′s to be glad such effective alternative to drugs exist.

By comparison they are much better value for money.

In Oz, even the regular Olay products are getting very expensive – it’s really misleading to just call it a “drug store brand” over here. I won’t use their cleanser, so highly recommended by Paula, because it works out to be just as expensive as a department store one (considering the very small quantity and restrictive packaging). Ditto the serums – there isn’t much for your money (though the formulations are good).

Needless to say, I won’t be unnecessarily splurging on these even more expensive Olay products!