The medical company that put prescription Botox on the market to smooth out wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles, and Juvederm to fill in wrinkles and lips, now has a new nonprescription line of face cleansers and creams called Vivite.

“The schtick with Vivite is that you're doing two things with one product,” said Dr. Mary Lupo, dermatologist at Tulane Hospital.

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Vivite is sold through doctors' offices, retailing for about $275 for a combination of five products.

Allergan says its new product is "clinically shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles." And the company also claims Vivite stimulates collagen, and can remove the appearance of sun-damaged skin in as little as three weeks.

Local doctors said one of the active ingredients in Vivite has been on the market for more than a decade. According to dermatologists, glycolic acid works to exfoliate the top most layer of the skin. Other active ingredients are a number of natural anti-oxidants.

“Antioxidants absolutely make a difference with the skin,” Lupo said. “They improve the hydration of the skin without exception they tend to be anti-inflammatory to the skin, so they tend to reduce a lot of the redness and, with regular use, significantly cut down on pigmentation.”

But some other doctors don't think Vivite is offering anything dramatically new.

“It does have some good components in it that should work, but I don't think it's going to be any better than a lot of other products we already have,” said Dr. Elizabeth McBurney, dermatologist at LSU Health Sciences Center.

Dr. William Coleman, a dermatologic surgeon, said Vivite does not offer anything dramatically different.

“Ten percent glycolic acid is available in many, many compounds that you can find in even Wal-Mart's special cream and that sort of thing,” Coleman said.

But Allergan counters that Vivite has 20 percent glycolic acid in it, along with peptides to firm the skin. And Lupo believe that having more than one active ingredient makes a difference.

“The key with the Vivite is as you're exfoliating, you're presenting the skin with antioxidants,” Lupo said. “And the theory is that when you do two things together, especially exfoliation with your beneficial ingredient, whether it be antioxidants or peptides or lipids for improved hydration, whatever it is, you're doing it at the same time so you're going to get the maximum penetration and the maximum benefit.”

But to get that maximum benefit, you’ll have to pay more.

“I have most of my patients using both Retin-A and a glycolic acid every day. The difference is you can find 10% glycolic acid in many, many compounds for $10 or so,” Coleman said. “You don't need to pay $50 to find that strength of glycolic acid.”

Studies have shown that when you alternate the prescription vitamin A type creams, such as Retin-A, with glycolic or lactic acid you get better results than either alone and prescription vitamin a creams are always the most potent. While Vivite does not have vitamin A in it, it does contain several active ingredients.

“I think the reason for the price of the Vivite is because of their advanced antioxidant botanicals that are in there; and they've got a lot of them,” Lupo said. “And so it's a combination of antioxidants. It really is an antioxidant cocktail with the glycolic acid chaser.”

Lupo believes for a non-prescription product, Vivite can refine the texture of your skin and give it a more glowing appearance, but says it lacks one of the most important anti-aging ingredients.

“Patients need to know that it does not have a sunscreen, so you need to make sure that in conjunction with using Vivite, you're also using good sun protection,” she warned, “because sun protection is our most important ally in the fight against aging.”

All doctors agree that it's always better to protect yourself from the damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun than to try to undo the damage later. And while doctors say using Vivite can make a difference, just keep in mind that the results will be mild.

“People like to have a system to follow, but I think as long as you understand that and are not expecting just unbelievable results, I think it's another line that can be used with the Retin-A,” McBurney said.

Vivite is sold through doctors' offices. There are five different products in the line which, if bought together, retail for about $275.