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22 investigations into the skincare industry. Filter by category or browse them all.

CBD Skincare: The Regulatory Grey Area with Minimal Evidence

CBD arrived in skincare on a wave of hype, but the evidence for topical benefits remains thin while prices stay high and quality varies wildly.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Marketing Myths 9 min read

Everyone's Skin Is Different: The Industry's Convenient Catch-All

Individual variation is real, but it's become a thought-terminating cliche that shields ineffective products from legitimate criticism.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Ingredient Truths 9 min read

Expiry vs PAO: What Those Symbols Actually Mean and Why Brands Lowball Them

Product dating symbols serve liability and repurchase goals as much as safety. Understanding PAO periods helps you make smarter purchasing decisions.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Tech Claims 7 min read

False Objectivity: Why AI Skin Scanning Isn't What It Claims

AI skin scanning tools create an illusion of scientific measurement, but their numbers are built on variable input that makes results meaningless.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Marketing Myths 8 min read

Feeds Your Skin: Why This Language Makes No Sense

Products that 'feed' and 'nourish' your skin sound compelling, but the biology doesn't work that way. Your skin cells don't eat topical products.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Marketing Myths 9 min read

Fragrance in Unscented Products: The Masking Game

You chose 'unscented' to avoid fragrance, but it doesn't mean fragrance-free. Masking fragrances neutralise odours while still potentially causing reactions.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Marketing Myths 9 min read

Hypoallergenic Has No Legal Definition - Anyone Can Claim It

The word 'hypoallergenic' sounds like a safety guarantee but requires no testing, meets no standards, and means nothing legally. Here's the truth.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Industry Secrets 9 min read

K-Beauty and J-Beauty: When Exoticism Becomes Markup

Korean and Japanese skincare have genuine innovations, but the blanket premium applied to anything Asian-branded is often just marketing dressed up as quality.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Ingredient Truths 9 min read

Molecular Weight Hype: When Size Matters Less Than You Think

Multi-weight hyaluronic acid sounds scientific, but the hierarchy of penetration equals efficacy isn't established by evidence - it's established by marketing.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Industry Secrets 10 min read

Professional vs Retail Versions: Often Identical Formulas at Different Price Points

The 'professional' skincare range in salons is often the same formulation as retail products, just with clinical packaging and higher prices.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Industry Secrets 12 min read

The Parent Company Problem: Your Indie Brand Is Owned by a Conglomerate

That quirky indie brand with the founder story? There's a good chance it's owned by L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Unilever. Here's why that matters.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Industry Secrets 10 min read

The Serum-Cream Price Gap: Why Serums Cost More When They're Often Cheaper to Make

Serums command premium prices despite being simpler and cheaper to manufacture than creams. The pricing logic doesn't match production reality.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Marketing Myths 9 min read

Skinimalism: Now They Want You to Buy Fewer, More Expensive Products

The beauty industry pivoted from 10-step routines to minimalism without missing a revenue beat. Same spending, fewer jars, higher price points.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Industry Secrets 11 min read

Why Big Brands Buy Instead of Build

The skincare industry's biggest players have largely stopped innovating. Instead, they wait for small brands to prove concepts, then write a cheque.

By The Skeptic · 22 January 2025

Marketing Myths 6 min read

Up To" Results: The Best-Case Outlier Presented as Typical

"Up to 50% reduction in wrinkles." "Up to 80% improvement in hydration." "Up to 95% saw visible results."

By The Skeptic · 13 January 2025

Ingredient Truths 6 min read

The 1% Line: Everything After Fragrance Is Likely Under 1%

There's a hidden marker in every cosmetic ingredient list that brands don't advertise. Once you know how to find it, you can immediately identify which ingredients are present at meaningful levels...

By The Skeptic · 12 January 2025

Ingredient Truths 6 min read

Hero Ingredient, Homeopathic Dose: When the Headline Active Is Barely Present

The packaging screams "RETINOL." The marketing emphasises the peptide complex. The product name includes "Vitamin C Brightening." You buy it for the featured ingredient — but that ingredient might be...

By The Skeptic · 11 January 2025

Marketing Myths 6 min read

Award-Winning": Who Gave the Award and What Were the Criteria?

"Award-winning serum." "Multi-award-winning moisturiser." "Winner of 15 beauty awards."

By The Skeptic · 10 January 2025

Industry Secrets 6 min read

The Consultation Upsell: Skin Analysis Designed to Recommend Expensive Products

"Let me analyse your skin and recommend a personalised routine."

By The Skeptic · 9 January 2025

Ingredient Truths 5 min read

Adaptogens in Skincare: Borrowed Wellness Terminology with No Topical Evidence

Ashwagandha face cream. Rhodiola serum. Adaptogenic skincare designed to help your skin "adapt to stress."

By The Skeptic · 8 January 2025

Tech Claims 5 min read

Blue Light Protection: Solving a Problem That Doesn't Exist How They Claim

"Protects against blue light damage." "Shields skin from screen exposure." "Anti-blue light skincare for the digital age."

By The Skeptic · 7 January 2025

Ingredient Truths 6 min read

Probiotic Skincare: Live Cultures Don't Survive in Product

"Contains live probiotics." "Supports your skin's microbiome." "Probiotic skincare for balanced skin."

By The Skeptic · 6 January 2025