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Skin Care Spotlight: SkinCeuticals
January 17, 2018
Even though we’re already a few weeks into 2018, it’s never too late to make a resolution to take better care of your skin. One way to start? Reach for products that will help you reach your goals. A science-backed skin care brand that is a favorite among beauty editors and dermatologists alike is SkinCeuticals. Learn more about the innovative antioxidant authority below!
Launched in 1994, on a foundation of ground-breaking, peer-reviewed antioxidant research by Dr. Sheldon Pinnell, SkinCeuticals has been a true leader in skin care for decades. But, what does it take to truly stand out in an industry that’s inundated with new formulas and promises each day? Proof.
To learn more about what goes into every new SkinCeuticals product before it lands on store shelves—and ultimately our own—we spoke with Stephen Lynch, PhD, L’Oreal Research & Innovation.
Ever wonder what it takes for a product to go from a passing idea to an absolute must-have in someone’s routine? A lot. “There are so many aspects to product development,” Lynch explains. “It begins with an insight and a concept from which appropriate ingredients are identified.” From there, he shares that testing and formulation trials begin. “[This process] will be needed to ensure ingredients will be compatible and stable in the formula and with each other,” he says.
During the process, researchers ask a lot of questions in order to ensure that each product is deemed worthy of the SkinCeuticals name. “What kind of formula architecture is desired? Attributes such as texture, viscosity, opacity, and pH must be considered,” Lynch shares. “Which excipients are required to provide the desired aesthetic properties and performance? This phase often takes many iterations to identify a formula with an optimal balance. A SkinCeuticals clinical evaluation plan may take months or even years to complete in some cases. [The brand] would rather postpone than launch an underachieving product.”
But it doesn’t end there. Even after a product is out on shelves and being used in dermatologist offices it still is subject to undergo further tests based on new and upcoming research and innovation in the industry. Lynch tells us that each formula the brand creates is constantly and incrementally evaluated.
Consumers can be assured that every ingredient and every formula have been tested at or above industry standards.
We often go back to re-evaluate a marketed product for new indications,” Lynch says. “For instance, we recently studied the effect of SkinCeuticals topical antioxidants on ozone pollution. This was an emerging area that had grown in prevalence since these products originally launched.”
To be considered ready for launch, a SkinCeuticals product has to meet a number of criteria including safety, microbiology, stability, efficacy, and formula aesthetics. “The launch will only occur when all the criteria are achieved,” he explains.
If it doesn’t sound easy, it’s because it isn’t. The testing process is, as Lynch puts it, rigorous and nerve-wracking. “We have invested a lot of time and effort in formula development based on strong technology and solid scientific rationale,” he says. “But you never know how a formula will perform until it is actually tested.”
What’s more? Each product is designed with dermatologist input. “SkinCeuticals products are developed with insight from industry-recognized key opinion leaders,” Lynch shares. “Many products are tested in conjunction with dermatologists to provide additional reassurance of their value.”
This testing and ongoing evaluation process it what truly sets SkinCeuticals apart from many of the new indie skin care brands that we’ve seen consistently popping up on the scene in recent years. Lynch says that it’s thanks to the backing and support of such a large corporation like L’Oreal, that the brand has that advantage. “Consumers can be assured that every ingredient and every formula have been tested at or above industry standards,” he says. “L’Oreal has a far-reaching clinical testing organization which allows for comprehensive test design and product evaluation.”
Interested? We thought so. Check out some of the SkinCeuticals products that we think deserve a place in your skin care routine by reading our reviews below!
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