Understand the information behind a skincare claim

Separate an advertising promise from the evidence behind it.

Start with a useful question

Product descriptions and personal reviews serve different purposes from clinical evidence. When reading a skincare claim, check what was actually tested, whether the result is relevant to the product and whether commercial interests are disclosed.

Related reading: Find a clearer starting point for health information · Prepare useful questions for a medical appointment

Put the idea into practice

Read the original source where possible and check when it was published or reviewed. Look for the limits of the evidence, the population it describes and any commercial interest. Write down what remains unclear rather than filling a gap with an assumption.

Review what you learn

Use general information to prepare questions, not as a diagnosis or a personalised treatment plan. An appropriately qualified healthcare professional can help relate evidence to an individual situation. The official resource below offers a starting point for further reading.