The skincare industry can often be a confusing place for consumers. With a plethora of products available, each boasting a myriad of health claims, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction. Manufacturers often make grandiose claims about their skincare products, promising miraculous results. However, these claims can sometimes be greatly exaggerated, leaving consumers out-of-pocket and underwhelmed.
It is crucial for consumers to exercise due diligence when shopping for skincare products. Blindly accepting the claims made about a product can lead to disappointment, as the product may not live up to its promises. Therefore, it is important to critically analyze the ingredients used in a product and compare them with the claims made about the product. This can provide a more accurate assessment of whether or not the product will truly deliver on its promises.
In this article, we will be critically analyzing the ‘Daily Moisture’ facial moisturizer by Skinceuticals. We will be examining the claims made about this product and comparing them to the ingredients used within the product. This will allow us to perform a truth assessment and establish whether or not the product really will live up to its claims.
View all the information used for this fact check. Access a timestamped snapshot of the product's official webpage as reviewed by us, preserved for transparency and future reference. INCI list at time of reviewal: Aqua / Water / Eau, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitol, Ci 77163 / Bismuth Oxychloride, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water / Witch Hazel Water, Peg-75 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ceteth-20, Triethanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Disodium Edta, Myristic Acid, Betaine, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Glucose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract / Matricaria Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract / Ginger Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract – Thyme Flower/Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc Sulfate, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract / Licorice Root Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract / Nettle Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Cinnamal, Pyridoxine Hcl Product formulations and manufacturer claims may evolve. For the most current information, refer directly to the product's official website. Our reviews are updated periodically to reflect new data.Resources
Archive courtesy of Archive.org.
So, let’s delve into the main claims being made about this product and break them down:
Claim #1: The Product Provides Long-Lasting Hydration
Skinceuticals’s Website States: “A daily face moisturizer that provides normal to oily skin with lightweight, long-lasting hydration.”
Truth Assessment: True
Explanation: The product contains several ingredients known for their hydrating properties. Glycerin, a humectant, attracts water to the skin and helps it retain moisture. Sodium Hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, is also a powerful humectant that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, providing deep and long-lasting hydration. Sorbitol, another humectant, also contributes to the moisturizing effect. Therefore, the claim that the product provides long-lasting hydration is true.
Claim #2: The Product Helps Minimize the Appearance of Pores
Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Daily Moisture…helps reduce the appearance of pore size.”
Truth Assessment: Possibly
Explanation: The product contains Witch Hazel Water, which is known for its astringent properties. Astringents can help tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pores. However, the effectiveness of this ingredient in reducing pore size can vary from person to person and may also depend on other factors such as the overall formulation of the product and how it is used. Therefore, while it’s possible that the product could help minimize the appearance of pores, it’s not a guaranteed effect for all users.
Claim #3: The Product Nourishes the Skin
Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Daily Moisture…nourishes.”
Truth Assessment: True
Explanation: The product contains a number of ingredients that are known to nourish the skin. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is an antioxidant that can protect skin cells from damage. Panthenol, also known as Provitamin B5, has moisturizing and soothing properties. The product also contains a variety of plant extracts, such as Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract and Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, which can provide additional nutrients to the skin. Therefore, the claim that the product nourishes the skin is true.
Claim #4: The Product Leaves Skin Soft Without a Greasy Residue
Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Formulated…to protect and leave skin soft without a greasy residue.”
Truth Assessment: True
Explanation: The product contains ingredients like Dimethicone and Butylene Glycol, which are known for their ability to soften the skin without leaving a greasy residue. Dimethicone is a silicone-based polymer that can form a protective barrier on the skin, locking in moisture and leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth. Butylene Glycol is a texture enhancer that can help the product spread easily on the skin, contributing to a non-greasy finish. Therefore, the claim that the product leaves skin soft without a greasy residue is true.
Assessment Verdict:
Truth Rating: 8/10
Overall likelihood for product to make good on its claims: Highly Likely
The product’s claims of providing long-lasting hydration, nourishing the skin, and leaving the skin soft without a greasy residue are backed by the presence of ingredients known for these properties. However, the claim of minimizing the appearance of pores is less certain, as the effectiveness of the astringent ingredient used (Witch Hazel Water) can vary from person to person and may also depend on other factors.
Users should be mindful that while the product contains ingredients known for their beneficial properties, the effectiveness of these ingredients can depend on their concentrations in the product. In skincare formulas, the ingredient list is ordered by weight, but this doesn’t necessarily reflect the concentration of each ingredient. For example, an ingredient listed towards the end of the list may still be present in an effective concentration, while an ingredient listed at the beginning may not be present in a high enough concentration to have a significant effect.
Remember, when evaluating skincare products, it’s important to look beyond the claims and consider the ingredients and their concentrations. Be skeptical of claims that seem too good to be true or that aren’t backed by scientific evidence. Also, keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.
This product review has been commissioned by Truth In Skincare (TiS), an independent industry regulator. The review is conducted by a TiS-appointed industry consultant, who utilizes a variety of reliable sources to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information provided. These sources include CosIng (Cosmetic Ingredient Database – by the European Commission), the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), and The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, various publicly available sources are also consulted to provide a well-rounded perspective on the product under review.
