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 to deliver incredible results. However, these claims can sometimes be greatly exaggerated, leaving consumers out-of-pocket and underwhelmed.

It is therefore crucial to exercise due diligence when shopping for skincare products. Taking claims about products at face value without conducting a thorough investigation can lead to disappointment. It is important to analyze the claims made about a product, and compare them to the ingredients used within the product. This allows for a truth assessment to be made, establishing whether or not the product really will live up to its claims.

In this article, we will be critically analyzing a facial moisturizer named Emollience, produced by the brand Skinceuticals. We will be dissecting the claims made about this product, comparing them to the ingredients used, and assessing whether the product can truly deliver on its promises.

Let’s delve into the main claims being made about Emollience and break them down:

Claim #1: The Product Restores and Maintains Daily Moisture for Normal to Dry Skin

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Nourishing facial moisturizer for dry skin restores and maintains daily moisture for normal to dry skin.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The ingredients list includes several known moisturizing agents. Glycerin is a humectant that attracts water to the skin, helping to keep it hydrated. Sesame Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Mango Seed Butter are emollients that soften and smooth the skin, helping to lock in moisture. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is also known for its hydrating properties. Therefore, based on these ingredients, the product can indeed restore and maintain daily moisture for normal to dry skin.

Claim #2: The Product is Formulated with an Exclusive Combination of Natural Extracts and Essential Oils

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Emollience face moisturizer is formulated with an exclusive combination of natural extracts and essential oils.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The ingredients list confirms the presence of several natural extracts and essential oils. These include Sesame Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, and Mango Seed Butter. Essential oils such as Lavender Oil, Rosemary Leaf Oil, and Peppermint Oil are also included. Therefore, the claim that the product is formulated with an exclusive combination of natural extracts and essential oils is true.

Claim #3: The Product is a Rich, Restorative Face Moisturizer for Dry and Sensitive Skin Types

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “This face moisturizer for dry skin features an elegant, gentle formula and an easy application texture.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains several ingredients known for their skin-restoring properties. For instance, Panthenol (also known as Pro-Vitamin B5) is known for its ability to attract and hold moisture, promoting skin barrier function. Allantoin is known for its soothing and skin-restoring properties. The presence of these ingredients, along with the various oils and extracts, supports the claim that this product is a rich, restorative face moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin types.

Assessment Verdict:

Truth Rating: 9/10

Overall likelihood for product to make good on its claims: Highly Likely

The product’s claims about restoring and maintaining daily moisture, being formulated with natural extracts and essential oils, and being a rich, restorative moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin types are all supported by the ingredients listed. The presence of known moisturizing agents, natural extracts, essential oils, and skin-restoring ingredients in the formula makes it highly likely that the product will fulfill its roles as claimed.

However, users should be mindful that the effectiveness of these ingredients largely depends on their concentrations in the formula. While ingredient lists are in weight order, they do not reveal the exact amounts of each ingredient. Therefore, it’s possible that some of the beneficial ingredients are present in low concentrations that may not provide the claimed benefits.

Remember, skincare companies can sometimes make exaggerated claims about their products. Always check the ingredients list and do some research to understand what each ingredient does. Be skeptical of claims that sound too good to be true, and remember that everyone’s skin is different – 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.