The skincare industry can often be a confusing place for consumers. With a plethora of products available on the market, each boasting a myriad of health claims, it can be difficult to discern which products truly deliver on their promises. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to greatly exaggerate the benefits of their skincare products, leaving consumers out-of-pocket and underwhelmed.

As such, it’s crucial for consumers to perform due diligence when shopping for skincare products. Taking claims about products at face value can lead to disappointment, as the reality may not live up to the hype. Therefore, it’s essential to critically analyze the claims made about a product and compare them to the ingredients used within the product. This truth assessment can help establish whether or not the product really will live up to its claims.

In this article, we will focus on the LHA Cleanser by Skinceuticals. Skinceuticals is a well-known brand in the skincare industry, and its LHA Cleanser is a popular product for facial cleanser users.

Let’s delve into the main claims being made about this product and break them down to find out:

Claim #1: The Product Decongests Pores

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Exfoliating gel face cleanser for blemishes decongests pores, smooths skin texture, and brightens skin.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The ingredients list includes salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid, both of which are known for their ability to penetrate and cleanse pores, thereby helping to decongest them. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that is oil-soluble, allowing it to get into the pores to remove excess sebum and dead skin cells. This can help to reduce the appearance of congestion in the pores.

Claim #2: The Product Smooths Skin Texture

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Exfoliating gel face cleanser for blemishes decongests pores, smooths skin texture, and brightens skin.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains glycolic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) known for its exfoliating properties. By helping to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, glycolic acid can contribute to a smoother skin texture. Additionally, the inclusion of salicylic acid, another exfoliating agent, can further enhance this effect.

Claim #3: The Product Brightens Skin

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Exfoliating gel face cleanser for blemishes decongests pores, smooths skin texture, and brightens skin.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The glycolic acid in the product can help to brighten the skin. As an AHA, glycolic acid works to exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover. This can result in a brighter, more radiant complexion. Additionally, salicylic acid can also contribute to skin brightening by improving the overall texture and clarity of the skin.

Claim #4: The Product Removes Excess Oils and Makeup

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “LHA Cleansing Gel is a targeted exfoliating LHA/AHA/BHA cleanser…to remove excess oils and makeup.”

Truth Assessment: True

Explanation: The product contains Coco-Betaine and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, both of which are surfactants. Surfactants work by breaking down oils and dirt on the skin, allowing them to be rinsed away. This makes them effective at removing excess oils and makeup from the skin.

Claim #5: The Product Reduces Blemishes Without Drying the Skin

Skinceuticals’s Website States: “Formulated for aging skin prone to breakouts, this deep cleansing gel gently refines the appearance of congested pores and helps to reduce blemishes without drying the skin.”

Truth Assessment: Possibly

Explanation: The product contains ingredients known for their blemish-fighting properties, such as salicylic acid. However, whether or not the product dries out the skin can depend on individual skin reactions and the overall formulation of the product. The product does contain glycerin and sorbitol, both of which are humectants that can help to hydrate the skin, potentially offsetting any drying effects from the exfoliating acids. However, without knowing the exact formulation and concentrations, it’s not possible to definitively say whether the product would not dry out the skin.

Assessment Verdict:

Truth Rating: 8/10

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

The product’s claims of decongesting pores, smoothing skin texture, brightening skin, and removing excess oils and makeup are all backed by the presence of ingredients known to have these effects. The only claim that is somewhat uncertain is the claim of reducing blemishes without drying the skin. While the product does contain ingredients known for their blemish-fighting properties and hydrating ingredients that could potentially offset any drying effects, individual skin reactions and the overall formulation of the product could affect this outcome.

It’s important to note that this assessment assumes all ingredients are used in effective quantities. In skincare formulas, ingredient lists are in weight order, meaning the first ingredient listed is the most abundant and the last ingredient listed is the least abundant. However, this doesn’t tell us the exact concentrations of each ingredient. A product could technically contain a beneficial ingredient, but if it’s not present in an effective concentration, it may not provide the claimed benefits.

Remember, when evaluating skincare products, it’s important to look beyond the marketing claims and examine the ingredient list. Be skeptical of claims that seem too good to be true or that aren’t backed by scientific evidence. And remember, everyone’s skin is different, so 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.