Before starting Skincare Lab, I spent several years helping build a plant-based skincare company focused on clear skin. That work opened up a whole new world of science, studies, and ingredient variations.
As I learned more, I got increasingly curious about the range of ingredients used across skincare products and how effective they actually were. I also noticed how widely prices varied for products that appeared nearly identical.
I started Skincare Lab in 2020, publishing in-depth ingredient and product reviews. From there, it grew into a full database, now covering over 4,000 products and ingredients.
Marc Peterson – I’m not a chemist or a dermatologist, and I’m not going to pretend to be one. My background is 15+ years in ecommerce, online marketing, and website optimization, mostly working with direct-to-consumer brands. This independent project is fun for me since it involves taking messy, technical information and making it usable.
How I research entries
Every ingredient and product entry starts with primary sources: the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel’s published safety assessments, peer-reviewed studies indexed on PubMed, and dermatology journal literature.
How this site makes money
Skincare Lab earns a commission when you buy through some of the product links here, including through the Amazon Associates program. That revenue funds the time this research takes and the cost of keeping the site running.
It doesn’t affect how anything is rated. A verdict is based on the evidence for it, not on how much a brand pays in commission or whether it paid for placement.
Who this is for
Whether you’re already deep into ingredient lists or just trying to figure out if a product is right for you, the goal is the same: give you the real information, including where it’s overhyped, useful, and where there’s a genuine reason for concern.
A note on what this isn’t
This site is a research and reference tool, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary. If you have a specific skin condition or reaction, talk to a dermatologist. See our full disclaimer for more on affiliate links and how this information should be used.