Skincare science, simplified
Ingredient-first reviews, honest dupes and evidence-backed guides. We read the ingredient lists so you do not have to, and we say plainly when a cheap product beats an expensive one.
Latest articles
- Mineral Oil Is an Occlusive, Not a Humectant. The 98% Figure Has No Source We Could Read
In March 2025 this site published an article about luxury skincare that said a jar of La Mer contains “common humectants like glycerin and mineral oil”. Glycerin is a humectant.… Read more: Mineral Oil Is an Occlusive, Not a Humectant. The 98% Figure Has No Source We Could Read - Azelaic Acid Has Real Evidence. Almost None of It Is at 10%Azelaic acid arrives with a checklist of a reputation. Proper clinical trials. An FDA approval. Gentle on sensitive skin. Fine in pregnancy. Cheap, and on every shelf as a 10%… Read more: Azelaic Acid Has Real Evidence. Almost None of It Is at 10%
- Is La Mer Worth It? We Read All Three Ingredient ListsAsk whether Crème de la Mer is worth it and you will get the same answer everywhere, usually from someone who has read the ingredient list badly or not at… Read more: Is La Mer Worth It? We Read All Three Ingredient Lists
- The C E Ferulic Patent Expired. Here Is What a Dupe Has to MatchShort answer: The C E Ferulic patent expired on 24 March 2025, so copies are legal, but it never required what the roundups say. Its broadest claim needed neither vitamin… Read more: The C E Ferulic Patent Expired. Here Is What a Dupe Has to Match
- What an Ingredient List Actually Tells You About ConcentrationShort answer: An ingredient list cannot tell you a concentration. It does tell you reliably whether something sits near the front or the back, and one stated percentage gives you… Read more: What an Ingredient List Actually Tells You About Concentration
- SPF 50 vs SPF 100: Why “Only 1% More” Misreads the NumbersShort answer: SPF 100 does more than SPF 50, and the usual dismissal is wrong. At test thickness it lets through half the UV that SPF 50 does, and two… Read more: SPF 50 vs SPF 100: Why “Only 1% More” Misreads the Numbers
Find something
Browse by topic
- Skincare Myths, where the marketing meets the molecule
- Budget vs Luxury Skincare, price against performance
About
We are not a laboratory. We are the people who read the ingredient list and the research behind it. Read more about us.
Follow the rabbit hole
YouTube @DrSkintellect | Instagram @SkintellectLab | TikTok @SkintellectDrops