We don't take payment for placement. A product appears on our blog because it meets at least one of the criteria below, not because a brand paid for it.
Our criteria
To be recommended in a Skinalyze AI article, a product must satisfy at least one of the four criteria below. Every product card on the blog carries the badge of the criterion it meets, so you can see at a glance why we are recommending it.
- ✓ Dermatologist-recommendedIndependent medical or dermatology recognition. Examples: the brand is among the most recommended by dermatologists in independent surveys (CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, EltaMD, Aquaphor, Cetaphil), or the specific product carries a seal from a recognised medical body (Tower 28 SOS holds acceptance seals from the National Eczema Association, National Rosacea Society and National Psoriasis Foundation).
- ★ Clinical research-backedPublished clinical research on the formula itself or on the specific actives at the concentration in the product. Example: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is based on a Duke University patent and peer-reviewed studies on 15 % L-ascorbic acid stability.
- ◆ Transparent formulaTransparent ingredient list with the active ingredient at an effective concentration, in the correct position on the INCI list, with no irritants that would undermine the active. The Ordinary, Naturium and Paula's Choice meet this bar consistently.
- ♦ Editor's pickSustained strong independent reviews. Long-term consensus from independent sources (dermatology subreddits, ingredient-focused reviewers, dermatology-blog roundups) rather than a single sponsored push. Mostly K-beauty actives that have not yet crossed into mainstream Western dermatology surveys but have years of consistent reviews behind them (COSRX, SKIN1004, Beauty of Joseon).
What we don't do
- We do not accept paid placement, paid reviews or guest posts that include affiliate links.
- We do not recommend products we wouldn't use on our own skin.
- We do not invent or guess at clinical endorsements. If a product is labelled "dermatologist-recommended" on this site, that wording reflects an independent, verifiable source.
- We do not write product reviews without first reading the full INCI list.
Affiliate disclosure
Most product links on our blog are affiliate links. When you buy through one, Skinalyze AI earns a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site free and continue testing new products. Affiliate commission does not influence what we recommend; the criteria above are applied before commercial terms enter the picture.
As an Amazon Associate, Skinalyze AI earns from qualifying purchases.
Where Skinalyze AI stops and a professional begins
The recommendations on this blog are starting points based on ingredient evidence, not personalised medical advice. If your skin shows signs of a medical condition (severe acne, persistent rosacea, sudden rash, suspicious moles), please see a dermatologist. The Skinalyze AI app can help you track and scan, but it does not replace a clinical exam.
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