CosmeticVerdict ingredient · science · review

About Us

Meet the Cosmetic Verdict editorial and scientific review team — writers, cosmetic scientists, and a fact-checking process designed for ingredient transparency.

Our Mission

Cosmetic Verdict exists to close the gap between marketing and evidence in skincare. Too many ingredient claims are pulled from ad copy, press releases, and influencer talking points — few are traced back to what the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), or peer-reviewed dermatology journals actually say. Our mission is to deliver the second opinion: the science-first version, written in plain language.

We do not publish brand-name product rankings, "best of" lists, or sponsored picks. We do not participate in affiliate marketing and we do not accept payment to feature any brand or SKU. What we do publish is side-by-side ingredient comparisons, category-level formulation breakdowns, and evidence-based explainers that help readers understand what each compound does, how it behaves in different vehicles, and where the evidence actually ends.

Our Team

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Ava Lin

Founder · Lead Writer

A former beauty industry researcher turned independent science writer. Ava spent six years on the formulation side of a contract cosmetics lab before leaving to write about ingredient evidence for a general readership. She covers actives, formulation basics, and irritation-risk profiles.

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M. Chen, MSc Cosmetic Science

Scientific Reviewer

M. Chen holds a Master of Science in Cosmetic Science and reviews every article for formulation accuracy, ingredient compatibility claims, and safety thresholds. Their work includes cross-checking against CIR safety opinions, SCCS notes, and current FDA cosmetics guidance.

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Nora Reyes

Fact-Checker

Nora traces every claim to its source and flags anything that relies on non-peer-reviewed marketing literature or unpublished manufacturer data. She manages our Last Updated stamp and the quarterly re-review cycle for legacy articles.

Our Review Process

1

Write

A writer drafts the article from peer-reviewed papers, CIR opinions, and AAD guidelines — never from marketing copy.

2

Scientific Review

A cosmetic scientist reviews claims about mechanisms, pH, vehicle effects, and clinical endpoints for accuracy.

3

Fact-check + Cross-references

Every in-line claim is traced back to a source. Citations include pubmed IDs, CIR reports, FDA pages, or AAD guidelines.

4

Publish & Quarterly Re-review

Articles publish with a Last Updated stamp and re-enter the review queue every quarter for new findings or revisions.

EEAT / Credentials

Our articles cite publicly available, independently verifiable sources, primarily drawn from:

  • AAD — American Academy of Dermatology patient guidelines and public statements.
  • CIR — Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel safety assessments.
  • FDA — U.S. Food and Drug Administration cosmetics updates, guidances, and OTC monograph changes.
  • NIH / PubMed — National Institutes of Health, peer-reviewed biomedical literature.
  • NIAMS — National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases research summaries.
  • Peer Reviewed — Controlled clinical trials and meta-analyses published in dermatology journals.