Every evaluation published by American Skincare Journal is reviewed by an independent panel of scientists and clinicians before it reaches our readers. The panel exists to ensure that our methods are sound, our measurements are accurate, and our conclusions are supported by the data. Panel members are selected for their published expertise, not for their opinions about any brand or product. They receive no compensation tied to our editorial decisions.
The panel’s role is verification, not endorsement. When we test a product, the panel reviews the protocol before testing begins and audits the findings before publication. If a result is ambiguous, the panel flags it. If a claim exceeds what the data supports, the panel strikes it. This process is what separates an evidence-based evaluation from a product review.
Professor Charlotte Weber, MD
Chair of the Review Panel
Professor Weber is a board-certified dermatologist with twenty-five years of clinical and research experience specializing in aging skin. She has served as principal investigator on forty-seven clinical trials measuring the efficacy of topical anti-aging treatments, including studies published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the British Journal of Dermatology, and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Her role on the panel is to oversee the evaluation methodology and ensure that every ranking we publish meets the evidentiary standards of peer-reviewed dermatological research. Professor Weber reviews final data sets, challenges conclusions she considers insufficiently supported, and signs off on each evaluation before it is cleared for publication.
Areas of expertise: Chronological and photoaging mechanisms, clinical trial design for topical treatments, collagen and elastin degradation pathways, retinoid pharmacology.
Marcus Bauer, PhD
Laboratory Methods Lead
Dr. Bauer is a dermatological research scientist with twenty-six years of professional experience in cosmetic science and skin physiology. He developed several of the laboratory methods now used to measure collagen production rates in aging skin tissue, and his work on instrument calibration protocols has been adopted by testing facilities across Europe and North America.
His role on the panel is to design and audit the laboratory phase of each evaluation. He specifies which instruments are used, how measurements are taken, and what constitutes a statistically meaningful result. Dr. Bauer conducts the Phase 1 ingredient audit for every product we test, verifying that active ingredients are present at the concentrations claimed by the manufacturer before clinical observation begins.
Areas of expertise: Corneometry, cutometry, and profilometry measurement protocols, cosmetic ingredient analysis, formulation stability testing, bioavailability assessment of topical actives.
Laura Schmidt, MD, FRCP
Clinical Trials Lead
Dr. Schmidt is a consultant dermatologist with a specialist practice in non-invasive skin rejuvenation. Over the course of her career, she has performed more than fifteen thousand clinical skin treatments and supervised multi-site trials evaluating both prescription and over-the-counter anti-aging interventions. She holds Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and serves as an examiner for the British Association of Dermatologists.
Her role on the panel is to supervise the clinical observation phase of each evaluation. She designs the participant protocols, monitors for adverse reactions, and ensures that the conditions under which products are tested reflect how consumers actually use them at home. Dr. Schmidt reviews the clinical data independently of the laboratory findings and flags any discrepancy between measured outcomes and participant-reported results.
Areas of expertise: Non-invasive rejuvenation protocols, clinical observation methodology, participant safety monitoring, real-world efficacy assessment of consumer skincare.
How the panel operates
Each evaluation published by American Skincare Journal follows a fixed sequence. Before testing begins, the full panel convenes to review the protocol: which instruments will be used, what the observation period will be, and what thresholds a product must meet to be considered effective. This prevents the criteria from being adjusted after results are known.
During testing, Dr. Bauer oversees the laboratory measurements while Dr. Schmidt supervises clinical observation at the testing sites. Their findings are compiled independently. Professor Weber then reviews both data sets together, looking for consistency between what the instruments measured and what the clinical observers recorded.
The panel discusses every product that reaches the final ranking. Disagreements are noted in the evaluation record. A product cannot appear in a published ranking without the written approval of all three panel members. This requirement has, on occasion, delayed publication. We consider that an acceptable cost of accuracy.
Panel members’ credentials and roles are disclosed on every evaluation we publish. If a panel member has any prior relationship with a manufacturer whose product is under review, that relationship is disclosed and the member recuses themselves from that evaluation. To date, no recusal has been necessary.