Clinical proof: five independent studies
Every claim we make about The Face Barrier Serum rests on testing of the finished formula by independent laboratories under dermatological oversight. This page sets out each result as plainly as we can, with the full methods on The Science.
Skin barrier function: significantly improved
20 adults, 28 days of daily use. Measured with a vapour metre (transepidermal water loss) against each participant's own untreated control site.
Hydration: water loss significantly reduced
20 adults, 28 days of daily use. Transepidermal water loss was lower on day 28 than on day 1, and the difference was statistically significant.
Fine lines and wrinkles: significantly reduced
23 adults, 28 days of daily use. Measured with SELS® clinical imaging, developed with the University of Witten/Herdecke.
Redness: measurably reduced
23 adults, 28 days of daily use. Measured with a colourimeter that reads redness separately from pigment, so the result is objective across skin tones. The change was modest and below the threshold for statistical significance, which is why we describe redness as measurably reduced.
Irritation: zero reactions
50 adults with sensitive skin, eczema-prone skin included, 42 days. A Human Repeat Insult Patch Test recorded no reaction in any participant at any of the 11 assessments.
Microbiome: 9.5 out of 10, microbiome friendly
A four-phase Kind to Biome assessment, run with QACS Laboratories, covering purity, eight friendly species, four opportunistic species and the biodiversity of facial swabs from two volunteers. A score of 5 or more is classed as microbiome friendly.
Who ran the studies
Advanced Development and Safety Laboratories (ADSL), UK, ran the four clinical studies, and Kind to Biome with QACS Laboratories ran the microbiome study. Dermatological oversight was provided by Dr Alice Walker, GMC 7088381. We supplied the serum, and the laboratories designed the protocols, took the measurements and wrote the reports.
Consumer results
Self-reported by 80 participants over 28 days, and not a clinical measurement.
- 99% reported intensely hydrated, replenished skin
- 97% felt their skin was less reactive and more resilient
- 98% noticed a calmer, more even complexion
- 98% noticed firmer, plumper, more revitalised skin
Good to know
Panels of 20 to 50 people are standard for cosmetic testing, the 28-day studies compare each person's skin before and after use rather than against a placebo group, and results are group averages, so individual results will vary.
Read the full methods on The Science or shop The Face Barrier Serum.