Journal 03
Luxury skincare brands frequently fall short of scientific best practices by prioritizing marketing appeal, exotic ingredients, and sensory experience over proven efficacy and safety.
This can result in formulas that are not NSF (Natural, Safe, Functional) and may include unnecessary, ineffective, or even potentially irritating components.
Key Reasons Luxury Brands Miss the Mark
Use of Non-NSF and Synthetic Ingredients
Many luxury products rely on synthetic chemicals, fragrances, and texturizers (e.g., Perfluorohexane, Perfluorodecalin, Pentafluoropropane, Parfum/Fragrance, Alcohol) that do not provide direct skin benefits and may cause irritation, allergies, or disrupt the skin barrier
Synthetic ingredients are increasingly scrutinized for their potential health and environmental risks, leading to a consumer shift toward natural, functional alternatives
Ineffective or Superficial Additions
Ingredients like colloidal gold, cyclotetrapeptide-24, and other peptides or plant extracts are often included for marketing rather than proven efficacy, with limited or inconclusive evidence supporting their benefits in topical skincare
The presence of long ingredient lists with minimal concentrations of actives dilutes the effectiveness of the product and can increase the risk of adverse reactions
Fragrance and Sensory Additives
Fragrances (Parfum) and certain alcohols are common in luxury products for sensory appeal but are leading causes of skin irritation and allergic reactions, especially in sensitive skin.
Lack of Focus on Evidence-Based Actives
While some beneficial ingredients (niacinamide, retinol, squalane, ceramides) are present, they are often combined with less effective or unnecessary components, reducing overall product efficacy.
Natural, plant-based.