Skinbetter Science is a luxury cosmetics brand that partners with dermatologists to sell their products. The brand has won awards from beauty publishers like Allure, and describes itself as “A New Paradigm In Skincare.”
But are Skinbetter Science products worth the high cost? Do they contain research-backed ingredients for improving skin? Does Skinbetter Science use any unhealthy ingredients? And how do real customers rate and describe their experience with this brand?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Skinbetter Science’s best sellers (AlphaRet Overnight Cream and Alto Defense Serum) to give our take on whether or not they're likely to be effective for improving skin, and whether or not they're healthy.
We’ll also feature real customer reviews, and share our thoughts on the model of requiring customers to purchase through a dermatologist.
Key takeaways:
- Both products analyzed contain many active ingredients shown to improve skin quality
- Both products analyzed contain preservatives we consider unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend Skinbetter Science
AlphaRet Overnight Cream Review
The ingredients in Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream are shown below:
This formulation contains a large number of research-backed active ingredients, which one would hope given that 1.7 fluid ounces (oz) retails for $205.
Glycolic acid is described as a “topical therapy” that can improve skin texture, tone and sheen in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Niacinamide is clinically shown to have a hydrating effect in skin.
Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that was shown to have an anti-aging effect when applied topically in a 2021 clinical trial.
Camellia sinensis leaf extract was clinically shown to have significant moisturizing effects, as we documented in our Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream reviews article.
Portulaca oleracea extract was found to protect skin cells from sun-induced damage in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry.
There is a preservative combination in this cream that we consider to be unhealthy.
Phenoxyethanol was shown in a 2020 clinical trial to be toxic to human cells.
Ethylhexylglycerin is a synthetic preservative shown to potentiate the toxic effects of phenoxyethanol in a 2016 medical review.
Overall, we consider AlphaRet Overnight Cream to be one of the most potent and effective skin creams we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health. It contains research-backed anti-aging, sunscreen, hydrating and barrier-protecting ingredients.
We do not currently recommend Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream due to the preservatives highlighted above.
Real People Try Skinbetter Science
A YouTube creator named “No BS Beauty” shares her experience using several Skinbetter Science products:
A YouTube creator named “Dr. Ania Marie, MD” explains why AlphaRet Overnight Cream is one of her favorite cosmetic products:
Alto Defense Serum Review
The ingredients in Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum are shown below:
Many of the active ingredients are the same, and are clinically shown to be effective, including niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, ceramide NP, tocopherol and more.
There are also some ingredients unique to this formulation with clinical backing.
Olive fruit extract provides a strong antioxidant effect when applied topically, according to a 2018 medical review.
Phytosphingosine is an endogenously-produced fat (meaning it’s produced naturally by the body), shown to enhance moisture in the skin barrier in a 2017 clinical trial.
Shea butter supports optimal skin barrier function, as we discussed in our review of Fièra Cosmetics.
Beyond phenoxyethanol as a questionable inactive ingredient, this formulation also contains sodium hydroxide, which is clinically shown to be irritating to the skin in some cases.
Like the previous product analyzed, we consider this serum likely to have anti-aging and skin-supporting effects.
However, we do not currently recommend Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum from a health perspective due to the preservatives highlighted above.
Dermatologist Reviews Skinbetter Science
A dermatologist with a popular YouTube channel called “Dr Dray” reviewed Skinbetter Science’s most popular product in a video with over 100,000 views:
Is Skinbetter Science's Model Broken?
As referenced in the intro to this article, Skinbetter Science disallows customers from purchasing directly from their website, and requires customers to order from "authorized skinbetter professionals."
This approach has pros and cons.
The good thing is that working with dermatologists to select appropriate and individualized skincare products may improve patient outcomes.
Dermatologists can also explain proper use of skincare products, as documented in a medical review published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, which may further enhance skin improvements.
However, requiring patients to go in-person is a major inconvenience that we're not sure is worth the slight advantages.
We input our ZIP code into the "Find a Professional" page on Skinbetter Science's website, and the nearest dermatologist was around 10 miles away, which would be nearly an hour round-trip as there are no highways between the two locations.
Our Clean Skincare Pick
MindBodyGreen Best Skin+ is our top anti-aging skin supplement.
It contains orange extract which is clinically shown to increase skin moisturization, skin elasticity and skin radiance.
This supplement also contains astaxanthin which is clinically shown to cause "wrinkle formation reduction."
This supplement is free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Skinbetter Science Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Skinbetter Science in our opinion:
Pros:
- Very effective formulations
- Many research-backed ingredients
- Should have anti-aging effect
- Should improve skin quality generally
- Should help to hydrate skin
Cons:
- We can’t find published clinical research on these products
- Very expensive
- Can’t purchase directly online
