Only the Best for Your Skin

Skincare brands are notorious for lofty label claims. But here’s why the “dermatologically tested” and “dermatologically proven” labels are the phrases to spot when shopping for low-irritancy products.

Have you ever tried a new facial wash, only to realise that it has caused your skin to turn red, stingy and itchy after use? Or have a “beauty graveyard” of products that never actually lived up to their marketing claims?

The key concerns of consumers when using a new product is whether it will irritate their skin or if they will see results as per advertising claims. Depending on the ingredients and formulation of each product, some of the more common irritations are reddened, stinging, or itchy skin. Unlike allergic reactions which can appear on other parts of the body not directly in contact with the product, skin irritancy usually happens on the direct contact site. S. Iris Ale and Howard I. Maibach distinguishes between Irritant Contact Dermatitis and Allergic Contact Dermatitis in a chapter in the book Irritant Dermatitis, explaining that skin irritancy can occur due to certain ingredients or chemicals included in products, and symptoms can appear immediately or after repeated exposure or contact with the product.

Plenty of skincare and beauty products on the market today bear a “dermatologically tested” label, but what does this really mean? There is no standard test or procedure used in the industry, and companies are able to conducts tests in any manner they feel is the most appropriate for their products. and while many companies might not reveal the number of participants involved and other details of their tests, the claim assures that the product has been tested and signed off by a dermatologist..

Guardian, however, believes in transparency and providing consumers with products that are not only affordable, but also of high quality and safe for use. The brand is reinforced by a “Dermatologically Tested & Proven” claim, and Guardian cotton and skincare products with this label have undergone a test on human skin to provide the ultimate care and confidence for your delicate skin.

For a product to be declared dermatologically tested and proven, it has to be tested to ensure that it is mild and gentle for general consumers to use. The process is strict and requires the participation of a minimum of 30 panellists. At least 30 panellists are required to ensure that the product does not cause irritation on normal skin types.

A human patch test is performed on the participants for at least 24 hours, and a report is drawn up to evaluate the level of irritancy that the product might cause to human skin. Here, it is important to note the minimum duration of the patch test application, and subsequent observations at 30 minutes intervals for a minimum of 24 hours after removal of the patch, which ensures that the test does not overlook delayed reactions that might not have developed immediately.

For our consumers’ confidence and comfort, only Guardian brand products, that are evaluated to have low irritancy on skin, are signed off by a dermatologist. These products can then bear the “Dermatologically Tested & Proven” claim to provide you with a sense of security and trust in the product.