Sick of reading ingredient labels, comparing product claims, and going through costly trial-and-error with your skincare products? Proven Skincare is a brand that solves these problems through their personalized skincare products that are created using AI technology. Instead of worrying about reading ingredient labels and comparing different products, Proven Skincare asks you to trust their ingredient selections that have been proven to work on your individual skin.
Even though these products are said to be “proven” to work for you, we still need to evaluate the Proven Skincare formulations and look at the research that supports (or doesn’t support) the ingredients that you’ll find in these products. And that’s exactly what we are going to do in this review. We’ll also share some Proven Skincare reviews so you can get a better idea of what customers really think about these products.
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- Proven Skincare
Is Proven Skincare Worth The Money?
A common question about this brand is if the products are worth the cost.
In our opinion, Proven Skincare products are worth the money, but there are other brands that deliver greater value.
One brand is Carrot & Stick, a clean skincare brand that perfectly balances the gentle nurturing of plants with the powerful results of innovative science.
Carrot & Stick intro bundles deliver great value for money because you can bundle 3 full-size products worth up to $240 for $88.
What is Proven Skincare?
Proven Skincare was launched in November 2018 by founder and CEO Ming Zhao, along with data scientist and computational physicist co-founder Amy Yuan. Both women struggled for years to find skin care products to treat their own skin conditions and restore a youthful complexion. In order to solve their own skin concerns, they created an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that is now known as The Skin Genome Project.
The Skin Genome Project is the most comprehensive analytical database of clinically effective ingredients for skin care ever created. It uses computational science to analyze the effectiveness of over 20,238 skincare ingredients. Plus, it analyzes more than 100,000 products, 8 million testimonials, and reviews from over 4,000 scientific journal articles.
The Skin Genome Project was the winner of MIT’s 2018 Artificial Intelligence Award. AI beauty is completely revolutionizing the beauty industry and the world of skin care. Instead of using a “one-size-fits-all” approach and formulating products for the masses, AI beauty technology has the ability to develop custom cosmetics and skin care products to address each individual’s unique needs. Ultimately, this delivers better results in a shorter period of time.
What Are The Proven Skincare Products?
The Proven Skincare system consists of three products:
- Personalized cleanser
- Personalized SPF day cream
- Personalized night cream
Each product in the Proven Skincare system is meant to last for two months.After two months, Proven takes into account any new lifestyle factors (i.e. change of season, location changes, pregnancy, etc.). It also considers new ingredients that the skin is ready for, such as a higher dosage of retinol. The Proven Skincare system is simple, yet accounts for an individual’s unique skin characteristics and goals.
Complimenting Product: Incorporate a serum into your regimen. Serums contain a higher concentration of actives and penetrate deeper into the skin. We recommend Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 plant-based peptides to help promote smoother looking skin.
What Are The Key Proven Skincare Ingredients?
All Proven Skincare formulations are 100% clean and non-toxic, made in an FDA-accredited US laboratory. The products do not contain phthalates, parabens, SLS, formaldehyde or palm oil.
There really are no “key ingredients” with Proven Skincare since the formulations are created for you based on your answers to the brand’s skin assessment. The skin assessment takes about 10 minutes to complete and consists of a series of in-depth questions that get to the root of your skin concerns. The assessment matches your genetics, ethnicity, climate, lifestyle, and skin goals to the ingredients and formulations that would work at any given time.
After your answers to the skin assessment are analyzed by The Skin Genome Project database, you’ll receive Proven’s personalized skin regimen. Proven products are formulated in collaboration with Dr. Hollmig, Head of Aesthetic Dermatology at Stanford University, using active ingredients that are custom-tuned for your skin.
The ingredients in Proven products address a variety of factors, such as environmental pollution (i.e. smog and industrial output), water hardness levels, high-altitude cabin atmosphere from airplanes travel, and “digital pollution” that comes from blue light emitted from devices such as your smartphone and computer.
According to Proven Skincare, the top 10 “proven-to-work” skin care ingredients include the following:
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
- Ceramides
- Retinol
- Argan Oil
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
- Green Tea
- Algae Extracts
Fortunately, the brand is right about these ingredients being proven to work. All of these ingredients have research to support their skin care benefits.
For example, a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, states that niacinamide provides numerous benefits to the skin, such as reducing inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, acne, and wrinkling.
Another example is retinol, which is considered to be the gold standard anti-aging skin care ingredient. According to a publication in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, retinoic acid can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores.
While there are definitely evidence-based ingredients in these products, we still need to take a look at the Proven Skincare reviews to see what customers have experienced after using these products. Keep scrolling to read Proven Skincare reviews from real customers!
How to Use the Proven Skincare Routine
The Proven Skincare routine is very simple: cleanse and moisturize. If you have acne prone and oily skin, the brand recommends that you cleanse twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening).
However, for those who have normal, combination, or dry skin, they recommend cleansing only once in the evening to rid your skin of the day’s makeup, dirt, and impurities. This is because facial cleansers tend to strip your face of its natural oils and over-cleansing can actually lead to irritation and/or dryness.
Using your Proven cleanser, massage 1 to 2 pumps on damp skin and let the product sit for 60 to 90 seconds before rinsing (for those who wear makeup, the brand encourages using a dedicated makeup remover for best results). After cleansing, follow with your Proven day moisturizer or your Proven night moisturizer, depending on what time of day it is.
Where is Proven Skincare Sold?
Proven Skincare is only sold on the brand’s website since you must take Proven’s skin quiz in order to receive your personalized formulation recommendations.
How Much Does Proven Skincare Cost?
The Proven Skincare system — which consists of the cleanser, day cream, and night cream — costs $145 without a subscription. However, you can receive a 35% discount off the total value of the products if you subscribe, making the Proven Skincare cost $119 for the three products.
What is The Proven Skincare Return Policy?
The Proven Skincare return policy states, “We want you to love your PROVEN Skincare system and the results you see in your skin. Your Night Cream and SPF Day Cream are eligible for re-formulation within 28 days of purchase. Because our products are personalized for your skin, returns are not possible at this time.”
Is Proven Skincare Cruelty Free?
All Proven Skincare products are 100% cruelty free. The brand does not test finished products or ingredients on animals, and neither do their suppliers or any third-parties. They also don’t sell their products where animal testing is required by law.
Proven Skincare Reviews
The Proven Skincare reviews on the brand’s website are mostly 4 and 5-star reviews. Many of the Proven Skincare reviews include positive comments on the cleanser, saying that it is gentle, soft, effectively removes makeup, and improves the skin’s texture.
Several reviews also mention that the Proven Skincare system provides better results than any other skin care product. Users also appreciate that the product formulations can change to meet their skin’s evolving needs.
For example, one reviewer shares, “I like how Proven feels on my skin and that it’s made for me based on my concerns, my age and my climate. The daily moisturizer feels light, not greasy, and the SPF 40 is fantastic. The night cream isn’t heavy on my skin and performs well even though it’s a thicker consistency. My skin can be a bit sensitive when trying new/different products, but not with these. So far I love the set.”
The negative Proven Skincare reviews are mostly concerning the company’s customer service. Several customers have found it difficult to cancel their Proven Skincare subscription.
For example, one reviewer shares, “I would give this zero stars if I could. I ordered the system in January and wasn’t sure if I liked it, so I suspended my subscription. I just received another system (May 24), which I did not order, and the company won’t refund my money (company does not give refunds or allow returns) because they said I signed up to received a system every 8 weeks. If I signed up to receive a system every 8 weeks, then why didn’t I receive an order in March?? I’ll tell you why – because I suspended my subscription. Even if I loved this product (I don’t), I would never order again because of these unethical business practices.”
Taking a look at the Proven Skincare reviews on TrustPilot.com, we noticed that the majority of the reviews are very positive. The brand has received an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars after more than 2,500 customer reviews.
There are many positive Proven Skincare reviews from customers who not only love the products, but also the brand’s customer service. For example, one review says, “I have rosacea and very sensitive skin. I rarely try new products because they often make my skin worse. Proven is formulated to match your skin’s needs and I’ve loved the results. I also love working with the company. They have amazing customer service.”
While there aren’t many negative Proven Skincare reviews, those that we did read were from customers who didn’t like the sunscreen in these products because it leaves a white cast on the skin.
For example, one review says, “I tried to cancel my second order but was not successful. I wanted to like these products, however, the face wash leaves my skin with a greasy feeling and the SPF moisturizer leaves a white tint on my face. I am very disappointed with this product.”
Our Verdict
Overall, we think that Proven Skincare could be a good option for you if you’re sick of trying different skin care brands and having no luck with finding products that work for you. Based on the Proven Skincare reviews, it appears that these products work well for most people.
Pros
- Many positive Proven Skincare reviews
- Customized formulations for your unique needs
- Evidence-based ingredients
Cons
- High cost
- You have no choice in what ingredients go into your products
What Are Some Alternatives to Proven Skincare?
If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin.
References:
1. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010 Feb; 3(2): 22–41.
2. Clin Interv Aging. 2006 Dec; 1(4): 327–348.
Jen L Original review: Dec 28, 2023.
I am sensitive to strong perfume but mainly their product gave me pimples where I used many products and never does that.
I have used the product for a month and so far I haven’t seen skin improved. Their products aren’t cheap to not serve purpose of skin care.
On their Facebook, mainly many wrote positive reviews that I think they deliberately removed negative reviews so people like myself was sold on buying this $$$ product.