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Proven Skincare Review

SKIN CARE REVIEWS

12.18.23DISCLAIMER

OUR TOP SKINCARE PICKS

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1Carrot & Stick Review
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-Proven Skincare

 

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.

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.

 

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.”

Top Skincare Picks

RankBrandLink
1Carrot & Stick Review
2FormulystReview
3SkinceuticalsReview
-Proven Skincare

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.

OUR TOP SKINCARE PICKS

1

Carrot & Stick

Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare. What does this mean? It perfectly balances the power of plants with innovative science, offering the best of both worlds. Read More
2

Formulyst

The philosophy of Formulyst is long-term and effective skincare, rather than covering up any imperfections. The comprehensive line of products tackles everything from wrinkles to dark spots and dry skin. While some brands rely on unnecessary fillers and scents, Formulyst focuses on ingredients that help create results, such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Read More
  • Jen L Original review: Dec 28, 2023. Reply

    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.

  • ED Original review: Dec 16, 2023. Reply

    Interesting story here.

    Proven Skincare was originally featured on the US shark tank. Ming Zhao, who is the founder of proven, was interested in raising funds from investors. She wasn’t successful but still find a way to grow proven.

    The AI customisation seems innovative but I don’t think this translates to anything powerful when it comes to the actual formulations.

    The basic 3-Step Skincare System includes the Personalized Cleanser, the Personalized Day Moisturizer and Personalized Night Cream.

    Additional Proven skincare products include Eye Cream Duo, the Day Eye Cream and Night Eye Cream.

    Only recently Proven introduced the All In One Serum. What is included in this formulation? With ingredients like Ubiquinone and Vitamin C, this serum is designed to protect skin against free radical damage.

    To order Proven, you have to login to create an account. Answer a series of questions. Based on this, they will run their AI systems and customise a product.

    What is the texture like?

    Proven skincare products are lightweight. Apart from the night cream, all the products are fairly lightweight. I noticed the night cream has a thicker emollience, which is great at night.

    Does Proven skincare work?

    The ingredients are clinically proven and efficacious. The products are suitable for both mature and younger skin types as the ingredients are customised.

    How does proven compare to agency? Agency costs a lot less and is more suited to younger skin types.

    How to cancel proven skincare? You can do this my logging in or sending them an email.

  • LMa Original review: Dec 15, 2023. Reply

    Me too! I fell for the promotion and I had an allergic reaction to the product…. and they won’t refund me! if you have sensitive skin DO NOT TRY this product out unless you’re willing to part with your money. HORRIBLE customer service.

  • Alexis Original review: Dec 12, 2023. Reply

    This company is such a fraud. I wrote a review on their site which was never published. I received two rounds of their products and had issues with quality control both times. Customer service there is a joke as well. DO NOT buy their products. They can’t be trusted.

  • Heather Original review: Dec 12, 2023. Reply

    formula has changed since the last time I purchased back in 2021-2022. My first experience was great, after my skin purged for a week or so, it was left looking better than ever, and no more hormonal breakouts! I just received my first order from them since, and am disappointed that there is now a fragrance to the formula. there was no fragrance in the products before, they could have gone with a light clean scent, but instead it smells like perfume, and is giving me headache. these products have never bothered me before, but now I’m also experiencing eye irritation after using the cleanser and day moisturizer. The formulas seem to have a different texture as well. Given the price point on top of these factors, this may very well be my last order from them. Sad they changed their product.

  • Andreia Original review: May 01, 2023. Reply

    I loved the product you use in the night, it’s too bad that the amount it’s very, very small…price not worth and specially for subscription…the other two products I felt dont need at all. I wish order again the night cream, really loved, but doesn’t make sense for the amount or have a subscription, plus two products I don’t need.

  • Geet Original review: Apr 04, 2023. Reply

    Horrible Customer Service, off-the-shelf product supplied with a near-fit strategy. A total waste of money

  • Emily Original review: Mar 29, 2023. Reply

    Proven made my “normal” skin get super dry and flakey. The daytime moisturizer was so thick it didn’t feel nice on my skin at all. I’m irked I spent so much money to try it. I couldn’t get a hold of anyone for a refund.

  • Londa Rus Original review: Mar 14, 2023. Reply

    DO NOT purchase from this site. They will not let you make a return. So the products do not work for me. They are way to harsh. Will need to throw them away. Very good lesson learned. Don’t buy from this site it’s a scam.

  • Brittney Original review: Feb 28, 2023. Reply

    I wanted to add my two cents here. I did two rounds of skincare systems with Proven and I also did a round of their new personalized eye cream. I don’t think it lives up to the hype or the price tag. Packaging is nice and they do make you feel like you’re getting a top of the line product but the actual product doesn’t deliver. The sunscreen is horrible, I think plenty of people agree on that. My other issue was that I always felt it dried my skin out and amplified my fine lines. My second formulation was better but not great. It’s not worth the price for me! If you’re going to spend $120 plus on skincare my advice would be to just switch to medical grade. I cancelled my subscription. Disappointed.

  • Kristi Original review: Feb 21, 2023. Reply

    I love it. The cleanser is light and gentle and smells great, and the day cream is awesome. You’ll see a white color but it absorbs into your skin in less than a minute (at least mine does). The night cream is a little bit denser than the day cream but still pretty light. None of them have a strong smell. I’ve never had to call customer service so I can’t vouch for that but I’ve been using the product for a year now with no complaints. My skin has improved a ton in that time. So, for me, worth it.

  • LMa Original review: Jan 06, 2023. Reply

    Me too! I fell for the promotion and I had an allergic reaction to the product…. and they won’t refund me! if you have sensitive skin DO NOT TRY this product out unless you’re willing to part with your money. HORRIBLE customer service.

  • Ashley Original review: Dec 15, 2022. Reply

    DO NOT BUY – This company is a scam – all their 5 star reviews are posted by them and are fake – this poison they call skincare will do nothing but harm your face!

  • Paula Original review: Dec 09, 2022. Reply

    Don’t even think about it!

    4 months of use, ABSOLUTELY GARBAGE! Customer service sucks! Tells you the same bullshit.

  • Tigi Original review: Nov 18, 2022. Reply

    Something’s changed… I have to admit, altho initially I wasn’t a fan of the sticky night creme, I loved the clean ingredients and lack of fragrance AND simplify of the system. My skin was clean and had a nice texture after using for a year! THEN, my most recent formulation arrived and I discovered they had added a Very Strong & Sour Fragrance — UGH!!! And when I emailed customer service about it, I was told that the products “now include a fragrance” and the whole Tone of the response was different (are they out-sourcing? I would say yes). Sorry — as they say on Shark Tank — I’m Out. (Yuck)

  • SuzG Original review: Nov 03, 2022. Reply

    Ugh I fell for it. The cleanser and night cream were fine, nothing amazing but the moisturizer was horrible. Left a white cast and piling on my face. Customer service is a bot which sends you in a loop. After my first delivery took forever even though my credit card was charged I started a conversation with customer service. It was resolved and I received my delivery. I canceled my next delivery but received it and was charged. I tried going through customer service again and it won’t let me start another conversation…my old issue is there and it’s frozen. I guess you are only allowed 1 customer service question?!? It’s a very un-user friendly site once you are locked in, I was shocked at how poor their customer service was. Live and learn I guess.

  • Reesa Colman Original review: Apr 08, 2022. Reply

    These products do not contain the ingredients they say they do. The night cream for my husband smells like sulfur.

  • nina farkas Original review: Feb 09, 2022. Reply

    GARBAGE> I give it 0 stars. a waste of your money. Read the ingredients. The first 10 or more ingredients are the same in all their products. The last few ingredients are customized. The first ingredients in a product are the strongest part of that product. A small insignificant amount is customized. It felt like S**T on my face and was drying. Never again, garbage.

  • Andrea Original review: Sep 09, 2021. Reply

    This product did not work for me at all. The only positive was that it was (supposedly) all natural. I still have to rely on my antibiotics from my dermatologist. I also noticed that the product did not change season to season like I thought it would. A total bust on results. My skin is the same.

  • Keeley Original review: Aug 24, 2021. Reply

    I HATE the day SPF moisturizer; it made me break out and it leaves my face very greasy after wearing a mask all day (I am a nurse). I like the cleanser and I do LOVE the night mask. I wish there was a way to only purchase the cleanser/night cream only.

  • Ali C Original review: Oct 05, 2020. Reply

    STAY AWAY. The product is HORRIBLE. It made me break out in a horrible rash. The only thing worse than the product is the customer service. They don’t reply to email inquiries. The phone number is a dead end. They even charged me twice for the product and have yet to credit me for the second fraudulent charge (2+ months and dozens of emails later). Save your skin, save your time, save your money, save your sanity and STAY AWAY!

  • Maria Original review: Sep 18, 2020. Reply

    Do not Buy this product! There’s no possibility to get a refund. They stole my money. I did one time purchase and they charged me again like I did a prescription. They sent the second set to the address where I don’t live anymore. The support told me that I need to send them back the set and they will return my money. I don’t believe them at all. Firstly, how can I return what I didn’t receive? Secondly, why they ask me to send this set back if it’s personal? I think it’s one set for everyone. They are not going to pay for the delivery. So don’t believe them, and don’t buy it. The management doesn’t answer me. They don’t care about their reputation.

  • Adriana Murillo Original review: May 14, 2020. Reply

    Thanks ? for your honest response. I have Rosacea and very scared to try any new products as they may cause a really bad outbreak.

  • Jennifer Terjesen Original review: Mar 20, 2020. Reply

    I feel like an idiot. It seemed like such a good idea—personalized skincare. But the questions I. The survey really didn’t allow me to express my true skincare concerns. I break out a lot because I have dehydrated, reactive skin. They sent me a day cream with SPF that caused my eyes such irritation that I couldn’t wear it. They sent me a night cream with SULFUR and NEEM. I’m 47 years old! I don’t have oily skin. Needless to say, I’m not using that cream again, either. Neither provided enough hydration for what I need, nor do they exfoliate enough, which is what my skin needs to stay clear. I don’t yet know if the cleanser is also breaking me out. The majority of cleansers do. So I may try it on it’s own for a day or two. Regardless, I wasted a lot of money trying these products. At least, the packaging was nice.

  • LAURA Cristol Original review: Feb 01, 2020. Reply

    I read the reviews and took a chance on Proven Skincare set which include cleanser, day cream and nights cream. I have dry skin and eczema prone skin. After 3 days, my broke out in acne and had a rash on my forehead. I contacted Proven support and they were completely useless. They offered to reformulate and try again. This was an ridiculous request – who would retry a product that caused a rash?

    I was shocked at the response and wanted to add my review on their website. What I found was the reviews are fake – all created my “influencers”. Actual buyers are NOT able to add reviews on the website. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT! It’s a scam and they refuse to refund a dime!

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