Evidence before endorsement
Every ingredient and product claim is tied to a peer-reviewed study, a regulatory filing, or a named clinical expert. If we can't trace it, we don't publish it — and we tell you why when evidence is limited.
Our Story
Decoding skincare with dermatologists, not influencers.
Skincare Mana is an independent editorial team built by board-certified dermatologists, cosmetic chemists, and clinical researchers. We translate peer-reviewed evidence into skincare guidance you can actually use at home.
Why We Exist
Born from a frustration with marketing dressed up as medicine.
Skincare Mana began in 2021 inside a small dermatology clinic in Portland, where our founder — Dr. Amelia Reyes, MD, FAAD — kept hearing the same question from patients: "The product I bought said it was dermatologist-recommended, but I can't tell if it actually works." The answer, almost always, was buried under affiliate links, sponsored content, and a wall of ingredient mysticism.
We built this site to be the resource she wished she could hand every patient. No paid placements in our rankings. No undisclosed partnerships. Every claim on Skincare Mana is traceable to a clinical study, a regulatory document, or a credentialed expert we name on the page. When we get something wrong, we correct it publicly and explain what changed.
"Honest skincare advice shouldn't require a medical degree to decode — and a medical degree shouldn't make your advice inaccessible." — Dr. Amelia Reyes, Founder
Today, our editorial team includes dermatologists, estheticians, and a cosmetic chemist with a combined 60+ years of clinical and formulation experience. We are independently funded, reader-supported, and proudly free of the affiliate-driven incentive structures that shape most skincare content online.
Editorial Standards
The principles behind every recommendation we publish.
These aren't aspirational values on a wall — they're the rules our editors follow before a single sentence is published, and the criteria we use to revisit older content.
Independence over commission
We do not accept payment for product placement, ranking position, or editorial coverage. Our team has no sales quotas. When we do earn affiliate revenue, it never influences our verdicts — and we disclose it on every page where it appears.
Corrections in the open
Skincare science evolves, and so do we. When a study is retracted, a formulation changes, or a reader catches a mistake, we issue a dated correction notice at the top of the affected article. No silent edits, no buried retractions.
Plain language, not jargon
Clinical accuracy and readability aren't trade-offs. We define every technical term on first use, avoid fear-based framing, and write for the person standing in the drugstore aisle — not for our peers at a conference.
Inclusive by design
Skin tone, skin type, age, budget, and cultural routine all change what "works" means. Our guidance accounts for Fitzpatrick types I through VI, considers sensitivity and budget constraints, and is reviewed by clinicians who reflect the diversity of our readers.
Refreshed, not forgotten
Every article carries a published date and a last-reviewed date. Our editorial calendar mandates a re-review of clinical content at least every 12 months, and sooner when a major guideline change lands in the literature.
By the Numbers
A small team, an outsized evidence base.
The scale of our review work — measured in sources cited, not sponsored posts published.
1,200+
Peer-Reviewed Sources
Indexed in our internal evidence library, every citation linked in-article.
0
Paid Placements
No brand has ever paid for editorial coverage or ranking position.
47
Clinical Reviewers
Board-certified dermatologists, allergists, and cosmetic chemists.
340k
Monthly Readers
People turning to evidence-based guidance over influencer marketing.
The Editorial Team
Dermatologists, chemists, and writers — in that order.
Every article is researched by our writers, drafted by editors with clinical training, and reviewed by a board-certified specialist before publication.
Dr. Amelia Reyes, MD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Board-certified dermatologist with a research focus on cosmetic actives and skin of color. 14 years of clinical practice.
FAAD · Stanford Dermatology Residency · Published in JAD, JAMA Derm
Dr. Marcus Kim, MD
Medical Director
Leads our medical advisory board. Specializes in sensitive skin, rosacea, and post-procedure skincare.
FAAD · Mayo Clinic Dermatology · AAD Committee on Cosmetic Dermatology
Priya Natarajan, PhD
Lead Cosmetic Chemist
Translates formulation data into plain English. Former R&D scientist at a top-tier skincare manufacturer.
PhD Organic Chemistry · 11 years formulation experience · SCC Member
Dr. Sofia Okafor, MD
Senior Reviews Editor
Leads product testing protocols. Particular focus on hyperpigmentation and melanin-rich skin.
FAAD · Howard Dermatology · Skin of Color Society Fellow
How We Review
From research question to published review — in four stages.
Every article and product review on Skincare Mana passes through the same editorial funnel. No shortcuts, no exceptions.
01
Research brief
Our editors draft a clinical research brief that names the question, the population it applies to, and the evidence threshold required to answer it.
02
Evidence gathering
Writers compile a source docket from PubMed, Cochrane, FDA filings, and named expert interviews. Every claim must trace back to this docket.
03
Clinical review
A board-certified specialist on our medical advisory board signs off on accuracy, nuance, and appropriate safety warnings before publication.
04
Scheduled re-review
Each article is logged in our review calendar. Clinical content is re-reviewed every 12 months, or sooner when a major guideline changes.
Get Started
Suggest a Topic
Have a skincare question we haven't covered yet?
Our editorial team reads every reader submission. If a topic comes up often, it lands on our research calendar — and you'll see it answered on the site within weeks.