Marketing or Science

The consumer health product industry operates under a fundamental asymmetry: companies can make claims faster than they can be verified, and most consumers — even clinically trained ones — lack the time to interrogate the literature behind every ingredient or formulation.

Marketing or Science exists to close that gap. We produce structured, long-form reviews of product claims in skincare, beauty, and over-the-counter drugs — assessed against the available peer-reviewed evidence. Our target readership is health professionals: dermatologists, pharmacists, primary care physicians, and researchers who want a clinical perspective on what products actually do.

We are editorially independent. We accept no advertising, brand partnerships, sponsored content, or affiliate revenue. Our conclusions are our own.

Editorial Standards

Every breakdown published on this site adheres to the following principles:

• Claims are evaluated against peer-reviewed literature, not manufacturer-supplied studies alone.
• We distinguish between mechanistic plausibility, animal data, and human RCT evidence — and weight them accordingly.
• Funding sources and conflicts of interest in cited studies are disclosed where relevant.
• We note when the absence of evidence is itself meaningful.
• Verdicts are provisional: we update analyses when new high-quality evidence emerges.
• We do not soften conclusions for commercial palatability.

Further Reading

What We Cover

Current review categories:

• Skincare & Beauty — Topical formulations, active ingredients, anti-aging claims, cosmeceuticals.
• Pharma & OTC Drugs — Over-the-counter medications, supplements, and health products that make therapeutic claims.

Future categories under consideration: medical devices, functional foods, diagnostics, and wearable health technology.

Clinical Disclaimer