Every test report and product ranking published by British Skincare Journal is reviewed and signed off by an independent panel of specialists before it reaches readers. The panel exists to ensure that our methods are sound, our data is accurate and our conclusions follow from the evidence.
Professor Charlotte Weber, MD — Chair
Professor Charlotte Weber, MD is a board-certified dermatologist with twenty-five years specialising in ageing skin. She has served as principal investigator on forty-seven clinical trials measuring anti-ageing product efficacy and leads the independent panel for British Skincare Journal evaluations.
As chair of the panel, Professor Weber reviews every testing protocol before data collection begins and verifies that conclusions are supported by the measurements. Her role is to ensure that no ranking reflects anything other than observed performance.
Expertise: ageing skin, clinical trial design, anti-ageing product efficacy, dermatological research methodology.
Marcus Bauer, PhD — Dermatological Research
Marcus Bauer, PhD is a dermatological research scientist with twenty-six years of professional experience. He developed laboratory methods for measuring collagen production in ageing skin and conducts the Phase 1 ingredient audit for British Skincare Journal evaluations.
Expertise: collagen measurement, ingredient safety assessment, laboratory method development, formulation analysis, skin-barrier science.
Laura Schmidt, MD, FRCP — Consultant Dermatologist
Laura Schmidt, MD, FRCP is a consultant dermatologist with a specialist practice in non-invasive skin rejuvenation. She has performed over fifteen thousand anti-ageing treatments and supervises clinical trials across multiple UK testing sites for British Skincare Journal evaluations.
Expertise: non-invasive skin rejuvenation, clinical dermatology, anti-ageing treatments, multi-site clinical trial supervision.
How the panel operates
Panel members receive no payment linked to the outcome of any review. They are compensated for their time at a fixed hourly rate that is agreed in advance and does not vary with the verdict. No panel member has a financial interest in any product or brand that appears in our rankings.
Before testing begins, the panel reviews the protocol — including selection criteria, measurement methods and scoring weights — and may request changes. After data collection, they review the raw results, check the statistical analysis and confirm that each published conclusion is warranted. A ranking cannot be published without the written approval of at least two of the three panel members.
Readers who wish to raise a concern about methodology or accuracy may contact us through our contact page. The panel reviews all substantive queries and, where an error is confirmed, a correction is published promptly.
Further information about our testing process is available on the How We Test page.