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 Margareta Lindberg, MD, PhD — Chair
Professor Lindberg holds a medical degree and doctorate in dermatological science from Uppsala University. Her research career spans more than twenty-five years and has focused on contact dermatitis, occupational skin disease and the interaction between topical formulations and the skin barrier. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including the British Journal of Dermatology, Contact Dermatitis and Acta Dermato-Venereologica.
As chair of the panel, Professor Lindberg 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: dermatological research methodology, skin-barrier function, topical formulation analysis, clinical trial design, occupational dermatology.
Dr Sebastian Weber — Dermatological Research
Dr Weber is a research scientist specialising in cosmetic chemistry and skin-barrier assessment. He trained at the Technical University of Munich and spent eight years in the laboratory division of a leading European dermatological institute. His work has centred on non-invasive measurement techniques — corneometry, transepidermal water loss and skin-surface imaging — that form the backbone of our instrument-based testing.
Expertise: cosmetic chemistry, biophysical skin measurement, formulation stability, preservative systems, raw-material safety assessment.
Dr Katarina Bauer — Consultant Dermatologist
Dr Bauer is a board-certified consultant dermatologist with clinical experience spanning more than fifteen years. She completed her specialist training in Vienna and holds additional qualifications in dermato-pharmacology. Her clinical practice focuses on inflammatory skin conditions, adverse product reactions and evidence-based skin care.
Expertise: clinical dermatology, adverse-reaction evaluation, patch testing, evidence-based treatment selection, dermatological pharmacology.
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.