Preprint / Version 1

Science vs. Trends: Exploring Skincare in a Media-Driven Market

##article.authors##

  • Riya Balaji Polygence

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2751

Keywords:

Skincare routines, Social Media Influence

Abstract

Skincare is constantly evolving with more complex routines and new products added to the market regularly. Instead of containing only one product, skincare routines consist of a multi-step process with many products. This paper will discuss the most common categories of skincare products and the chemistry of each of these skincare types. Later, this work will explore potential influences of social media on the pricing of similar products by doing a fiscal and chemical comparison on two similar sunscreen products. It is revealed that many brand name products are almost identical to their more generic counterparts, and social media advertising may contribute to an individual’s decision. In addition, the number of products included in a person’s skincare routine can be a result of internet influencers. Ultimately, this paper aims to help consumers have tools to make informed decisions that suit their skin's needs.

References

Supergoop!: Overview | LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/supergoop-/. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Alamer, Maryam A., et al. “Impact of Social Media on Choosing Skin Care and Cosmetic Products Among Females in Saudi Arabia.” Cureus, vol. 15, no. 12, p. e49922. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.49922.

Bilodeau, Kelly. “Skin Serum: What It Can and Can’t Do.” Harvard Health, 12 Jun. 2018, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/skin-serum-what-it-can-and-cant-do-2018061214029.

Coderch, Luisa, et al. “Ceramides and Skin Function.” American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, vol. 4, no. 2, 2003, pp. 107–29. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200304020-00004.

“E.l.f. Beauty (ELF) Number of Employees.” StockAnalysis, https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/elf/employees/. Accessed 31 May 2025.

“Face Toners: The Skin Care Product Gets a Reboot.” Cleveland Clinic, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-does-toner-do. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Gentle Skin Cleanser - Face & Body Cleaner | Cetaphil US. https://www.cetaphil.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Galderma-US-Site/en_US/__SYSTEM__Page-Render?cid=pdp&params=%7b%22custom%22%3a%22%7b%5c%22action%5c%22%3a%5c%22Product-Show%5c%22%2c%5c%22queryString%5c%22%3a%5c%22pid%3d302990110227%5c%22%2c%5c%22locale%5c%22%3a%5c%22en_US%5c%22%2c%5c%22Transactional%5c%22%3a%7b%7d%2c%5c%22tracking_consent%5c%22%3anull%2c%5c%22CurrentPageMetaData%5c%22%3a%7b%5c%22title%5c%22%3a%5c%22Gentle%20Skin%20Cleanser%20-%20Face%20%26%20Body%20Cleaner%20%7c%20Cetaphil%20US%5c%22%2c%5c%22description%5c%22%3a%5c%22Cetaphil%20Gentle%20Skin%20Cleanser%20is%20clinically%20proven%20to%20provide%20continuous%20hydration%20to%20protect%20against%20dryness%2e%20For%20dry%20to%20normal%2c%20sensitive%20skin%2e%5c%22%2c%5c%22keywords%5c%22%3a%5c%22%5c%22%2c%5c%22pageMetaTags%5c%22%3a%5b%7b%7d%2c%7b%7d%5d%7d%2c%5c%22sortedProducts%5c%22%3a%5c%22302993912200%2c302993921165%2c302993921080%2c302993921400%2c302993921288%2c302993889168%2c302994143009%2c302993889021%2c302994145003%2c302990210101%2c302993917458%2c302990114102%2c302993930020%2c302990100624%2c302990241334%2c302990851908%2c302994112005%2c302994116102%2c302994118007%2chidden-product%2c302993938262%2c302994130009%2c302993921288%2c302994313044%2c302993914555%2c302990100679%2c302994117000%2c302990260014%2c302994108008%2c20302990851735%2c302990118032%2c302993923305%2c302990100648%2c302990117042%2c302993927082%2c302990117073%2c302990530612%2c302990116021%2c302990260045%2c302993936091%2c302993928041%2c302994106103%2c302990240047%2c302993918141%2c302994105151%2c302993917427-1%2c302990100686%2c302994113002%2c302994141005%2c302990116014%2c302990116038%2c302990100655%2c302993914945%2c302993889083%2c302993918288%2c302990117011%2c302994121007%2c302990230208%2c302994116003%2c302993889038%2c302993927167%2c302994103058%2c302993927341%2c20302990851742%2c302993938064%2c302990210200%2c302994119004%2c302993934035%2c302990100662%2cBaby%20Kit%2c302990110227%2c302993912200%2c302994130108%2c302993921165%2c302990530711%2c302993917410-1%2c302993921400%2c302993889250%2c302993938163%2c302993889175%2c302993917427%2c302993923572%2c302993934059%2c302993917441-1%2c302990118049%2c302994110001%2c302993931195%2c302994114009%2c302993936039%2c302993917441%2c302993936183%2c302993889045%2c302994125005%2c302994129003%2c302990241303%2c302993921080%2c302993914938%2c302993914280%2c302994111008%2c302993927396%2c302993917465%2c302993917458-1%2c302993940111%2c302993936374%2c302994136001%2c302990117066%2c302993917410%2c302993936077%2c302993917564%2c302990117097%2c302993923572%2c302993889182%2c302993918172%2c302990118001%2c302994127009%2c302995889005%2c302993931188%2c302993918400%2c302993889069%2c302994115006%2c302990117004%2c302993923046%2c302990200102%2c302993927044%2c302990116045%2c302990118025%5c%22%7d%22%2c%22aspect_attributes%22%3a%7b%22product%22%3a%22302990110227%22%7d%7d&vf=e7e3283939b3a1c463165b327aef0e39&at=pdp&pt=productDetail. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Harwood, Anne, et al. “Moisturizers.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2025. PubMed, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545171/.

Haykal, Diala, et al. “Hybrid Cosmetic Dermatology: AI Generated Horizon.” Skin Research and Technology, vol. 30, no. 5, May 2024, p. e13721. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13721.

Kligman, Albert M. “What Is the ‘True’ Function of Skin?” Experimental Dermatology, vol. 11, no. 2, Apr. 2002, pp. 159–87. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0625.2002.00112.x.

Mijaljica, Dalibor, et al. “The Origin, Intricate Nature, and Role of the Skin Surface pH (pHSS) in Barrier Integrity, Eczema, and Psoriasis.” Cosmetics, vol. 12, no. 1, 1, Feb. 2025, p. 24. www.mdpi.com, https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics12010024.

PubChem. Avobenzone. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/51040. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

---. Ceramide 3. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9898642. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

---. Glycerin. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/753. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

---. Homosalate. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8362. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

---. Niacinamide. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/936. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

---. Octisalate. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8364. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

---. Octocrylene. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/22571. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Pullar, Juliet M., et al. “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health.” Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 8, Aug. 2017, p. 866. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866.

“Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Wash | La Roche-Posay.” La Roche-Posay - Skincare, Sunscreen, Body Lotion - Official Site, https://www.laroche-posay.us/our-products/face/face-wash/toleriane-purifying-foaming-face-wash-tolerianepurifyingfoamingfacialwash.html. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Yousef, Hani, et al. “Anatomy, Skin (Integument), Epidermis.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2025. PubMed, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470464/.

Downloads

Posted

2025-07-13

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Riya Balaji

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.