The Difference Between Clinical Vs. Consumer Testing for Skincare Products
At Perricone MD, our promises aren’t backed by empty words, they’re powered by nearly 30 years of research to deliver proven results you can see and feel. On top of the decades of science, we turn to clinical and consumer testing to double down on proof, so you can trust in the results and be confident in your skin.
“As a dermatologist-founded, science-backed skincare brand, our commitment to rigorous product testing is not a trend, it’s a foundational part of our brand’s DNA and history,” Katina Sarantakis, Director of Innovation at Perricone MD, explains. In fact, Sarantakis’s dedication to innovation and research is so fastidious that she’s one of 30 women selected as a 2025 CEW Innovator out of thousands of nominees. Awarded in the Product Development and R&D category, this honor recognizes Sarantakis for her work in shaping the future of beauty, through clinical and consumer testing and beyond.
But what exactly are clinical and consumer tests and why should you care? Let’s dive into the details so you don’t have to take our word for it — you can trust the studies.
Understanding the Difference Between Clinical & Consumer Testing
Clinical and consumer studies are different methods of testing the safety and efficacy of consumer goods ranging from dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs to cosmetics and skincare products. Though different, both clinical and consumer tests are important in their own ways.
PURPOSE
Clinical studies provide quantifiable validation for each formula’s safety and efficacy. Consumer studies provide insight into a formula’s overall likability (texture, fragrance, efficacy, et cetera) and how it is experienced in daily life.
METHODOLOGY
Clinical testing is conducted in a controlled laboratory setting to ensure the highest level of accuracy and objectivity. Trained technicians capture precise performance measurements, typically from 30 participants, that are validated through oversight by expert graders and state-of-the-art instrumentation. While clinical results can be concluded from as few as 15 to 20 participants, we test on 30 to ensure maximum statistical significance (AKA proof that the results aren’t just coincidental). Each study costs from $80,000 to over $100,000, underscoring our commitment to delivering proven, science-backed results.
Consumertesting is performed at home. Products are blinded and sent to a relevant group of 100 participants who incorporate them into their daily routines in place of their current products. Typically, consumer studies have a larger participant pool than clinicals because (1) it better reflects the target audience for more accurate results and (2) this lowers the margin of error since results are not being expertly measured in a controlled environment. After 7 and 28 days of consistent use, participants complete a structured questionnaire, rating their experience on a 4-point scale. The results are then carefully analyzed to identify which benefits scored highest, providing clear insights into product performance and consumer satisfaction.
OUTCOME
Clinical results are objective. They come from precise, unbiased laboratory data that measures changes in skin concerns like lines, wrinkles, discoloration, age spots, radiance, hydration, moisturization, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin elasticity and skin firmness. Consumer results are subjective. They come from carefully analyzing and scoring consumer data collected through questionnaires and written testimonials that offer open-ended feedback about the products.
Why We Prioritize Both Clinical & Consumer Testing at Perricone MD
“While individual active ingredients may be supported by strong clinical data, it’s a common misconception that the same benefits automatically translate to the final product,” Sarantakis points out. “A cosmetic formula is a complex ecosystem of ingredients and is far more than the sum of its parts.”
That’s why Perricone MD tests our final approved formulations to substantiate their claims and benefits. We use clinical testing (and have done so 70+ times) as our scientific compass to provide objective, quantifiable validation for each formula’s efficacy. Of course, we know skincare is not experienced in a lab, so we also prioritize consumer testing (100+ times, in fact) to understand how our formulas are experienced in daily life.
Sarantakis continues: “Perricone MD believes skincare innovation exists somewhere in the middle of measurable efficacy and sensorial enjoyment of a product. By investing in both types of testing we strive to meet the highest standards of clinical efficacy while balancing the emotional aspects of using a formula.”
Taking Clinical Testing a Step Further for the Neuropeptide Collection
For our newly re-engineered Neuropeptide Collection, we took our already rigorous clinical testing standards a meaningful step further — because advanced formulas demand equally advanced validation.
Since we know that neuropeptides are designed to work at a more structural level within the skin, it was essential that our testing methods captured changes beneath the skin’s surface appearance. Nowhere is this more evident than in the clinical evaluation of our Neuropeptide Pro-Strength Firming Moisturizer, where we focused specifically on understanding how the formula impacts the true architecture of creases. To achieve this, we assessed changes in deep wrinkle topography using Antera 3D® imaging, a technology widely recognized as a gold standard for dermatological substantiation. With an instrumental error of less than 2%, the system delivers highly repeatable and reliable measurements.
Unlike traditional 2D imaging systems, this technology uses a patented method to reconstruct a true three-dimensional map of the skin surface. This distinction is critical, as wrinkles exist in multiple layers and cannot be accurately evaluated through flat imagery alone. By capturing depth and volume in addition to surface features, we gathered precise, objective measurements of wrinkles in every dimension, which helped us analyze changes in wrinkle length, width, depth, area, volume and count for a more comprehensive view of how the skin evolved with use.
What elevates this testing even further is the integration of Antera 3D® imaging with expert clinician grading and complementary bioinstrumentation, including the Vapometer, Corneometer and Cutometer. Together, these tools provide a holistic, data-driven assessment of skin health, capturing not only visible wrinkle changes, but also shifts in hydration, elasticity, firmness and barrier function.
While many brands rely on visually improved “after” photos alone, we chose to invest the additional care, cost and scientific rigor required to deliver something more meaningful: precise clinical data that proves not only that skin looks improved, but measureshow and why it has improved. This depth of testing allows us to substantiate the performance of our Neuropeptide Pro-Strength Firming Moisturizer with confidence — and gives our community results they can trust.
