PROVEN Skincare Review: Pros & Cons, Pricing, & More

PROVEN Skincare was founded in 2017 by Ming Zhao and Dr. Amy Yuan, a computational physicist from Stanford University. It describes itself as a smart skin care company that offers personalized skin care solutions that change as you move through life. Instead of all customers using the same formula, the formula changes depending on the consumer’s unique skin needs and external factors.

There are many skin care companies claiming to create personalized skin care regimens, but PROVEN is among the most comprehensive. Its skin care database — the Skin Genome Project — is powered by artificial intelligence that analyzes information input by the user to recommend a tailored skin care regimen.

The database consists of more than 20,000 skin care ingredients, 100,000 cosmetic products, 20 million testimonials, and 4,000 scientific publications. The final piece of information comes from the users themselves.

After completing a short questionnaire, the intelligent database assesses the needs of the consumer while referencing data points like their region’s water hardness, humidity level, and UV index. The Skin Genome Quiz asks questions about your sleep hygiene, diet, stress levels, alcohol consumption, current skin care regimen, skin type, age, sex, and much more. In total, the quiz spans 47 factors to learn about the condition and needs of your skin.

Since PROVEN Skincare is fully custom-made to each individual’s needs, it’s for everyone. It’s especially helpful for anyone frustrated with traditional skin care products that don’t work for them.

It’s suitable for anyone with acne-prone and sensitive skin, two of the most difficult skin concerns to address with conventional products. The Skin Genome Quiz accounts for the severity of breakouts, level of oiliness, and degree of sensitivity to formulate products that account for issues that usually make it difficult to shop for skin care.

For those interested in clean skin care formulas, PROVEN Skincare uses clean ingredients. The formulas are also cruelty-free for anyone who follows a vegan lifestyle.

PROVEN Skincare offers three core products that make up the Custom 3-Step Skincare Routine: the Cleanser, Day Moisturizer, and Night Cream. While each routine consists of the same type of products, the products themselves have varying ingredients tailored to each individual.

Cleanser

• Size: 50ml
• Price: $34.99

Any good skin care routine starts with a clean face. Step one of the custom-made routine is to wash your face with the Personalized Cleanser.

It’s made with natural ingredients that remove dirt and makeup so skin feels fresh before moisturizing. Though the ingredients can vary, your unique cleanser may contain green tea extract, mandelic acid, or salicylic acid. The face wash also tones and exfoliates, so it’s three products in one, according to PROVEN Skincare.

Day moisturizer

• Size: 30ml
• Price: $54.99

The second step of the routine changes depending on the time of day. During the day, apply the Personalized Day Moisturizer on clean skin. Its job is to target skin issues you may have, such as dryness, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or oiliness while keeping skin supple and smooth. The custom formula accounts for factors like your location, air quality, skin tone, and skin type.

Depending on your needs, the day cream could contain ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E. Since everyone should apply sunscreen daily, it universally contains SPF from zinc oxide to protect from UV rays.

Night cream

• Size: 30ml
• Price: $99.99

PROVEN Skincare’s Personalized Night Cream targets the signs of aging while you sleep. Overnight, it targets elasticity, plumpness, and firmness, so skin can look its best. Apply this cream after washing your face with the Personalized Cleanser.

The formula may contain vitamin C, retinol, COQ10, or pomegranate extract. The ingredients are chosen based on your needs and concerns, such as dark spots, blue light, pollution, and wrinkles. Since the formula varies from person to person, there’s nothing generic about this night cream.

The only place to get PROVEN Skincare is provenskincare.com. To purchase the products, you must take a brief quiz so the AI-powered database can learn about you and your skin’s needs. This means you can’t simply add to cart and move on with your day.

If you’re tired of comprehensive skin care regimens, PROVEN Skincare will provide a much-needed break from lengthy routines. It follows a simple 3-step routine: cleanser, day cream, and night cream. However, you only use two products at a time since the day and night creams are used in the morning and evening, respectively.

Whether a skincare product works depends on an individual. Everyone has different concerns, needs, and external factors. Since PROVEN Skincare doesn’t use generic formulas for everyone, the chances of it working for you may be higher.

The formulas are created by Stanford dermatologists and skin scientists using clean, evidence-based ingredients. The company focuses on using ingredients that your skin will actually benefit from and not ingredients that do nothing for you.

PROVEN Skincare invested in third-party clinical tests to confirm its effectiveness. According to the results of the testing, 94 percent of people reported their skin was smoother and softer.

PROVEN Skincare has been around since 2017, but the company gained traction quickly after airing on NBC’s television show “Shark Tank” in 2020.

The brand has thousands of positive reviews on its website and Trustpilot. On its website, the brand has received more than 26,000 5-star reviews. The company has more than 3,800 reviews on Trustpilot and earns a 4.7 out of 5 stars. Most customer reviews are positive, praising the company for providing solutions that work for them.

“This simple, natural, and effective solution has made a huge difference on my skin’s texture and decreased the overall redness and acne,” writes a reviewer.

Another user reports seeing “stunning” results in just 6 weeks. Her melasma is “slowly fading” and her hyperpigmentation has had a “dramatic decline” since using PROVEN Skincare products. “I get firm, bouncy, dewy and hydrated, young-looking skin as a bonus,” she says.

Though not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, it receives a 1.45 out of 5 stars and an F grade on BBB. Some customers write about their poor experience, describing the company as a “scam” that is “not worth the money.” Others report negative skin reactions from using the product, such as rashes, allergic reactions, itchiness, dryness, and flakiness.

PROVEN Skincare has not replied to most of the negative reviews on Trustpilot and BBB.

PROVEN Skincare is formulated by a team of dermatologists and skin scientists. It claims to use cutting-edge ingredients that are clean and evidence-based. The quiz accounts for levels of sensitivity and allergies, lessening the chances of a reaction.

It’s also been tested by third parties, which have shown the skin care to be effective.

However, some customers have experienced negative reactions. A patch test is always recommended before trying a new skin care product.

To get started, take the Skin Genome Quiz on PROVEN Skincare’s website. It takes about 3 minutes to complete. At the end of the quiz, you will see information about your custom-made three-step routine, which includes a cleanser, day cream, and night cream to address your skin needs.

Input your billing and shipping information, and wait for your tailor-made skin care system to arrive. PROVEN Skincare is a subscription-based company, so you’ll receive a new shipment every 8 weeks. Setting up a subscription saves you money since it’s cheaper than buying the products outright, but you’ll be charged automatically. You can cancel anytime, however.

Once your PROVEN Skincare order arrives in the mail, you can begin your new regimen. The shipment includes information about each personalized product — how to use it, what the ingredients are for, and full ingredient lists.

Trying to solve your skin issues yourself may seem a lot easier and cheaper than visiting a dermatologist, but a doctor’s appointment is sometimes needed. If you aren’t seeing improvements in 4 to 8 weeks, consider getting a professional opinion.

Dermatologists are especially helpful for this with sensitive, acne-prone, or mature skin, but you don’t have to have severe skin issues to see a skin doctor. PROVEN Skincare is formulated with the help of dermatologists, but sometimes seeing a dermatologist yourself allows for the most personalized solution.

Is PROVEN Skincare FDA approved?

Cosmetics do not need FDA approval before coming to market. PROVEN Skincare products are not FDA approved. However, the products are made in an FDA-accredited laboratory.

How long does it take to see results with PROVEN Skincare?

According to PROVEN Skincare, users can expect to see results in the first month. Generally, you should see improvements in your skin concerns within 4-8 weeks of starting a new skin care regimen. Skin care is highly personal, however, so it may vary per person.

How do you cancel PROVEN Skincare?

PROVEN Skincare products are available at full price or at a discounted price for subscribers. You can cancel anytime. To cancel your subscription, login to your account and update your account settings. You can also contact care@provenskincare.com to cancel.

With tens of thousands of skin care products and ingredients to choose from, crafting a skin care regimen that works for you can seem overwhelming. You may also feel frustrated with the constant trial and error of trying new products that don’t make a difference.

PROVEN Skincare seeks to make skin care simpler while tailoring each product to each individual. It removes ingredients you don’t need and focuses only on clean ingredients that are clinically proven to work. If one-size-fits-all skin care isn’t cutting it, it may be time to take a personalized approach.

Lacey Muinos is a health, wellness, and beauty writer based in Southern California. She holds a BA in English. Her work has appeared in digital publications like Livestrong, Verywell, Business Insider, Eat This Not That, and others. When she’s not writing, Lacey is likely pursuing her other interests: skin care, plant-based cooking, pilates, and traveling. You can keep up with her by visiting her website or her blog.