When it comes to finding the best skincare regime to suit your complexion, it can be a bit of a mine field. Don’t fall foul to pretty packaging and fancy names as these can sway you into making the wrong purchase decision. Do your homework and check customer reviews, testing panel results, clinical trial results, award accolades, friend and family recommendations.
One trustworthy source is the World-renowned Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) which has been rigorously testing products since 1900! The GHI’s powerhouse team of product experts, test consumer products so that we can rest assured we're not wasting our money on poor quality items. Products are tested for safety, quality, and value, using state-of-the-art consumer testing methods. Firstly, products are tested in the GHI labs by evaluating safety and quality claims. Then products are sent out to select readers to understand how they actually work in the real world. Only, after all that do they deliver their recommendations of approved products.
Manuka Doctor is proud to have approval from the GHI for not just one but four of our popular skincare products! Our Rejuvenating Serum, Overnight Mask, Clarifying Serum and Eye Cream have all been praised by the various GHI testing panels.
First up is the Rejuvenating Serum, tested by a panel of 549 alongside 25 other brands of hydrating serums over a four-week period. The panel helped the GHI evaluate immediate and long-term hydration as well as improvements in the appearance and texture of their skin. For the GHI lab test they used the Corneometer, a device which measures hydration levels of the skin, on testers at week 1 and week 4 of using the product to look for improvements in the moisture.
The Results..
“Testers absolutely loved the easy-to-use pack and clear instructions that came with the product, giving it full marks in the design and instructions categories. It was easy to apply, with over 94% of testers agreeing with this. The product also left testers skin feeling plumper and smoother, and 77% of them felt that their skin was immediately hydrated. 72% of testers agreed that there was a visible improvement in the appearance of their skin, noticing differences in wrinkles, radiance, and skin texture. The consistency of the formulation was lightweight and cooling, giving it a luxurious feel.”
“I am over the moon with this serum. My skin is so sensitive and this is the only serum on the market that hasn't affected my skin. It doesn't leave a greasy residue or nasty smell. My skin just feels so smooth after applying.”JC
Next up is the Overnight Mask, infused with a calming lavender oil fragrance to promote relaxation and a restful night's sleep. The mask formula is designed to be moisturising, firming and plumping, featuring ingredients such as Manuka honey, Aloe vera and Hyaluronic acid. The mask also contains an extraction from the Nopal plant, which helps speed up the skin's natural exfoliation process, leaving skin brighter and reducing the appearance of dark circles.
The Results…
“GHI testers found the Overnight Mask to be light and gentle with a silky-smooth application. Testers woke up to firmer, plumper and more moisturised skin. The majority of the panel agreed that they were happy with how their skin looked immediately after application, too. They enjoyed its relaxing lavender notes and thought both its fragrance and feel were natural and herbal, which made for a healthier routine with brightening results. The mask felt hydrating, had a smooth texture and wrinkles around the eyes appeared less prominent. Trialists also saw visible improvements to their skin emerge relatively quickly.”
The GHI isn’t the only testing panel to have loved the Overnight Mask, the judging panel from the Notebook Beauty Awards, made up of Sunday Mirror Notebook readers, also voted it the Best Night Cream!
"This cream blew the competition out of the water, with testers loving the immediate and long-term effects. Words like fresher, radiant and glowing came up over and over, as well as that holy grail of night cream compliments: just not looking so darn tired." Notebook, Sunday Mirror
"This is a facelift in a jar! I have a deep line between my eyebrows - at first I didn't think it was making a difference but after two weeks it was greatly reduced. After four, it's still there but not noticeable at all. My fine wrinkles seemed to have gone or at least are very fine now."Tracey Quine, Shropshire
Another of our customer’s firm favourites is the Manuka Doctor Eye Cream. The GHI tested the performance of 21 anti-wrinkle and dark circle eye creams using a VISIA Complexion Analyser, to assess the number of fine lines/wrinkles and intensity. 452 of the GHI at-home testers also helped to assess the properties of the creams, such as texture, packaging and whether they made any visible difference to the skin after 28 days.
The Results..
“With clear instructions and easy-to-use packaging, most testers found this product easy to apply. 94% thought that the cream was easy to distribute evenly around the eye area and they were pleasantly surprised with how quickly the cream absorbed into the skin, leaving no greasy or sticky residue. 83% said skin felt much more moisturised after using the product and 69% said skin felt firmer after the trial period.”
The Manuka Doctor Eye Cream was also highly commended in the Notebook Beauty Awards with readers loving its wrinkle busting properties.
“Manuka Doctor's Eye Cream won highly commended in the Eye Cream category with readers, saying "it was especially good at making crows’ feet buzz off." Notebook, Sunday Mirror
"I was very impressed with the effect it had on my wrinkles and crows’ feet. They were much improved and the eye area felt hydrated. You don’t need to use a lot of the product either."Julia Foy
And finally, the Manuka Doctor Clarifying Serum also scored well with testers from the GHI. Its gel-like consistency was found to be light and pleasant on the skin and helped calm skin and reduce redness, improving skin tone over time.
Another key pointer to look for when conducting your skincare homework, are clinical trial results. A recent independent trial of 30 volunteers with rosacea / reddened skin evaluated the effectiveness of Manuka Doctor Clarifying Serum twice daily over 4 weeks.
The Results..
97% noticed a reduction in redness after 28 days use, skin also felt improved and younger looking (90% agreed skin looked younger looking after 14 days use).
100% agreed their skin looked smooth and the Serum protected their skin after 28 days use.
90% agreed the Serum calmed their skin after 28 days use.
87% agreed the Serum was instantly soothing on their skin after the first application.
For more information on the Manuka Doctor skincare range visit here
