When you see the words “clinically proven” on a product, it feels reassuring. It suggests science, credibility, and trust. But as recent investigations into sunscreen have shown, that confidence can sometimes be misplaced.
What the Investigations Found
Earlier this year, the consumer group Choice tested 20 sunscreens in an accredited Australian lab. Shockingly, only 4 of the 20 met their labelled SPF 50+ protection. One product, marketed as SPF 50+, was shown to perform closer to SPF 4.
Brands pushed back, pointing to their own tests that supported the labels. Yet when experts looked deeper, a concerning pattern emerged.
The follow-up report highlighted Princeton Consumer Research (PCR), the company that had certified many of these products. Independent scientists questioned the validity of its results, noting that the data showed unusually little variation between volunteers — something that simply does not reflect real human trials.
In other words, depending on who tested the product and how, the results could look dramatically different.
What This Means for Consumers
The sunscreen case is a wake-up call for the entire health, beauty, and supplement industry. It shows how easy it is for bold claims to rest on shaky evidence.
Not all labs are equal. Not all studies are designed with the same rigour. And not every “clinically proven” claim carries the weight that phrase implies.
Why Independence Matters
When evaluating any scientific claim, a few key questions help cut through the noise:
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Independence: Was the trial conducted by a neutral, internationally recognised institute with no stake in the outcome?
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Transparency: Is the methodology clearly described and available for scrutiny?
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Publication: Has the research been peer-reviewed and published in a scientific journal?
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Scale: Was the trial large enough to produce meaningful and reliable results?
If the answer to any of these is unclear, then the claim deserves closer inspection.
Beyond Buzzwords
Terms like “clinically tested” or “dermatologist approved” can sound scientific but mean very little without context. Robust science requires transparency, independent oversight, and repeatable results, not just a certificate or a marketing headline.
A Better Standard
Consumers deserve more than marketing gloss. Whether it is sunscreen, skincare, or supplements, claims should be backed by credible, independent science that stands up to scrutiny.
Because when it comes to products we put on and into our bodies, “clinically proven” should mean exactly that: proven, independently, and transparently.
The Ingenious Difference
At Ingenious, we welcome scrutiny because we know our science stands up. Our claims are backed by:
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Independent, internationally recognised research institutes
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Transparent methodology open to examination
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Results you can trust
Because when it comes to your health, shortcuts and inflated numbers are not good enough.
Real science. Independent trials. Transparent results. That is what makes us different.