What Does Dermatologist Tested Mean? - Beautiful With Brains

Last Updated on May 17, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

What does “dermatologist tested” mean? Every time I read the words “dermatologist tested” on a skincare label, I think of a man in a white coat handing a new cream to an unsuspecting patient who has no idea she’s being picked to be a free guinea pig for a giant cosmetic company…. Who knows what’ll happen to her skin?… Ok, that’s not probably how it goes. But… how does it go then?

Do skincare brands send dermatologists random stuff to review for free or do they pay them a pretty penny for the privilege of stamping those two little words, “dermatologist tested” on the labels? Do dermatologists test the products themselves or do they ask their patients to do it? Or do they simply take a look at the ingredient list, see nothing toxic in it, give their stamp of approval and pocket the check? Mmm….

The more you dig, the more this claim stinks. What you thought was a pretty professional and trustworthy claim at first is turning out to be anything but…

Table Of Content

• What Does It Really Mean?
• The Legal Loophole
• Does “Dermatologist Approved” Mean More Than “Tested”?
• Are Dermatologists Paid To “Test” Skincare Products?
• Other Labels That Sound Fancy But Mean Nothing
• So… How Can You Actually Tell If A Product Is Safe?
• The Bottom Line

What Does It Really Mean?

Nothing. “Dermatologist tested” is one of those terms (like hypoallergenic) that is not regulated in any way. Of course, if you want to print “dermatologist tested” on the packaging, you need a dermatologist to test your product. But, with no standard test a product must pass to get this pledge of honour, a company can do any test it wants.

Usually, these tests are pretty shallow. Often, a dermatologist simply applies the product either on her skin or on a patient’s skin. If nothing bad, like an irritation, happens, the company puts “dermatologist tested” on the label.

Sometimes the test is as basic as a 24-hour patch test on ten people. Ten. You could have more people in line for a free makeover at Sephora. And that tiny test? Not even required to include people with sensitive skin, rosacea, acne, or anything even remotely challenging. Just ten random folks with average skin – and boom! The product is “dermatologist tested.”

Think that’s a joke? Wait, there’s worse. You know what happens when there’s a negative reaction? Too often, the company doesn’t care. It prints “dermatologist tested” on the label anyway. Wait, what? How can they get away with this crap?

The Legal Loophole

Beauty brands can get away with this because there is no regulation that defines what the term dermatologist-tested means. There is no law that says that a product must pass the test. It just has to be tested. By a dermatologist.

And “tested” could literally mean anything. A sniff test. A dab on the wrist. A casual glance while sipping coffee. If there was some kind of interaction between a product and a dermatologist, no matter how brief or ridiculous, the box can be ticked. So, if a company goes ahead and prints “dermatologist tested” on a product that failed the test, it’s not lying. The product was tested by a dermatologist.

Oh, wait. Sometimes this IS a lie. Anyone with a PhD can lend their support to a product. But not everyone with a PhD is a dermatologist. They may be doctors, but how well do they know skin and what it needs?

Related: Are Hypoallergenic Products Really Safer?

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Does “Dermatologist Approved” Mean More Than “Tested”?

Slightly. But only slightly. “Dermatologist approved” implies someone gave it a thumbs-up… but here’s the catch: it could still be just one dermatologist. Not a whole board of experts. Not a committee. Just one person in a lab coat who’s maybe on the brand’s payroll.

There’s no official checklist they have to go through, and definitely no requirement to say why they approved it. For all we know, it smelled nice and didn’t give them a rash. Or maybe they just got a big fat check to say it’s amazing. Great.

Are Dermatologists Paid To “Test” Skincare Products?

You bet they are. Whether a product passes these tests or not, the dermatologists do pocket their share. And just so we’re clear: the brand isn’t paying them after the product passes. They’re often paid upfront. So, the incentive to be critical? Pretty low.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that all dermatologists are dishonest and would promote anything to make a quick buck. Lots of skincare products out there are truly amazing and any dermatologist would be proud to promote them. But, whenever money exchanges hands, people must know. Bloggers are required by law to disclose sponsored posts, so why should dermatologists get away with hiding the sponsorship? It’s not fair.

And let’s not forget that dermatologists are humans too. They have preferences. Biases. Some work closely with certain brands. Some even have their own skincare lines. So if you think their approval always comes from an unbiased place… think again.

Other Labels That Sound Fancy But Mean Nothing

While we’re at it, here are a few other phrases that sound science-y or reassuring, but don’t really mean much:

• “Clinically proven”: Proven how? By who? On what skin type? In what kind of study? This label can be slapped on even if the test had no control group and involved, like, 5 people.
• “Non-comedogenic”: There’s no universal standard for this either. One brand’s non-comedogenic might clog someone else’s pores like crazy.
• “Hypoallergenic”: Already discussed, but worth repeating: means nothing legally. Even products with fragrance and alcohol can claim this.
• “Safe for sensitive skin”: A nice idea, but based on… what? If your skin is sensitive to, say, essential oils, and the product contains lavender or citrus, good luck.

Moral of the story: marketing loves to dress up words in lab coats.

Related: Are Hypoallergenic Products Really Safer For Sensitive Skin?

So… How Can You Actually Tell If A Product Is Safe?

Forget the labels. Flip the bottle and check the ingredients list. Look for ingredients your skin loves – and avoid the ones it doesn’t. Yes, it takes some trial and error, and yes, it’s a pain at first. But long term? Way better than playing skincare roulette based on empty claims. Here are a few tips:

• Use INCI decoder sites: Just paste the ingredient list and see what everything does (or just follow me 😉).
• Learn your triggers: Whether it’s fragrance, coconut oil, or certain preservatives, once you know what sets your skin off, you’ll shop smarter.
• Patch test: Always. Especially with new actives or anything that claims to be for sensitive skin.

The Bottom Line

“Dermatologist tested” is a meaningless claim. Don’t pay any attention to it. Instead, learn about cosmetic ingredients and which ones your skin needs. I know, it’s a lot more work, but it’ll save you lots of money and skin woes in the long run.