The newest skincare the experts have actually reviewed
41 products picked up their first expert takes in the past 12 months, and 17 of them already sit at a Guru Score of 80% or higher. Here's what the experts have said so far about the newest faces on the shelf, starting with the leaders.
- 41 skincare products got their first expert take in the past 12 months, which is the closest thing our data has to a new-release shelf.
- 17 of those 41 already hold a Guru Score of 80% or higher, so a product being new is no reason on its own for the experts to be cautious about it.
- Calecim Professional Serum leads the newcomers on a Guru Score of 90% from 3 experts. Dr. Melaxin Peel Shot sits at the bottom on 54%, which is the useful half of a list like this.
- A new product needs at least two experts on the record before it gets a Guru Score at all, so anything here has already cleared that bar.
Sincerely Miss Ash · 3 reviewers, 90% said yes
Mad About Skin · 3 reviewers, 82% said yes
No BS Beauty · 3 reviewers, 86% said yes
No BS Beauty · 3 reviewers, 85% said yesWhich new products have the experts rated highly?
Of those 41 newcomers, 17 already sit at a Guru Score of 80% or higher. At the top is Calecim Professional Serum, with a Guru Score of 90% from 3 experts.
Three more are close behind. The Ordinary Caffeine 3% + EGCG 1% Face Serum and Tirtir Matcha Dual Serum each have a Guru Score of 82% from 3 experts. SkinFix Ceramide Prime+ Whipped Cream with Niacinamide comes in at 85%, also from 3 experts. The one thing to keep in mind is that each of these scores rests on a small group of takes, so it's worth reading those takes before you decide.
Why do so few brand-new products have a Guru Score?
A Guru Score needs at least two experts on the record. Expert review videos often land months after a product launches, not on launch day, so the index runs a little behind the shelf by design.
We think of that wait as part of the design. A verdict here means people who know the category have actually used the product, not just that a press sample arrived. When a product has no Guru Score yet, it means fewer than two experts have weighed in so far. That often means one has already spoken, and the second take is still on its way.
Should you buy skincare this new?
That depends on what you're after and how much you want to lean on the verdict. A newcomer with a high Guru Score is backed by fewer experts than a long-running staple with far more expert takes behind it. The verdict is real, but it rests on a thinner record.
The one thing to keep in mind is that a low score is a reason to check rather than assume. Dr. Melaxin Peel Shot sits at a Guru Score of 54%, so it's worth reading the takes before it goes in your basket. If you're curious about any newcomer, you may want to patch test it on a small area first. It can also help to introduce one new product at a time, so that if your skin reacts, you know which one to look at.