The anchors
The verdicts we commit to
An anchor is a product and a concern where a clinician would name the verdict without reaching for a paper — adapalene with benzoyl peroxide for acne is a Strong choice, a fragranced cream is an Avoid for rosacea. The engine must produce each one, every build, or the build fails unless a written waiver says why. The set is the calibration: it is how a rule change is kept from quietly moving the verdicts people recognise.
57anchors
57pass on this build, computed October 13, 2026
16flagged as open questions for an advisory panel
Anchor set 0.2.1-editorial, September 2, 2026. The expected verdicts were set by editorial decision with a written rationale; no advisory panel has reviewed them yet, and this page will say so until one has. The gate: python3 scripts/check-verdict-anchors.py --strict.
Acne 10
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Differin Epiduo Acne Gel | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Adapalene 0.1% + benzoyl peroxide 2.5%: fixed-dose first-line combination in the AAD acne guideline; both monograph/approved actives at labelled strength. |
| Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Adapalene 0.1% OTC: first-line topical retinoid for acne (AAD 2024), FDA-approved OTC strength. |
| La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Same active and strength as Differin 0.1%. |
| Neutrogena Stubborn Acne AM Treatment 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Benzoyl peroxide 2.5% leave-on: monograph acne active at a labelled strength with guideline first-line standing. |
| PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash 10% Benzoyl Peroxideopen question | Good choiceStrong choice | Good choice pass | BPO 10% wash: rinse-off is an explicit exception for BPO (short-contact efficacy is documented); 10% is the monograph ceiling — strong, though 2.5–5% is the guideline preference for tolerability. Editorial decision 2 Sep 2026 (pending advisory review): rinse-off BPO earns 'Good choice' (rule R2r) — short-contact efficacy is documented but smaller than leave-on; 10% is the monograph ceiling and not the guideline preference. |
| Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliantopen question | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Salicylic acid 2% leave-on: monograph acne active at the labelled ceiling; guideline standing is 'recommended' rather than first-line. |
| The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanseropen question | Good choiceSupporting role | Good choice pass | SA 2% cleanser: monograph active, and salicylic acid cleansers are an explicit rinse-off exception — the panel should say whether a cleanser can be a 'strong choice' for acne or caps at 'good'. Editorial decision 2 Sep 2026 (pending advisory review): a salicylic acid cleanser caps at 'Good choice' (R2r); a cleanser cannot be a strong choice for a leave-on concern. |
| La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | BPO 5.5% leave-on with LHA: monograph active at labelled strength. |
| Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Originalopen question | Not yet assessedSupporting rolePromisingUnproven | Not yet assessed pass | Hydrocolloid patch: no active; wound-dressing evidence for individual lesions only. Must NOT read as a strong or good choice for acne (the 4.8.0 inversion). |
| CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser | Supporting role | Supporting role pass | A gentle niacinamide cleanser with no acne active: gentle cleansing is the recognised companion to acne treatment, not a treatment. |
Eczema 7
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Petrolatum-based, NEA-sealed emollient: emollients are first-line in every eczema guideline; petrolatum is a monograph skin protectant. |
| Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Colloidal oatmeal 1% — monograph skin protectant with the eczema-relief labelling; NEA-sealed. |
| Aveeno Eczema Therapy Rescue Balm | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Colloidal oatmeal 1% monograph active; the benzyl-alcohol preservative is not a drying alcohol (the flag fix of 2 Sep). |
| CeraVe Moisturizing Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Petrolatum + ceramides, NEA-sealed; emollient therapy is first-line. |
| Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Colloidal oatmeal 1% monograph active, NEA-sealed. |
| Aquaphor Healing Ointment | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | 41% petrolatum: the reference occlusive emollient. |
| La Roche-Posay Lipikar Eczema Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Colloidal oatmeal 1% monograph active. |
Aging 7
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream | Good choice | Good choice pass | OTC retinol with RCTs on the formulation; retinol is trial-supported, tretinoin is the class reference — 'good', not 'strong'. |
| CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum | Good choice | Good choice pass | Encapsulated retinol, undeclared strength: trial-supported active, plausibly dosed. |
| Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer | Good choice | Good choice pass | Retinol + retinyl propionate, undeclared: trial-supported active. |
| Dermatica Tretinoin 0.025% Cream | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Tretinoin 0.025%: the FDA-approved photoaging reference active at an approved strength. |
| La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream | Supporting roleNot yet assessed | Supporting role pass | Mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin and a fermented broth with no independent evidence: hydration and barrier support, not an anti-aging verdict, at any price. |
| Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil | Not yet assessedPromisingUnprovenSupporting role | Not yet assessed pass | Rosehip oil is not tretinoin; its 'retinoic acid precursor' marketing must never earn retinoid standing (Phase 0 fix). |
| Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream | PromisingUnprovenSupporting role | Supporting role pass | Peptide cream: contested, early evidence for the peptides; the moisturizer job supports. |
Hyperpigmentation 6
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | Good choice | Good choice pass | Niacinamide 10% with three consistent RCTs for uneven tone: trial-supported, adequately dosed — not a first-line pigment active. |
| SkinCeuticals C E Ferulicopen question | Good choicePromisingUnproven | Promising pass | L-ascorbic acid 15% with formulation RCTs; vitamin C is trial-supported for pigment, not first-line. Editorial decision 2 Sep 2026 (pending advisory review): the vitamin-c|hyperpigmentation row is tier 'limited' (one RCT, mixed consistency), so 'Unproven' is the honest reading of the table as researched; the anchor accepts it until the row is re-researched against the L-ascorbic acid pigment trials (dose-research-queue). |
| SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense | Good choice | Good choice pass | Tranexamic acid 3% + niacinamide + kojic: trial-supported actives at declared doses. |
| The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%open question | Good choiceStrong choice | Good choice pass | Azelaic acid has guideline-supported standing for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. |
| The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HAopen question | PromisingUnprovenGood choice | Unproven pass | Alpha-arbutin 2%: mostly in-vitro and small-trial evidence; 'unproven' is the honest reading unless the panel rates the arbutin trials higher. |
| Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serumopen question | Good choicePromisingUnproven | Good choice pass | Tranexamic acid + niacinamide at declared doses. |
Dryness 5
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser | Supporting role | Supporting role pass | A gentle cleanser supports dry skin; it does not treat it. |
| CeraVe Moisturizing Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Petrolatum, glycerin, ceramides high in the list: the reference dry-skin moisturizer. |
| Aquaphor Healing Ointment | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Petrolatum 41%: monograph skin protectant, the benchmark occlusive. |
| Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Petrolatum-based emollient. |
| Kiehl's Ultra Facial Creamopen question | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Glycerin and squalane-led moisturizer; panel to say whether a non-petrolatum humectant cream reaches 'strong'. |
Rosacea 4
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%open question | Good choiceStrong choice | Good choice pass | Azelaic acid 10%: the FDA-approved rosacea presentation is 15% gel; 10% cosmetic is below the approved strength but the active carries first-line standing. Panel to say whether 10% earns 'strong'. Editorial decision 2 Sep 2026 (pending advisory review): the approved rosacea presentation is 15% gel; 10% cosmetic reads below the approved strength → 'Good choice' (R4). The active's first-line standing is unchanged. |
| Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Boosteropen question | Good choiceStrong choice | Good choice pass | As above, 10% azelaic acid. Same as The Ordinary 10% azelaic acid. |
| Naturium Azelaic Acid Derivative Complex 10% | PromisingUnprovenSupporting roleNot for this | Unproven pass | Potassium azeloyl diglycinate is a derivative with early evidence only; must never inherit azelaic acid's approved standing (the Phase 0 laundering fix). |
| Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream | Avoid | Avoid pass | Fragranced (rose oil, declared allergens): fragrance is the best-documented topical rosacea trigger. |
Sensitivity 4
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer | Good choiceSupporting role | Good choice pass | Fragrance-free, minimal-irritant barrier moisturizer built for reactive skin. |
| Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream | Good choice | Good choice pass | The reference fragrance-free, dye-free, preservative-minimal cream dermatologists name for reactive skin. |
| Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser | Good choiceSupporting role | Good choice pass | The reference gentle cleanser; formulated without the usual triggers. |
| Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water | Good choiceSupporting role | Good choice pass | Fragrance-free micellar water designed for reactive skin. |
Sun Damage 3
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Pro-Sport SPF 50 | Full protection | Full protection pass | Broad-spectrum SPF 50 with avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene — monograph filters; the case that was C+ under 4.8.0. |
| Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 | Full protection | Full protection pass | Broad-spectrum SPF 40 with avobenzone and stabilisers. |
| Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 | Basic protection | Basic protection pass | Broad-spectrum SPF 15: meets the FDA early-skin-aging labelling bar, below the AAD's SPF 30 daily recommendation. |
Keratosis Pilaris 3
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion 12% Lactic Acidopen question | Good choiceSupporting role | Supporting role pass | Ammonium lactate 12%: the reference keratolytic emollient for KP, an approved Rx strength sold OTC; no guideline exists, but no dermatologist would grade it below 'good'. Editorial decision 2 Sep 2026 (pending advisory review): KP has no guideline and the keratolytic rows rest on single trials; ammonium lactate's FDA approval is for ichthyosis and xerosis, and the claims vocabulary forbids transferring it to KP. Rule R8a names the active and reads 'Supporting role' — accepted until KP trials move the rows. |
| CeraVe SA Smoothing Creamopen question | Good choiceSupporting role | Supporting role pass | Salicylic acid + lactic acid + urea emollient — the standard OTC KP approach. Editorial decision 2 Sep 2026 (pending advisory review): same basis as the AmLactin anchor. |
| First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHAopen question | Good choiceSupporting role | Supporting role pass | 10% AHA rinse-off scrub: glycolic/lactic are explicit rinse-off exceptions for KP; a scrub is supportive rather than a treatment. |
Dehydration 2
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel | Good choiceStrong choice | Good choice pass | Glycerin + hyaluronic acid humectant gel: reference-standard humectants by mechanism. |
| COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence | Good choiceSupporting role | Good choice pass | Humectant essence; snail mucin itself has thin evidence, the humectants carry it. |
Post-Procedure 2
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaphor Healing Ointment | Strong choiceGood choice | Good choice pass | Petrolatum ointment is the standard post-procedure wound care; monograph skin protectant. |
| La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+open question | Good choiceSupporting rolePromisingUnproven | Promising pass | Panthenol 5% + madecassoside + shea in a barrier balm: supportive post-procedure care with thin dedicated trials — the panel should place it. |
Compromised Skin Barrier 1
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief | Good choiceStrong choice | Good choice pass | Ceramide/lipid barrier serum built for a damaged barrier. |
Dandruff 1
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampooopen question | Strong choice | Strong choice pass | Ketoconazole 1%: FDA-approved OTC antifungal shampoo strength for dandruff; a shampoo is the delivery form. The draft engine reads 1% as sub-threshold because the row's dose was parsed from the 2% Rx presentation — the table row needs an authored OTC range. Ketoconazole 1% is the FDA-approved OTC strength; the row's dose is being authored from a regulator source (a DailyMed page opened this session) — 'Strong choice' is the target. |
Psoriasis 1
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| CeraVe Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream | Strong choiceGood choice | Strong choice pass | Salicylic acid 2% (monograph psoriasis active) with urea and lactic acid in an emollient base. |
Fungal Acne 1
| Product | Expected | This build | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane | Supporting roleGood choice | Supporting role pass | Squalane is the reference Malassezia-safe emollient; the verdict for fungal acne is the absence of triggers, not an active. |