Sofie Pavitt Face Fancy Face Moisturizer
Everything behind the verdicts on this product: the rule that fired for each concern, the three answers and the documents they rest on, every study on the row with the date it was opened, and the versions of the tables that produced them. Nothing here is edited by hand; it is generated from the same records the verdicts are.
The scaleRecommendedGoodSupportingEarly evidenceNot for thisAvoidhow it works
Engine 5.2.0 · rules 0.5.1 · evidence table ev-2026.10-r231 · computed October 13, 2026 · how we decide · the evidence table · the anchors
for Acne
Niacinamide has early evidence for acne, and barrier care alongside acne treatment is the recognised companion to treating it — a reasonable supporting choice, short of a recommendation.
Nothing here targets the concern directly, but the product’s job — barrier care, gentle cleansing, photoprotection — is the recognised companion to treating it. Rinse-off products carrying leave-on actives land here too.
- Rule
- R8a → Supporting role. An active with early or mechanistic evidence only; declared at a working strength, or a labelled active or at a plausible but undeclared level; the product’s category job is a recognised companion to treating the concern.
q1 = plausible · q2 = adequate | plausible · supportive = true
Why this rule exists: A plausible-tier active in a category with a supportive job: the sentence names the active instead of saying nothing targets the concern (the AmLactin / CeraVe SA case for keratosis pilaris, where no guideline and single trials leave the keratolytics at early evidence).
Rule R8a decided 1,509 verdicts across the catalog; “Supporting role” is the verdict on 7,796 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Niacinamide
- 1 · Standing
- Plausible — trials support it
- 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 4%
Studied range: 4–5%, from the OTC monograph or label; needs leave-on contact; judge it after about 8 weeks - 3 · Tolerability
- Standard tolerability — fungal triggers
Cautions: fungal-acne triggers. - Evidence dots
- Moderate evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
The studies and documents on the row
- Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2020), opened July 16, 2026
- Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (full text, PMC) (2020), opened July 16, 2026
- Topical nicotinamide compared with clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris — International Journal of Dermatology (1995), opened July 16, 2026
- Topical 4% nicotinamide vs. 1% clindamycin in moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris — International Journal of Dermatology (2013), opened July 16, 2026
- Comparison of topical 5% nicotinamid gel versus 2% clindamycin gel in the treatment of the mild-moderate acne vulgaris: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial — Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2013), opened July 16, 2026
- Evidence-based topical treatments (azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulfur, zinc, and fruit acid) for acne: an abridged version of a Cochrane systematic review — Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine (2020), opened July 16, 2026
← Back to the verdict All acne products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Excess Oiliness
Niacinamide has trial-level evidence for excess oiliness but no guideline or regulatory standing yet — promising, short of a recommendation; the other actives here are not yet assessed for it.
The lead active has at least one trial behind it for the concern but no guideline or regulatory standing yet, and is present at a working level. Short of a recommendation.
- Rule
- R9p → Promising. An active with early or mechanistic evidence only; declared at a working strength, or a labelled active or at a plausible but undeclared level; the product’s category job is not a recognised companion to the concern; moderate or strong evidence dots on the carrier’s row.
q1 = plausible · q2 = adequate | plausible · supportive = false · strength = moderate | strong
Why this rule exists: 0.5.0: 'Unproven' beside three filled dots read as one question answered twice with opposite words (7,018 rows). The chip measures standing, the dots measure trial volume; where the row carries at least one RCT or a tier-2 source (moderate dots) and the active is present at a working level, the honest word is Promising. Unproven is reserved for plausible-standing rows with limited or weak evidence, or an under-dosed form. Same rank as Unproven — a bet either way; the dots order them.
Rule R9p decided 4,872 verdicts across the catalog; “Promising” is the verdict on 4,872 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Niacinamide
- 1 · Standing
- Plausible — trials support it
- 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 4%
Studied range: 2%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after about 8 weeks - 3 · Tolerability
- Standard tolerability — fungal triggers
Cautions: fungal-acne triggers. - Evidence dots
- Moderate evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
The studies and documents on the row
- The effect of 2% niacinamide on facial sebum production — Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy (2006), opened July 16, 2026
- Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris — Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2024), opened July 16, 2026
← Back to the verdict All excess oiliness products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Large Pores
Niacinamide has trial-level evidence for large pores but no guideline or regulatory standing yet — promising, short of a recommendation; the other actives here are not yet assessed for it.
The lead active has at least one trial behind it for the concern but no guideline or regulatory standing yet, and is present at a working level. Short of a recommendation.
- Rule
- R9p → Promising. An active with early or mechanistic evidence only; declared at a working strength, or a labelled active or at a plausible but undeclared level; the product’s category job is not a recognised companion to the concern; moderate or strong evidence dots on the carrier’s row.
q1 = plausible · q2 = adequate | plausible · supportive = false · strength = moderate | strong
Why this rule exists: 0.5.0: 'Unproven' beside three filled dots read as one question answered twice with opposite words (7,018 rows). The chip measures standing, the dots measure trial volume; where the row carries at least one RCT or a tier-2 source (moderate dots) and the active is present at a working level, the honest word is Promising. Unproven is reserved for plausible-standing rows with limited or weak evidence, or an under-dosed form. Same rank as Unproven — a bet either way; the dots order them.
Rule R9p decided 4,872 verdicts across the catalog; “Promising” is the verdict on 4,872 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Niacinamide
- 1 · Standing
- Plausible — trials support it
- 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 4%
Studied range: 4%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after about 8 weeks - 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Moderate evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
The studies and documents on the row
- The clinical anti-aging effects of topical kinetin and niacinamide in Asians: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative trial — Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2007), opened July 16, 2026
- The efficacy and adverse effects of treatment options for facial pores: A review article — Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2023), opened July 16, 2026
- Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide (Niacinamide) to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation — Antioxidants (Basel) (2021), opened July 16, 2026
← Back to the verdict All large pores products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Dehydration
Panthenol (Vitamin B5) is a reference standard by mechanism for dehydration; this gel cream carries it high in the ingredient list.
A trial-supported active, or a reference standard by mechanism, at a working level; or a first-line active below its studied range.
- Rule
- R5 → Good choice. A supported active (trial-backed, or a reference standard by mechanism); declared at a working strength, or a labelled active or at a plausible but undeclared level.
q1 = supported · q2 = adequate | plausible
Why this rule exists: Trial-supported or guideline-supported active, adequately or plausibly dosed.
Rule R5 decided 9,843 verdicts across the catalog; “Good choice” is the verdict on 10,340 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Panthenol
- 1 · Standing
- Supported — its mechanism is established (a reference standard, not a trial result)
- 2 · Form
- Adequate — concentration not declared; read from the position in the ingredient list
Studied range: 2.5%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact - 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Limited evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
The studies and documents on the row
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review assessment of panthenol / dexpanthenol — humectant and moisturizer that raises stratum-corneum water content — reference work
← Back to the verdict All dehydration products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Sensitivity
No fragrance, drying alcohol, declarable allergens or sensitising preservatives in this gel cream — the profile sensitive skin looks for.
For sensitivity only: no fragrance, drying alcohol, declarable allergens or sensitising preservatives in the formula.
- Rule
- F2 → Good choice. The formula carries no trigger and no caution for the concern.
q3 = gentle
Why this rule exists: Gentle = no weighted deduction fired and fit ≥ 90.
Rule F2 decided 1,955 verdicts across the catalog; “Good choice” is the verdict on 1,955 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Squalane
- 1 · Standing
- Not assessed
No evidence row exists for this active and concern; it is in the research queue. - 2 · Form
- Plausible — concentration not declared; read from the position in the ingredient list
- 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Not from a trial row
- What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
← Back to the verdict All sensitivity products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
as a moisturizer
Does what a moisturizer is for: draws in water, softens and smooths.
- Rule
- J2 → Does the job. The category-job reading is 65 or more.
Category job score over the measured features 65–85. - Measured from the label
- draws in water, softens and smooths, seals moisture in, supplies barrier lipids, right weight for the job
- Tolerability
- Standard tolerability
- Fungal-acne triggers
A verdict is Dermington’s assessment of how well a product’s ingredients fit a concern — never a claim about what the product treats. Every rule is public and the same for every product; a brand cannot buy a reading. How we decide · what has changed · disclaimer.