Inside Our True Skin Alchemy Clinical Trial Results

Our commitment to science-backed supplements

At Ancient + Brave, we don’t just create our formulas; we research them through independent clinical trials, Inner Circle citizen science studies, and independent consumer studies.

Our latest clinical trial tested True Skin Alchemy, our advanced skin care supplement, formulated to hydrate, protect and defend, revealing the remarkable impact this daily skin supplement has on supporting the skin from within.

What is the True Skin Alchemy clinical trial?

Before we dive into the results, let’s first understand what the trial was and who it involved.

True Skin Alchemy was evaluated in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT) conducted by an independent third-party researcher, using validated scientific instruments measuring hydration, elasticity, firmness, barrier function and fine lines.

The study at a glance

+ Design: Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled (RCT)

+ Duration: 12 weeks

+ Participants: 70 healthy females, aged 40+, peri- and post-menopausal.

+ Measurement timepoints: Baseline, week 8 and week 12

+ Measurements: Bioinstrumental (Corneometer®, Cutometer®, Profilometry, TEWL), expert clinical grading, validated questionnaires

+ Conducted by: Independent third-party research organisation

+ Ethics approval: East Anglia Ethics Committee

A randomised, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) is the highest standard of evidence in clinical research, ensuring any measured effects can be attributed to the product rather than expectation or chance.

We made a deliberate choice to involve peri- and post-menopausal women in this study because, not only do we know declining oestrogen can affect how we feel in our own skin, but also because rigorous clinical evidence designed specifically around this population is far rarer than it should be.

“We set out to test True Skin Alchemy the way we'd want any innovative product tested: with an independent, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, measuring real changes in skin with validated instruments.” Dr Jenna Macciochi

Headline Results

True Skin Alchemy was evaluated using validated scientific instruments measuring hydration, elasticity, firmness, barrier function and fine line appearance. 

At Week 8 and Week 12, every objective instrumental skin measure improved significantly versus the placebo group.

+ Skin hydration improved by +22.1% (Corneometer®), 100% of participants improved

+ Skin elasticity improved by +17.4% (Cutometer® R2), 100% of participants improved

+ Fine lines and wrinkles were reduced by -15.7% (Profilometry Rz), 100% of participants improved

+ Skin barrier function improved by -8.5% reduction in water loss (Tewameter® TEWL), 100% of participants improved

+ Skin firmness improved by -11.5% reduction in distension (Cutometer® R0), 97% of participants improved

Note: For the measures of skin barrier (TEWL), fine lines/wrinkles (Profilometry), and firmness (Cutometer® R0), a negative percentage represents a positive improvement in skin health.

Expert Clinical Skin Assessment

+ 100% of participants saw a reduction with visible wrinkles

+ 100% of participants saw a reduction with visible fine lines

+ 100% of participants saw an improvement in skin smoothness

+ 100% of participants saw an improvement in the feeling of skin smoothness

+ 100% of participants saw an improvement in overall skin quality 

Validated Self-Perception Questionnaire

+ 97% of participants said their skin feels well hydrated

+ 100% of participants said their skin feels less dry than before starting the study

+ 94% of participants said their skin feels more resilient to environmental stress

+ 100% of participants said their skin feels softer

+ 97% of participants said their skin feels firmer

+ 94% of participants said their fine lines appear less noticeable

+ 100% of participants said their overall appearance of skin has improved

+ 97% of participants said they are satisfied with the current condition of their skin

+ 94% of participants said they feel more confident about their skin's appearance 

True Skin Alchemy: Three types of benefits

Two years in the making, True Skin Alchemy uses seven clinically studied ingredients to support skin hydration, elasticity and barrier function from within.

In this next section, we’ll dive into the results in more detail, benefit by benefit, ingredient by ingredient, so you can see precisely how each part of the formula is working beneath the surface.

Hydrate: Supports skin hydration from within.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramosides™ 

Skin hydration was measured by Corneometer®, a validated clinical tool, measuring the water content in the outer layers of the skin. The results showed a significant improvement compared to placebo. After 12 weeks, hydration levels rose by 22.1%, a clear separation from the placebo's 0.1% increase, with 100% of participants showing an improvement in skin hydration.

Skin elasticity was measured by Cutometer® R2, a validated clinical tool which measures how the skin returns to its original position after being stretched. The results showed a significant 17% increase after 12 weeks in comparison to the placebo, with 100% of participants showing an improvement in skin elasticity.

Protect: Helps protect skin against environmental stressors.

Key ingredients: Polypodium Leucotomos & Vitamin C

Fine lines and wrinkles measured by Profilometry, a validated clinical tool measuring the actual depth and volume of lines and wrinkles. Results showed a significant 15.66% reduction in comparison to the placebo group, with 100% of participants showing an improvement. 

Skin firmness is measured by Cutometer® R0, a validated clinical tool measuring how much the skin deforms when pulled, its resistance to stretch. Results showed a significant 11% reduction, meaning the skin became firmer compared to the placebo, with 97% of participants showing an improvement. 

Defend: Helps maintain a healthy skin barrier.

Key ingredients: Grape Seed Extract & Mesoporosil® Silica

Skin barrier measured by TEWL, a validated clinical tool measuring how much water is escaping through the skin's surface barrier. The results show a significant 8.5% reduction, meaning less water is being lost through the skin’s surface compared to placebo, with 100% of participants showing an improvement.

*Double-blind, randomised, and placebo-controlled 12-week clinical trial in 70 healthy peri-menopausal and early post-menopause females aged over 40. Individual experiences may vary. 

Two Types of Research: Inner Circle Insights

Clinical trials are just one part of our Evidence Ecosystem. Because we believe that lived experience is as valuable, we also worked closely with the Inner Circle, our customer community, to ascertain what it actually feels like to take True Skin Alchemy.

For eight weeks, 55 women aged 34–55 took True Skin Alchemy daily,  alongside juggling work, life, hormonal fluctuation and the unpredictability of everyday skin.

Most participants noticed changes early. The majority of improvements were already visible by Week 2, with continued gradual progress through Week 8.

+ 98% found True Skin Alchemy convenient to add to their routine
+ 100% would join future Inner Circle Studies

---

"My skin seemed more smooth and hydrated. I noticed softer  skin on my body." Inner Circle Participant

“My skin is so much smoother and has more of a glow.”
Inner Circle Participant

"I usually suffer with very dry skin on my legs as the seasons change - that has been less noticeable so far this year."
Inner Circle Participant

“Real-world insight and clinical science, telling the same story, independently, together. This is about evidence with honesty attached.” Dr Jenna Macciochi

---

*Self-reported feedback from a product-blinded 8-week True Skin Alchemy Inner Circle study of 55 women aged 34–55. Results reflect participant perceptions, not clinically measured outcomes. Individual experiences vary.

Closing thoughts

Running an independent, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on a finished supplement formulation is not standard practice in this industry. Many supplements rely solely on consumer feedback or ingredient-level studies. 

We did it because we believe the evidence should be as honest as the product.

The data we got back gave us something rare: consistency across every tier. The instruments recorded it. The clinicians graded it. The participants felt it. And the placebo arm barely moved. That’s why we’re communicating these results as a finding, not marketing. Peri- and post-menopausal women have been chronically underrepresented in nutritional skin research. This study was designed for them, and so was True Skin Alchemy. This evidence and the formula belong to them.

The clinical trial results are now being written up for peer review publication in a scientific journal.

Want to see how we hold every formula to this standard? Explore our Evidence Ecosystem. Alternatively, head over to our True Skin Alchemy origin story to discover the formula behind the findings.