Evergreen monthly benchmark — Apr 17
Skincare
Research by Robert Hu · Published by RecoScope ·
- Usable answers
- 12/12
- Models
- 4
- Prompt types
- 3
Included: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity
Report history · Apr 17 selected · 9 snapshots
Key takeaway
The skincare category has a two-tier AI recommendation structure: CeraVe and La Roche-Posay dominate as universally-recommended foundations, while premium (SkinCeuticals) and budget (The Ordinary) fill specific niches. Legacy drugstore brands (Neutrogena, Olay) hold modest ground. Celebrity-driven brands (Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley) appear mostly in ChatGPT — a signal they're commerce-influenced rather than evidence-backed.
Mention Frequency Trend
Brands ordered by mention count in each run. Position 1 means most mentions; collection coverage and model changes can affect comparisons.
Scroll sideways to see all dates and labels.
Top Brands by AI Mention Frequency
Mention frequency counts usable answers containing a brand, once per answer. Unranked and critical mentions count as visibility. Recommendation ranks are shown separately below.
Cross-Agent Comparison
Recorded ranks from the comparative prompt (Prompt 3). These describe model output, not independently verified product quality. Historical parsing conventions may differ.
4/4 models with recorded ranks
The Ordinary has a mention count of 8 but is outside the displayed comparison. Mention frequency and response rank measure different things.
| Agent | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | La Roche-Posay | CeraVe | Paula's Choice |
| Claude | CeraVe | La Roche-Posay | EltaMD |
| Gemini | SkinCeuticals | La Roche-Posay | CeraVe |
| Perplexity | La Roche-Posay | CeraVe | Neutrogena |
The Ordinary·8 mentions, outside the displayed comparison | |||
What This Means
- ChatGPT is the most brand-diverse, uniquely surfacing Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley, Shiseido, Olay, and Dermalogica in its top picks.
- Claude is the most opinionated, explicitly calling out brands to skip (Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley, Tatcha, Augustinus Bader) as overpriced marketing.
- Gemini surfaces the widest range of niche and trending brands (Naturium, Prequel, Dieux, Timeless, Skinfix, Good Molecules, Cosrx, Alastin) that no other model mentions.
- Perplexity is the most conservative and consolidated, sticking to the 5 most-cited evidence-based brands.
Findings and Limitations
- Timeless, Dieux, Prequel, Skinfix, Cosrx, and Naturium only appear in Gemini.
- Drunk Elephant only appears in ChatGPT and Gemini.
- Sunday Riley and Shiseido only appear in ChatGPT.
- Good Molecules only appears in Gemini.
- Alastin only appears in Gemini.
- only appears in Perplexity.
- Cetaphil only appears in Perplexity.
- SkinMedica appears only in Claude and Gemini.
- Obagi only appears in Claude.
- Major brands like Olay, Kiehl's, Clinique, Estée Lauder, and Murad are largely absent or barely mentioned.
Recurring themes in the answers
- All four models emphasize that sunscreen is the single highest-ROI product in skincare.
Inspect the captured answers
Saved response text is model output. Product and health claims are unverified. Tables and cards may be transcribed as text; source labels can remain. Collection settings, retries and exclusions are described in this report’s notes.
ChatGPT · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 29-year-old woman living in the US who's getting more serious about my skincare routine. I'm looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
Top picks: NY Post Remedy 3-Step Kit $19.99. Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum $68. Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C Cream $65. Shiseido Urban Environment SPF 42 $31.20. Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Retinol $30.44.
Claude · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 29-year-old woman living in the US who's getting more serious about my skincare routine. I'm looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
Core routine: 1. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or La Roche-Posay Toleriane. 2. Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400, EltaMD UV Clear. 3. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or PM Facial Lotion. 4. Retinoid: adapalene Differin OTC or prescription tretinoin via Curology/Nurx.
Gemini · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 29-year-old woman living in the US who's getting more serious about my skincare routine. I'm looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
AM: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Cleanser or Prequel Gleanser. Timeless Vitamin C or Skinfix Brighten + Firm. Vanicream Daily Moisturizer or Dieux Air Angel. EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 or Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun. PM: Clinique Take The Day Off Balm or The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser. Naturium Retinaldehyde or Prequel Retinal Renew. CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream or SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid. Trending: Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid.
Perplexity · Prompt 1Usable answer
I'm a 29-year-old woman living in the US who's getting more serious about my skincare routine. I'm looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
Cleanser: CeraVe, Cetaphil, Vanicream, La Roche-Posay Toleriane. Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios, CeraVe facial SPF. Moisturizer: CeraVe PM, Neutrogena Hydro Boost, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast. Retinoid: OTC retinol starter. Evidence-based core routine emphasis.
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