Evergreen monthly benchmark — May 28
Skincare
Research by Robert Hu · Published by RecoScope ·
- Usable answers
- 12/12
- Models
- 4
- Prompt types
- 3
Included: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity
Report history · May 28 selected · 9 snapshots
Key takeaway
For a late-20s skincare buyer, AI routes to La Roche-Posay and CeraVe as the twin pillars - tied at 12 mentions and splitting the #1 slot two-to-two (La Roche-Posay for ChatGPT and Gemini, CeraVe for Claude and Perplexity) - with EltaMD for sunscreen and SkinCeuticals as the splurge. There is no single category winner this run. Below the top two, a brand is effectively invisible unless it owns a narrow slot (sunscreen, budget actives, K-beauty) in a specific model.
Mention Frequency Trend
Brands ordered by mention count in each run. Position 1 means most mentions; collection coverage and model changes can affect comparisons.
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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
| Agent | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | CeraVe | La Roche-Posay | EltaMD |
| Claude | CeraVe | TruSkin | Neutrogena |
| Gemini | La Roche-Posay | SkinCeuticals | EltaMD |
| Perplexity | La Roche-Posay | CeraVe | EltaMD |
What This Means
- All four models anchor on La Roche-Posay and CeraVe but split on which leads.
- ChatGPT (commerce-formatted, price-tagged SKU lists) and Gemini (expansive, trend-aware) both put La Roche-Posay #1.
- Claude (product-led, routine-building around CeraVe and Differin, uniquely surfacing Olay and ~$6 The Ordinary retinol) and Perplexity (authority-citation-driven, widest legacy set including Aveeno, Eucerin, Bioderma) both put CeraVe #1.
- Gemini uniquely surfaces K-beauty (Beauty of Joseon) and indie brands (Maelove, Naturium, Dieux, Youth To The People, The Inkey List); Perplexity surfaces the broadest dermatologist-authority set.
- The two brands are separated by razor-thin aggregate margins - they tie on total mentions and trade the #1 slot two-for-two.
Findings and Limitations
- Skincare is the most fragmented and contestable category tracked - the long tail of single-model brands is larger than any other category, meaning many real brands surface in exactly one engine.
- K-beauty is almost entirely Gemini-only (Beauty of Joseon), and indie/DTC actives brands (Maelove, Timeless, Naturium, Dieux, The Inkey List, TruSkin) cluster in one or two models with no cross-model consensus.
- Notably absent given retail presence: Cetaphil, Olay (only one mention), Garnier, Pond's, Drunk Elephant, Glossier, Kiehl's, Tatcha, and most prestige-department-store brands.
- No prestige or masstige brand cracks the dermatologist-recommended core, which is entirely drugstore and medical-grade.
Recurring themes in the answers
- The brands AI favors share dermatologist-developed positioning, ceramide or barrier-repair formulation, fragrance-free gentle profiles, and wide US drugstore availability.
- Every model converges on the same routine architecture - gentle cleanser, vitamin C (AM), retinol/retinoid (PM), and SPF as the single most-emphasized anti-aging step - and recommends introducing one active at a time.
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 am a 28-year-old woman looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
ChatGPT P1: Simple starter routine - cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, one nighttime active. Products: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser ($19.99), CeraVe AM Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50 ($15.87), EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 ($41.49), RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Cream ($28.49), La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light SPF 60, Paulas Choice Vitamin C SPF 50 ($45), Neutrogena Hydro Boost SPF 50 ($23.99), La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct SPF 70. Best picks: sunscreen EltaMD UV Clear, budget SPF CeraVe AM, cleanser La Roche-Posay Toleriane, beginner retinol RoC, glow upgrade Paulas Choice Vitamin C.
Claude · Prompt 1Usable answer
I am a 28-year-old woman looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
Claude P1: Core routine. AM: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (~$14) or La Roche-Posay Toleriane; TruSkin Vitamin C Serum (~$20) budget or SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (~$180) splurge; Neutrogena Hydro Boost or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream; SPF EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 (~$40), budget La Roche-Posay Anthelios. PM: cleanser, retinol Differin Gel (~$13 adapalene) or The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% (~$6), CeraVe PM moisturizer. SPF is the #1 anti-aging product.
Gemini · Prompt 1Usable answer
I am a 28-year-old woman looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
Gemini P1: Prevention-focused at 28. Cleanse: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. Protect: EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 or La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk SPF 60. Vitamin C: Maelove The Glow Maker or Timeless Vitamin C + E Ferulic. Retinol: SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 or The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane. Moisturize: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
Perplexity · Prompt 1Usable answer
I am a 28-year-old woman looking for the best skincare products. What would you recommend?
Perplexity P1: Simple cleanser + moisturizer + sunscreen + one active. Cleanser CeraVe Hydrating or Foaming. Moisturizer CeraVe PM, La Roche-Posay Toleriane, or ceramide cream. Sunscreen broad-spectrum SPF 30+. Vitamin C morning. Retinol low-strength OTC at night 2-3x weekly. AAD-backed approach: SPF most important anti-aging step. Pick list: gentle cleanser, ceramide moisturizer, SPF 30+, vitamin C AM, low-strength retinol PM.
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