My team and I recently reviewed the Isomers skin care line on www.Beautypedia.com. Within hours of the full review being posted, the Isomers forum (on the company’s Web site) was buzzing with comments, mostly in defense of Isomers. I certainly understand consumers wanting to defend the products they’re using, and without question there were many Isomers products that didn’t get a favorable review (yet many also received happy face ratings). What really struck me was the catty response from Manuela Marcheggiani, a co-owner and spokesperson for Isomers on www.shopnbc.com. I’m not going to post what she wrote, but the summation of her defense to my reviews (which, as always, are based on published, substantiated research or the lack thereof, not my personal opinion of the products) included the following:

• I’m self-serving so what I have to say doesn’t matter
• I look too old, so I couldn’t possibly be using good products to take care of my skin
• My background as a makeup artist disqualifies me from possibly knowing anything else other than how to paint faces
• I’m not respected by any professional associations or professionals in the cosmetics industry
• My reviews are meant to serve as a distraction to make my readers feel insecure and keep them from finding “their own truths”
• The only reason I negatively review a product is to make myself feel better (so according to her, the crux of my work is about nothing more than stroking my ego)

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea. Here is what I wrote in response to Manuela’s comments; feel free to comment about this on my blog. I look forward to your feedback, for better or worse (I can take it, so don’t hold back if you’re upset about my review of Isomers):

My goodness, not exactly loving, but definitely filled with feelings (a bit insulting but I’m sure you feel I insulted you so perhaps we can call it even and change karma.) Nonetheless, I do my work based on published research so let me state what I believe to be true by the facts and then we can simply agree to disagree.

• I have sold over 3 million books since 1984.
• I am a member of the Society for Cosmetic Chemists.
• I have presented papers at dermatology conferences around the world.
• I have consulted with many dermatology practices and pharmaceutical companies over the years (I used to be a formulary consultant).
• My books are in dermatology offices around the world (at least those that don’t sell skin care products).
• I have developed products for other cosmetic companies.
• I had a science background in college and continue to follow scientific advances and studies.
• I do love selling my books and selling my products (I assume you love selling your products too).
• I am the only cosmetic company in the world that recommends hundreds of other products besides my own. How self-serving can any company be who isn’t afraid to say someone else has great products too and give them great big happy faces when they do and publish that information?

If you or someone in your company will send me the published research disputing the facts in my review (which we called and asked for before we wrote a word, we were told once that there wasn’t any and the next time that it wasn’t available to the public) I will alter my reviews. For example, what evidence is there, except from the manufacturer, that matrixyl or Accelerated Recovery Complex has benefit for skin in comparison to other products or even by itself. Please provide me any and all research you have and I will be glad to correct any errors.

Paula Begoun, Author Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me and www.beautypedia.com