Johns Hopkins Puts Stamp of Approval on New Cosmetics

The Wall Street Journal has an article today on a new line of skin-care products whose ads try to leap the chasm from beauty hype to scientific rigor by proclaiming that the cosmetics were tested “in consultation with Johns Hopkins Medicine.” What’s in it for Hopkins? According to the Journal, it’s money, especially important at a time of declining support for research from traditional sources, like the federal government. A Hopkins official denied the university is endorsing the Cosmedicine skin-care line. “We are reporting on the scientific validity of studies that were done by outside testing agencies,” he said.