Participate in
Clinical Research Studies
Safe, flexible, and you'll be compensated for your time!
About Our Studies
KGL Skin Study Center
Since 1984, we've worked with many pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and personal product companies testing products typically sold in drug stores, department stores, and online. We're at the forefront of skin care innovation, helping bring safe and effective products to market. Volunteers like you make this happen!
Our research spans a wide range of skincare and personal care products, including:
- Topical drugs – prescription and over-the-counter treatments
- Cleansers and moisturizers – daily skincare essentials
- Anti-aging products – wrinkle reducers, firming creams, and rejuvenating treatments
- Sunscreens – SPF products and sun protection formulations
- Makeup and cosmetics – foundations, powders, and beauty products
- Anti-acne products – treatments for breakouts and blemishes
We test new products on human skin for both safety and effectiveness. Our comprehensive approach ensures products are not only safe for consumer use but also deliver on their promised benefits.
Safety testing is primarily evaluated through patch testing, a method that's been refined over decades to accurately assess how skin reacts to new ingredients and formulations.
Effectiveness is evaluated through product use studies and clinical trials, where we measure real-world results using advanced clinical grading, photography, instrumental measurements, and volunteer feedback.
We conduct clinical trials involving both healthy volunteers and those with specific skin conditions, including:
- Acne and acne-prone skin
- Rosacea
- Psoriasis
- Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- Dry or sensitive skin
- Warts and other skin conditions
- Aging skin with wrinkles and sun damage
How It Works
We’ve made the process of becoming a volunteer and participating in studies as simple and straightforward as possible. Here’s what you can expect:
Getting started is simple and only takes about 5–10 minutes of your time. By completing our online volunteer survey, you provide essential details regarding your demographics, skin type, and any specific skin conditions. This information is then entered into our highly secure database, allowing us to build a comprehensive profile that serves as the foundation for all future study opportunities.
Once you are in our system, our team does the work for you. When a new study initiates, we search our database to automatically identify the best candidates based on specific eligibility requirements. If your skin characteristics are a match, we will reach out via your preferred contact method to explain the study duration, the treatments involved, and the exact compensation amount you will receive.
If you choose to move forward, we schedule an initial visit to answer all your questions and obtain written informed consent. During the study, you simply follow the protocol while attending scheduled assessments with our friendly medical staff. To make the process seamless, we send automated appointment reminders and provide compensation immediately following your visits via a prepaid ALine debit card.
Your safety and comfort remain our top priorities throughout the entire process. Participation is always 100% voluntary, and you are empowered to withdraw your consent at any time, for any reason, with no penalty and no questions asked. This flexible approach ensures that you can contribute to clinical science with total peace of mind, knowing that you are in control of your journey from start to finish.
Current Studies Enrolling Now
We’re currently seeking volunteers for the following studies. Each study has specific requirements, and compensation varies based on time commitment. Click below to sign up, and we’ll contact you if you’re a good match.
Safety Patch Testing
Testing new skincare ingredients and formulations for skin tolerance and allergic reactions. Short visits over several weeks.
Anti-Aging Studies
Evaluating products designed to reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture, and address visible signs of aging.
Acne Studies
Testing treatments for acne-prone skin, including cleansers, topical medications, and preventative care products.
Atopic Dermatitis
Researching products for eczema relief, skin barrier repair, and reducing inflammation and itching.
Hair Loss Studies
Evaluating topical treatments and products designed to promote hair growth and reduce hair thinning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Simply complete our online volunteer survey, which takes about 5-10 minutes. You’ll provide basic information about yourself, your skin type, and any skin conditions. This helps us match you with appropriate studies.
We contact volunteers when a study matches their profile. The timing varies based on our study schedule and your specific characteristics. Some volunteers hear from us within weeks, while others may wait longer depending on the types of studies we’re conducting.
Absolutely! Participation is entirely voluntary. When we contact you about a study, we’ll explain all the details, and you decide whether it’s right for you. There’s no obligation to participate.
About Our Studies
We test a wide range of skincare and personal care products including cleansers, moisturizers, anti-aging treatments, sunscreens, makeup, acne treatments, and topical medications. These are products you’d typically find in drug stores, department stores, or online.
Yes. All studies are overseen by board-certified dermatologists, and we follow strict safety protocols established by regulatory agencies. Products undergo extensive preliminary testing before we test them on human volunteers. Your safety is our highest priority.
It varies by study. Patch testing studies involve multiple short visits (often just 15 minutes) over 1-4 weeks. Effectiveness studies are longer, typically ranging from a few weeks to several months, with visits every 2-4 weeks that may last 30-60 minutes.
Yes, but not simultaneously. You must complete one study before enrolling in another to ensure accurate results and prevent product interactions.
We conduct studies specifically for people with sensitive skin, as well as studies for various skin conditions. When you sign up, you’ll indicate your skin type and any sensitivities, and we’ll match you with appropriate studies. In fact, many studies specifically seek participants with sensitive skin.
Participation
Please contact us as soon as possible. We’ll try to reschedule your visit, though missing visits may affect your ability to continue in certain studies since protocols often require specific timing for assessments.
Stop using the product immediately and contact us. Your safety is our priority. One of our dermatologists will assess the situation and provide appropriate care. Mild reactions are sometimes expected in testing and help us determine product safety.
Compensation
Compensation varies by study based on the time commitment, number of visits, and complexity. When we contact you about a specific study, we’ll tell you the exact compensation amount. Generally, compensation ranges from $50 to $500 or more.
Payment is made upon completion of all required visits for the study. For longer studies with many visits, some sponsors may arrange interim payments.
We pay all volunteers by check at the end each study.
What Our Volunteers Say
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what people who’ve participated in our studies have to say:
