How ION BLUE Writes About Science
Last updated: October 2, 2026
The short version: every ION BLUE guide answers the question first, cites primary sources (PubMed, peer-reviewed journals, regulatory documents), labels how strong the evidence is, and shows when it was last reviewed. We say "studied to" and "research suggests," never "proven to." When we get something wrong, we fix it and date the change.
Who writes our guides
Guides are written by Thomas Wilbur, founder of ION BLUE. ION BLUE does not currently have a physician or dermatologist reviewer. When a qualified reviewer signs off on a page, their name and credentials will appear on that page. We will never imply a review that didn't happen.
Evidence levels we use
| Label | What it means | How much weight to give it |
|---|---|---|
| Lab (in vitro) | Cells in a dish, e.g. fibroblast cultures | Shows a mechanism is possible; doesn't show it happens on your face |
| Ex vivo | Donated human skin samples tested in a lab | Closer to real skin, still not a person |
| Small human study | Controlled or open studies with small groups | Encouraging but limited |
| Review / safety assessment | Expert panels such as the Cosmetic Ingredient Review | Strong for safety; not proof of effect |
| Anecdotal | Forums, social media, personal reports | Worth knowing about; not evidence |
Our sourcing rules
- Primary sources first: the study itself, not a blog summarizing it.
- Every regulatory statement links to the agency's own page and carries an "as of" date.
- Lab findings are described as lab findings, never as product results.
- We don't link to, dose or recommend injectable peptides.
- We don't make disease or drug claims. ION BLUE products are cosmetics.
- When we compare brands, we use only what each brand publishes, with a link and the date we checked.
Corrections
Found an error or a newer study? Email us through the contact page. We review every correction, update the page, and change its "Last reviewed" date.
Our full reference library: GHK-Cu research library.