Terms of Service
Effective date: 28 August 2026 · Version 1.0
Governing law: Republic of South Africa · Contact: legal@skinlabs.co.za
Foundational criteria. All content, SKYNN AI outputs, scores, routines and recommendations on the Platform are for general educational and cosmetic-information purposes only. They do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. They are not a substitute for consultation with an HPCSA-registered healthcare practitioner. SkinLabs is not a medical device manufacturer or healthcare provider under SAHPRA frameworks for diagnostic purposes. This non-diagnostic methodology is a foundational design criterion across the entire Platform architecture, including special personal information processing under POPIA.
1. Acceptance of these Terms
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the SkinLabs® website, SKYNN AI tools, content, subscription services, marketplace features and any related applications or services (collectively, the “Platform”) operated by SkinLabs® (“SkinLabs”, “we”, “us” or “our”). By accessing or using the Platform, creating an account, starting a free trial, or purchasing any paid service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Refund Policy, Editorial Policy and Community Guidelines. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.
These Terms constitute a binding agreement under South African law, including the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA), the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
2. Description of the Platform
SkinLabs provides evidence-oriented skincare intelligence tailored to South African skin, climate and product availability. Features include (subject to availability and tier):
- Editorial content, product reviews, comparisons (“Shelf Showdowns”), rankings and educational briefings
- SKYNN AI — an AI-powered cosmetic skin-assessment and routine-suggestion tool (BETA)
- Subscription memberships (Glow Explorer free tier; Glow Insider and Glow VIP paid tiers)
- Credit packs for additional AI analyses
- Practitioner directory and (when live) booking of virtual consultations with independent HPCSA-registered practitioners
- Multivendor marketplace features in which SkinLabs may act as a payment-collection agent for listed third-party sellers
3. SKYNN AI and special personal information
Use of SKYNN AI involves the collection and processing of photographic images and derived skin metrics. Under POPIA these may constitute special personal information. By using SKYNN AI you acknowledge that:
- Processing is limited to cosmetic skin assessment and personalised routine suggestions — not medical diagnosis
- Explicit consent is required before image capture or upload
- Raw images are retained only for the short period needed to complete analysis (unless you save results)
- We do not use images for facial recognition or identity verification
- Full details are set out in our Privacy Policy
4. Eligibility and accounts
You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) and capable of entering a binding contract to use paid features or create an account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account. You must provide accurate information and update it promptly. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or applicable law.
5. Subscriptions, trials, billing and cancellation
Paid memberships (Glow Insider, Glow VIP and any future tiers) are offered on monthly or annual cycles. Prices are displayed in South African Rand (ZAR) and include applicable VAT where we are registered. A free trial of Glow Insider may be offered (currently free until 1 November 2026 under a limited-time promotion, no card required). Starting a free trial forfeits the 30-day money-back guarantee that otherwise applies to direct paid subscriptions. Full details appear in our Refund Policy.
Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period unless cancelled via your account dashboard before the renewal date. You may cancel at any time; access continues until the end of the current paid period. You authorise us (and our processors) to charge the payment method on file for recurring fees and any applicable taxes. We may change pricing or features with reasonable notice. Fixed-term consumer agreements are subject to CPA section 14 limits where applicable.
6. 30-day money-back guarantee (summary)
Every paid SkinLabs membership purchased by direct subscription (without first starting a free trial) is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you start a free trial, you forfeit that guarantee for that plan. See the full Refund Policy for credit packs, consultation bookings and marketplace rules.
7. Credit packs and marketplace
Credit packs for additional SKYNN AI analyses are non-transferable and subject to the Refund Policy. When the multivendor marketplace is live, SkinLabs acts solely as a payment-collection and facilitation agent for listed third-party sellers. Contracts for goods or services sold on the marketplace are between you and the relevant seller. SkinLabs is not the seller of those items unless expressly stated. Seller terms, delivery and product liability rest primarily with the seller, subject to any non-excludable CPA rights.
8. Virtual dermatologist consultations
When available, virtual consultations are provided by independent HPCSA-registered practitioners. SkinLabs facilitates booking and payment collection only. The practitioner–patient relationship is solely between you and the practitioner. Practitioners must comply with HPCSA ethical rules (including Booklet 16 and telemedicine guidance). SkinLabs does not provide clinical care, does not employ the practitioners for clinical purposes, and does not accept liability for clinical decisions. Consultations are not a substitute for emergency care.
9. User obligations and acceptable use
You agree not to:
- Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms or Community Guidelines
- Upload unlawful, harmful, infringing, defamatory or misleading content
- Attempt to reverse-engineer, scrape, overload or interfere with the Platform or SKYNN AI
- Misrepresent AI outputs or SkinLabs content as medical advice
- Share account credentials or allow unauthorised access
- Use automated means to access the Platform without our prior written permission
10. Intellectual property
All content, trademarks, logos, software, databases (including structured product/ingredient data), AI models, methodologies (including climate-fit scoring) and design elements on the Platform are owned by or licensed to SkinLabs and are protected by South African and international intellectual-property laws. You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and use the Platform for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell or create derivative works except as expressly permitted.
User-generated content remains yours; by posting you grant SkinLabs a worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display and distribute it in connection with the Platform.
11. Disclaimers
THE PLATFORM AND ALL CONTENT AND AI OUTPUTS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY SOUTH AFRICAN LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT RESULTS WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. SKYNN AI RESULTS ARE ESTIMATES BASED ON VISIBLE CHARACTERISTICS AND AVAILABLE DATA; THEY ARE NOT CLINICALLY VALIDATED DIAGNOSES.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any rights that cannot be excluded under the CPA or other mandatory consumer legislation.
12. Limitation of liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SKINLABS AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM OR RELIANCE ON ANY CONTENT OR AI OUTPUT. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR R1 000 IF YOU HAVE PAID NOTHING. THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. MANDATORY CPA REMEDIES REMAIN AVAILABLE WHERE APPLICABLE.
13. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless SkinLabs and its officers, directors, employees and agents from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your use of the Platform, your content, your breach of these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.
14. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access immediately if you breach these Terms, create risk or legal exposure for us, or for prolonged inactivity. You may stop using the Platform at any time and cancel paid subscriptions as described above. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases; provisions that by their nature should survive (including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitations of liability and indemnity) will survive.
15. Governing law and dispute resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Subject to any mandatory consumer rights of access to courts or tribunals (including the National Consumer Tribunal or Consumer Goods and Services Ombud where applicable), any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa. Nothing prevents either party from seeking urgent interim relief.
16. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified by updating the Effective Date, posting a notice on the Platform and/or emailing registered users. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms, subject always to non-excludable statutory rights.
17. General
If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force. Our failure to enforce any right is not a waiver. These Terms, together with the policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and SkinLabs regarding the Platform and supersede prior agreements on the same subject. You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition or sale of assets.