Some doctors say they're skeptical about a company that says it formulates personalized skin creams based on individuals' genes.

The company, Lab 21, sells skin creams at 14 malls in seven states. Employees swab customers' cheeks and send the cell samples to a lab.

The company says that for each customer, it formulates a cream based on specific variations of five genes related to skin sensitivity and aging.

"There are literally thousands of ingredients we've been using to formulate the product. It varies based on your particular skin," said Charles Ryan of Lab 21.

The cream costs $250.

Some doctors say the genetic examinations have no benefit.

"If they're expecting that they're going to buy a product that's genetically programmed for their skin, this won't accomplish what they're hoping to accomplish," said Dr. Richard Myers, a geneticist.

Some experts say that knowing about your genes doesn't mean much. For example, doctors have known the genes for Huntington's disease and breast cancer for years, but haven't yet come up with cures.

"Simply studying a DNA sample when we don't know which genes are regulating skin care is science fiction," Myers said.

The company says it isn't surprised by the criticism. It says its information is proprietary and not all scientists know about it.

"There are people we work with who are educated about the Lab 21 technology, and they would not call it snake oil. They would call it something spectacular," Ryan said.