How We Pick: Our Editorial Policy

Beauty Picked exists to make choosing skincare, hair and beauty products a little less overwhelming. This page explains exactly how our guides and roundups are made, including what we don't do, so you can decide how much weight to give them.

Research, not testing

Our picks are based on research. We do not claim to have tested the products we write about, and you won't see "we tested" or "I tried" on this site. Every article is marked as not tested by default, and untested articles end with a note explaining what the picks are based on.

Instead of personal testing, we bring together what reliable sources say about each product and each concern, check it against the product's own details, and explain the trade-offs in plain language. When an independent tester has used a product, we credit them by name and link to their review, so it is clear whose experience it is.

If we ever do test a product ourselves, the article will say exactly what was tested, by whom and how.

The sources we use

We prefer sources in roughly this order, and every article lists the sources it relied on in a "Sources & how we picked" section with links:

1. Brand and ingredient pages. The brand's own product page and ingredient list are the source for the basic facts: product name, size, ingredients, the skin or hair type it is designed for, and what the brand says it does.
2. Dermatology and regulatory bodies. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) for skin and hair care guidance, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for how cosmetics and over-the-counter products such as sunscreen are regulated and labelled.
3. Peer-reviewed research. Published studies (usually found through PubMed) when we explain how an ingredient works or what the evidence for it looks like.
4. Named editorial testers. Reviews from publications that test products and say how, such as Wirecutter, the Good Housekeeping Institute and Allure, always credited by name with a link.

We don't use anonymous forum posts, unnamed "experts" or invented reviewers as a source of facts. Reader questions from forums can shape what we write about, but not what we claim.

Brand claims are labelled as brand claims

When a fact comes only from the brand (for example, what a product is "designed to" do or a result from a brand-run study), we say so: "the brand says" or "according to the brand", with a link. We don't present a brand's marketing as an independent finding. We don't invent ratings, quotes, awards, specifications or ingredient percentages.

Cosmetic wording, not medical claims

Skincare and hair products are cosmetics, so we describe them in cosmetic terms: a product "helps hair look smoother" or "is designed for dry skin". We don't say a cosmetic treats, cures, heals or prevents any condition. In the US, sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug, so we describe sunscreens only with label language such as the SPF number, "broad spectrum" and "water resistant (40 or 80 minutes)".

Pages that touch on health concerns such as acne, scalp conditions, hair thinning and sun protection carry a note that they are general information, not medical advice. See our Medical Disclaimer.

No prices, and no deals

We don't show prices or chase deals. Prices on Amazon change constantly, so we give each product a budget label (Drugstore, Mid-range or Splurge) instead. Our Affiliate Disclosure explains why.

How we use AI

We want to be straightforward about this. AI tools help us research and draft articles. They help us find and read sources, organise product details, and write first drafts in our house style.

To keep that honest:

• Every product fact is tied to a linked source. Product names, ingredients, sizes, suitability and brand claims come from the sources listed on the page, and we keep a record of which source supports each claim.
• Automated checks in the site's code test every article for prices, deal language, testing claims and incorrectly tagged Amazon links.
• We correct errors when we find them or when readers point them out (see below).

We are not claiming more than that. Our articles are not reviewed by dermatologists or other medical professionals, and we don't claim expert review or hands-on testing.

How we earn money, and why it doesn't decide the picks

We earn a commission when readers buy through our Amazon links. No brand pays to be included, and we don't publish sponsored content. Commission is not one of the criteria we use to choose products. Read the full Affiliate Disclosure.

Updates

Products are reformulated, renamed and discontinued. Each article shows the date it was last updated, and we revise articles when we learn that a product or a fact has changed.

Corrections

If you think something on the site is wrong, out of date or unclear, please tell us at hello@beautypicked.com. Include the page address and what you think should change, with a source if you have one. We review every correction request, fix confirmed errors as soon as we can, and update the article's "Last updated" date when we make a substantive change.