About Me

Inspired by a food blogger I admire who shared her code of ethics, I wanted to share how I approach reviewing products and what my own code of ethics looks like.

I started reviewing skincare products in 2017 as a hobby and a way to keep track of what worked for me. Over time, that naturally expanded into reviewing pretty much any product I use, wear, and truly enjoy. As the platform grew, so did my responsibility to be clear about how and why I review things.

There’s a food blogger I love to follow, beyond beurre blanc., who has a post outlining her code of ethics for reviewing restaurants. I really appreciated how clearly she laid out what guides her work, and it got me thinking that I should do the same. So, here’s a straightforward look at how I approach reviewing products and what my own code of ethics looks like.

My Code of Ethics

Honesty and Trust Come First

My integrity and honesty are non-negotiable. I’ll never lie or misrepresent my experience with a product. Maintaining the trust of my audience matters more to me than maintaining relationships with brands.

How I Test Products

I test products rigorously and over time. If I had to describe my style of reviewing products, I think I’d use the word thorough. Whenever possible, I try to control for confounding factors so I can better understand what a product is actually doing. That often means slower reviews and longer testing periods. And when I do give “first impressions” I’ll always be sure to include caveats about what I still don’t know.

On that note, I also tend to share more context than most, because I believe caveats matter (it’s the scientist in me 😉) . Skin type, routine changes, concurrent treatments, and expectations all affect outcomes, and I think it’s important to acknowledge those limitations rather than oversimplify results.

Photos and Visual Evidence

I love to document things. That includes taking A LOT of photos. If I share before-and-after photos, they will never be altered in a way that skews the honest interpretation of results. I may adjust lighting or color balance to better match what I see in real life, but I do not manipulate images to exaggerate outcomes.

I’ve invested in consistent lighting to standardize photos as much as possible (it isn’t perfect, but it’s better. I dream of having a VISIA machine by Canfield Scientific, but it’s insanely expensive). If I can’t achieve reasonably comparable lighting, angles, and poses, I just won’t share the before-and-afters at all.

Gifting and Disclosure

I only accept gifted products when there are no strings attached. Meaning, if I accept a product that there has to be no requirement to post about it, review it, or mention it publicly. I’ve taken myself off nearly all PR lists because I don’t like being blindly sent products. It often feels wasteful, and it can create pressure I don’t want. One thing I do appreciate, though, is how the affiliate platform ShopMy handles gifting. Because brands reach out through the platform, there’s a built-in barrier between creators and brands. That’s very different from being contacted directly via Instagram DMs or email, where there can be more back-and-forth and, at times, pressure for feedback. ShopMy makes it easy for me to accept gifting without any strings attached, which I really value.

I generally avoid “unboxing” content because I believe that simply showing a product can function as an implicit endorsement. Since I may ultimately dislike a product, I prefer to wait until I’ve tested it thoroughly before sharing any thoughts.

If a product is gifted, I always disclose that clearly. While gifting does not change how I evaluate a product, I firmly believe my audience deserves to know when a product was sent to me for free. On that note, when reviewing gifted items, I am especially mindful of the price of the product and I always ask myself whether I think it is “worth the money” for me. Everyone has different budgets, so I will talk about my approach to considering the cost of a product in a future post.

I will also always disclose when a link that I share is commissionable. And for what it’s worth, I also share links that are not commissionable (I end up labeling those as “ not commissionable” because unfortunately the overarching trend online is to not disclose commissionable links, so I don’t want the omission of that disclosure to default to people thinking that I’m not disclosing a commissionable link)

Purchasing Products Myself

Whenever possible, I purchase products myself for testing. I am largely able to do this because using the income earned through commissions (so thank you to everyone that purchases through my links or codes💗). I also sometimes receive Dermstore credits, which I often use as an opportunity to try luxury products people have specifically asked me to review.

If a gifted product reaches what I would consider “holy grail” status, I make a point to repurchase it with my own money. My reasoning is that if I can’t realistically continue buying something myself, I don’t think it’s fair to repeatedly recommend it to folks who are not getting it for free.

With small businesses in particular, I try to purchase products rather than accept gifting once I know I love a product. In some cases, brands may send replenishments without me asking. When that happens, it is outside my control, but I always try to support them by buying their products when I can.

Sponsored Content

I only accept sponsored posts for products I genuinely like and would talk about regardless of being paid to do so. I require full creative freedom and will not follow scripted talking points or suppress criticism.

Sponsored content is reviewed by the brand prior to posting. If a brand asks me to make changes that compromise my honesty or accuracy, I will terminate the sponsorship.

All paid partnerships are clearly disclosed, as required by law. I do not hide or obscure “AD” or “sponsored” disclosures in captions, images, or formatting. It will be clear as day.

Accuracy, Expertise, and Updating Information

I strive to share accurate, well-researched information. I have a Masters in Mass Communication and a PhD in Communication¹ and formal training and nearly 15 years of experience in research methods, data analysis, and evidence evaluation, but skincare is not my academic field. This account is a personal interest, not a professional credential.

I’m not a dermatologist, I’m not an expert in cosmetic formulation, and I’m not qualified to give medical advice about your skin. What I am trained to do is evaluate evidence, think experimentally, and assess how people interpret claims and make decisions. My background shapes how I test products and devices, how I try to control variables when possible, how I interpret results, and how comfortable I am sitting with uncertainty. I have a general love of data, and that mindset influences how I evaluate claims, weigh trade-offs, and decide what I do and do not feel comfortable recommending.

If I get something wrong, or if the scientific evidence evolves, I will update my position accordingly. Revising conclusions in light of new information is not a failure. It’s a core principle of good science.

Values and Accountability

I will not review or promote brands that I know to be racist or discriminatory. I have used, and will continue to use, my platform to speak out against social injustice, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular.

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These principles exist to hold me accountable. If you ever feel I’ve fallen short of them, I welcome your feedback and correction.

1. I’m a public health research scientist with over a decade of experience designing and evaluating evidence-based strategies that help people understand health information and make better decisions. My work sits at the intersection of communication strategy, consumer and clinician decision-making, and regulatory science. My expertise includes behavior change theories, theory-based communication strategy, experimental and survey design, survey instrument development, data analysis and interpretation, literature and systematic reviews, and research translation for policy and practice. I’ve spent over 13 years evaluating HIV prevention and testing initiatives funded by the CDC, including serving as lead evaluator for multiple national social marketing campaigns focused on reducing HIV stigma and increasing uptake of HIV prevention strategies, including biomedical interventions. I’ve also spent over a decade in regulatory science, partnering with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to lead and advise FDA-funded studies examining how patients and healthcare providers interpret prescription drug information and act on it.