Byrdie Product Testing, Reviews, and Recommendations

Part of our mission at Byrdie is to provide you with thorough and unbiased information on beauty and fashion products that make you feel your best. We do the heavy lifting by tapping into our wide network of experts to help recommend the best items on the market—and, in many cases, we test and review these products ourselves. The goal? To provide you with as much information as possible about each product so you can decide if it fits your needs and budget. 

If you visit links within our content, we may receive affiliate commissions from your purchases. However, our product recommendations are purely editorial, meaning we never receive any compensation for the content of our recommendations. Occasionally, beauty brands and PR agencies will send us products for coverage consideration, but our thoughts and opinions are our own.

Our Testing Process

We believe in using the products we recommend just like you would—which is why we also make it a priority to test products in real-life settings, from hot summer days (will that long-wear lipstick come off when you eat lunch?) to the right undergarments for your outfit (will that backless bra stay up?). We send products straight to our writers, editors, and testing collective so they can spend hours taking them for an IRL spin, using them as they normally would in their everyday lives.

Before testing begins, our team conducts extensive research on products we want to test by interviewing experts (from board-certified physicians and dermatologists to stylists and registered dietitians) for insights on what to look for and how to evaluate it; we also look at user reviews and manufacturer data. We marry this information with current search trends to understand what kinds of questions people are really asking about these products and how they’re using them.

Then, we develop comprehensive testing plans unique to each product category. These methodologies are designed to focus on what our readers really want to know (think: design, formula, application, and price) and replicate real-world use (like giving a deodorant the dark-shirt test or wearing eyeliner for a 12-hour day).

Testing products and subscription services at home is an important part of our process. With this real-world testing, we’re able to vet things in a more personal setting, as well as see how each one holds up over time. Our at-home testers revisit products over months and years, measuring how durable they really are.

For example, when we tested eyeliners at home, our editor created a standardized methodology to test each one. Every liner was rated on a 1-5 scale for pigment, dry time, staying power, and ease of removal. Our editor noted how many coats it took to achieve an opaque look, utilized a stopwatch to measure how long each one took to dry without smudging and wore each liner from dawn to dusk. She also tested two methods of removal with each liner—a micellar water and a cleansing balm—and judged each one based on how easily it came off the skin.

When we’re unable to personally test a product or service, our in-house research team collects extensive data and, in some cases, conducts consumer surveys to gather as much information as possible on each company being considered for inclusion in a buying guide. Together with the editorial team, our researchers compile a specific set of criteria to work off of for every category we cover, from personal styling to acne scar treatments. We also consult subject matter experts over what factors to examine.

Delivering the Results to You

After testing has concluded, we editorialize our testers’ experience and combine their insights with the hard data from our tests to provide you with easy-to-understand reasons we think these products are great (and, just as importantly, what flaws you could expect). Those results are used to guide our product selections.

Our recommended products run the gamut from budget to splurge-worthy, and we’re not loyal to any one specific retailer or brand. We source recommendations from reliable companies who deliver exemplary customer service, so you can have a seamless shopping experience.

Long-Term Testing

All of our product guides are works in progress; even after the initial trial period is done, we often test products for weeks, or even years (our at-home laser hair removal devices have been tested for nearly 32 months) to ensure they live up to our high expectations over time, too. We also know that beauty and fashion move at lightning speed (today’s serum lineup can look entirely different six months from now). That’s why we work to test the latest launches and reformulations as quickly as possible—so we can share our standout favorites with you in future updates.

How We Make Money

We receive an affiliate commission on some, but not all, of the products we recommend—but only if you decide to click through to the retailer's site and make a purchase. We only recommend trusted retailers with a proven track record for service and dependability. 

News & Deals

In today's world, it can be difficult to know what the best deals are—and how to find them. Our team of shopping experts stays up-to-date on the latest beauty, wellness, and fashion trends, scouring the internet and to cover the latest and greatest product launches, sales, and restocks. We also work around the clock on shopping holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day to ensure you get the best bang for your buck on the biggest sale days of the year. Additionally, our writers live and breathe products, working with our testers and The Lab to share their honest experiences firsthand. 

Safety

While we thoroughly research everything we review, test, and recommend, occasionally, certain products may be subject to recalls or revised use recommendations. We do our best to regularly update our content to reflect any official announcements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). We urge you to monitor information related to items you purchase.

Why Trust Byrdie

The product and service recommendations on Byrdie are completely unbiased. Occasionally, beauty brands and PR agencies will send us products for editorial consideration, but our thoughts and opinions are our own. In some cases, we purchase products to test ourselves. While we do receive an affiliate commission on a portion of the products we recommend, our recommendations are based on our personal first-hand experience—each product we recommend must earn the Byrdie Verified seal fair and square.

Every article is fact-checked for accuracy before it is published. However, you should consult your health and wellness care providers to determine if a specific product—especially a food, supplement, or device—is right for you. Read more about our editorial guidelines.

After we publish an article, we don't just forget about it. The Byrdie team is constantly working to keep our recommendations fresh, accurate, and helpful. We also know how frustrating it can be to do your research on a product only to add it to your cart and see that it's out of stock. We try to mitigate this by having dedicated editors check availability daily to provide you with the best user experience possible.

Meet Us

Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or opinions you’d like to share with our team of editors, please feel free to email us at [email protected]