My review scores, whether for the individual categories or the total, are all out of 10. Here’s a quick summary of what the score means:
- 9 – 10 This has exceeded my expectations and is truly fantastic. The chances of repurchasing are high if not guaranteed. Everyone and their mamas should buy this, like right now.
- 8 – 8.9 A great product that has met my expectations, but there were just a few minor issues that made it fall short of being fantastic. The chances of repurchasing aren’t high, but only because there are so many products I want to try out. However I’d still recommend it if it fits your skin type or concern.
- 7 – 7.9 Still a good product objectively speaking, but there were things that I personally did not like about it and were deal breakers for me. I would not repurchase this product, not because it’s bad, but I just didn’t like them that much.
- 6.9 or lower At this point it’s just a matter of how much the product sucks. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone, and I’ll list out my reasons why.
Each time I review a product, I assign a score to 5 key categories and a total score. The total score is not an average of the 5 category scores, because I weigh certain categories (eg. texture and performance) higher than others. How the individual category score is determined is based on several factors, which are listed below:
Packaging
- How efficient is the packaging for dispensing the product? Am I able to easily get the correct amount without the product going everywhere?
- If there are any active ingredients, will they stay remain stable? (The answer is no if it’s a jar)
- Is it aesthetically pleasing and well-made? I like my bathroom vanity to look pretty, don’t judge.
Ingredients
This is a tough category to score because I’m not a chemist or dermatologist and I honestly hated the sciences in school. As a result, I’m going to overlook controversial ingredients like parabens and alcohol, and instead focus on the presences of the beneficial ingredients.
- Are the key ingredients near the top of the list, or all at the bottom?
- Are there a lot of filler ingredients (eg. emulsifiers and thickeners) versus key ingredients?
- Is there reputable research to back the claims of the key ingredients? I’ll take proven ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin c over fancy plant extracts any day.
Texture & Application
- Is it easy to spread on the skin? Or is it thick and goopy like toothpaste?
- How well and quickly does it absorb?
- How is the finish? Does it leave my skin soft and smooth, or does it leave it feeling oily and congested?
- Does it cause pilling??
- Makeup only – is it easy to apply, or does it only work with specific tools?
Performance
- Does it do what it claims within the time frame it claims?
- Am I able to notice any visible improvements after using the product for 4 weeks?
- Does it break me out?
- Does it irritate my skin in any way (eg. redness, itchiness, or peeling)?
- Makeup only – how long does it stay on? does the appearance start changing throughout the day? (eg. caking, creasing, or smudging)
Color/Finish (makeup only)
- How is the color payoff? Is it flattering?
- How is the finish? Is it as expected, or does it look unnatural?
- Does it look good? (that’s the million dollar question)
- For foundations – how is the color range? Does it include warm & cool tones? Does it oxidize?
Price
- All things aside, is it affordable to the average person?
- Considering all other factors, is it a good value?
- Are there frequent sales?
As you can see, a lot of consideration goes into each category, and some of the questions are ultimately subjective. So take the numbers with a grain of salt, and think of them as an additional reference to my written review, rather than the end-all score.
If you have any questions about my scoring or feel like I’ve missed something important, the comments are open for suggestions :)
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