The short version
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Commissions help keep this site ad-free and let us spend more time on independent testing.
What an affiliate link is (and isn't)
An affiliate link is a normal product link that includes a
referral parameter (e.g., ?tag=... or
?aff=...). When you click it and complete a
purchase, the merchant pays a small commission to the site that
referred you. It costs you nothing — the price you see is the
price you pay.
It's not:
- An ad — we don't run display ads or pop-ups
- A tracking pixel — the merchant only knows you came from us if you click the specific link, not just by visiting the page
- A subscription or auto-charge — clicking is just visiting their product page
How to spot one in our posts
When we use an affiliate link, you'll see one or more of these signals near or around it:
- A note at the top of the article: "This post contains affiliate links — see our disclosure"
- An inline tag next to the link: (affiliate) or [affiliate]
- For sponsored / paid posts: a clear banner at the top — "Sponsored by [Brand]" or "In partnership with [Brand]"
If a link in a post is not labeled, it's a regular editorial reference, not affiliated.
Editorial independence
This is the part that matters most. We commit to:
- Affiliate relationships never influence verdicts. We've published positive reviews of products with no affiliate program, and called out flaws in products that pay us best. The rating reflects the product, not the deal.
- We buy most of what we test ourselves. When a brand sends a product for review, we say so in that specific post — usually as "Sample provided by [Brand]; opinions are mine."
- We don't accept "review for guaranteed coverage" deals. Brands can send samples, but we make no commitment to publish.
- We don't accept "edit my review" requests. Brands sometimes ask. We say no.
You always have a non-affiliate option
Every affiliate link has an obvious alternative: search the product name on your retailer of choice (Amazon, Sephora, the brand's own site). The product is the same, the price is the same; the only difference is whether we get credited for the referral. Both are completely fine.
Programs we currently participate in
This list reflects active programs as of the date above. We update it whenever it changes.
- Amazon Associates Program — a wide range of merchant-fulfilled and Amazon-fulfilled products
- ShareASale — selected beauty, skincare, and wellness merchants
- Impact Radius — selected apparel and lifestyle merchants
- Direct affiliate programs with brands we cover regularly (e.g., Beautikini, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe — list updated as relationships change)
Each network has its own privacy practices when you click a referral link. See our Privacy Policy section on third-party processors and the network's own privacy page (linked there).
Sponsored content
Distinct from affiliate links, a sponsored post is one a brand has paid us to publish (or paid for placement within an existing post). When this happens:
- The post carries a clear top-of-page banner: "Sponsored by [Brand]" or "Paid partnership with [Brand]".
- It still goes through our normal editorial process — the brand can suggest topics and review for factual accuracy, but cannot dictate the verdict or edit our opinion.
- We will not publish a paid post about a product we don't personally believe in.
- We disclose any free product or compensation in addition to the standard label.
Why this disclosure exists
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires bloggers, reviewers, and content creators to disclose material connections to brands — including affiliate commissions and free products — clearly and conspicuously. The UK ASA, EU consumer-protection directives, and many other jurisdictions have equivalent rules. We comply with all of them.
Beyond legal obligation, we agree with the rule on principle: you deserve to know when an opinion might be financially incentivized, so you can weigh it accordingly. Disclosure is table stakes for trust, not a burden.
Revenue beyond affiliates
The site is funded by:
- Affiliate commissions (described above)
- Occasional sponsored posts (clearly labeled, see above)
- Newsletter (free; no paid tier as of the date above)
We do not run banner ads, accept paid backlinks, sell sponsored anchors inside otherwise-unrelated posts, or accept payment for inclusion in "best of" lists.
Questions, corrections, or concerns
Spot something on the site that looks like it should have been disclosed but wasn't? Tell us — email [email protected] with the URL and what you noticed. We take this seriously and will correct any oversight quickly and publicly.
For wider context, see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.