The cosmetics industry never stands still – new ingredients, new technologies, new trends, some more relevant than others. Helena Rubinstein, one of the great pioneers of modern cosmetics, once remarked:
Satisfaction means stagnation! – Helena Rubinstein
Nowhere is this more true than here.
But this very dynamic industry makes it hard to keep track: the market is vast, the promises are loud – and honest, well-founded information is hard to come by. Thats exactly, why Let’s talk about Cosmetics, exists.
Honesty is the first step to the book of wisdom – Thomas Jefferson
Jump to:
- More than just product tests
- Why you can trust me
- I buy what I test
- What I test
- How I test products
- How long I test
- Unsolicited products
- How I fund myself
More than just product tests
I research and write about cosmetic topics, ingredients and their coherences – for example: What’s really behind an SPF? What do certain ingredients mean for you and your skin condition? Which marketing claims hold up to scientific scrutiny – and which don’t?
I don’t judge by good or bad, natural or synthetic – what counts is efficacy and skin compatibility. Period.
Good research takes time – sometimes just as long as a four-week product test. I read studies, verify sources and question everything before I publish. No hasty quick shots.
And of course I also test products – according to a fixed framework, so my reviews stay comparable and you always know what’s important.
This applies to everything I do: I dive deep, verify sources and tell you what’s really behind the claims. I’ll tell you what I know – and what I don’t know, I’ll tell you, too. Uncomfortable truths included – promised.
The person behind the reviews
I don’t write, test and review as a hobbyist. I am a trained druggist and beautician with hands-on salon experience, have worked for years in sales for leading cosmetics companies – including Shiseido, Clinique, Dior, BOBBI BROWN and Mavala – and hold my engineer degree with a B.Sc. in Cosmetic & Detergent Technology. I know what’s in an INCI list, how formulations work, what marketing claims mean – and what’s really behind them. If you want to know more about my background, experience and passions, head over to → About me
I buy what I test
No sponsoring. No collaborations. No product placements. No products in exchange for payment or any other consideration. What you read here, I have bought myself and tried on my own skin – with my own money. That’s why you won’t find a “Partners” tab here. It simply doesn’t exist.
What I test
From drugstore to luxury, from mass market to professional cosmetics – I test across all price ranges and categories. Because a €5 cleanser can outperform a €50 one. Or not. You’ll find out here.
My wish: every Cosmetista finds her favourite products – regardless of budget.
The categories I cover:
- Affordable – accessible, everyday products
- Prestige – mid-to-high range department store brands
- Luxury – the crème de la crème, worth it or not?
- Natural & organic cosmetics – tested by the same criteria, no bonus points for being “natural”
- Professional cosmetics – salon-grade products for home use
- Indie – independent, often innovative smaller brands worth discovering
One thing stays the same across all categories: the same framework, the same standards, the same honesty. No preferential treatment for expensive brands – and no automatic skepticism toward affordable ones.
How I test products
I evaluate every product according to a fixed framework – so my reviews stay comparable and you always know what I’m looking at:
Packaging & first impressions:
- How is the product packaged: functional or excessive?
- Value for money (quantity, price per ml/g)
- Sustainability of the packaging
- INCI list – completeness & transparency
- Order of ingredients
- Shelf life/expiry date
- Country of manufacture
Recommended for / skin condition:
- Suitable for which skin condition?
- Not suitable for which skin condition?
Product properties:
- Texture/consistency
- Scent
- Colour/appearance
- Product-specific criteria depending on category
Application:
- Dosage & handling
- Contact time/application duration
- Skin compatibility during application
- Creams and serums are applied on one side of the face to compare changes directly.
- Cleansers, exfoliants and masks are applied at different frequencies, depending on the category. You’ll find the exact application frequency in each individual review post.
And because neck and décolleté are naturally part of the face, they are always included in treatment and evaluation.
Ingredient analysis
- Active ingredients & concentration
- Potentially problematic ingredients
- Does the marketing claim match the ingredients?
Results
- Immediate effect
- Long-term effect
My personal conclusion
Numbers and criteria are one thing – but sometimes it comes down to gut feeling. If I love a product or can’t stand it, I’ll say so. Straight and direct.
How long I test
The testing period depends on what a product actually promises – and how long skin realistically needs to show results:
- Quick wins (hydration, freshness, cleansing) → 4 weeks
- The middle ground (smoothing, pores, first signs of firming) → 8 weeks
- The long game (pigmentation, anti-ageing, scarring) → 12 weeks
Because let’s be honest – skin doesn’t transform overnight. And I’d rather tell you the truth than rush.
The exact testing period is always stated in the review post.
Unsolicited products
Unsolicited products are neither tested nor reviewed. If they meet my ethical and quality standards, they will be given away to my Premium Cosmetistas.
How I fund myself
Let’s talk about Cosmetics is funded exclusively by me, my work as a Safety Assessor and through membership fees and voluntary support from you. No affiliate marketing, no advertising banners, no sponsored posts. Only this way I can guarantee that my reviews remain independent and impartial – today and in the future.
If you’d like to support that, become a Cosmetista! → [Link to membership]
xoxo, Sunny