British Beauty Journal exists because the beauty aisle makes big claims and gives shoppers very little to check them against. A lipstick promises all-day wear, a mascara promises volume without clumps, a foundation promises to survive a full day, and most of us only find out whether that is true after we have already paid for the tube or bottle.
We buy everything we review ourselves, at ordinary retail price, from the same chemists, supermarkets and websites everyone else uses, whether that is a high-street chemist, a supermarket beauty aisle or an online retailer. We do not accept free samples from manufacturers or their agencies, and we do not accept payment, discounts or any other arrangement in exchange for coverage. If a product performs poorly, that is what we report, regardless of who makes it.
Each category, whether it is long-wear lipstick or gel-effect nail polish, is assessed against its own claims: wear time, transfer, coverage, hold, volume, or whatever the packaging promises. Findings are reviewed before publication and revisited when formulas change or new evidence comes to light.
The review panel
Findings are checked by an independent panel before anything is published. The panel includes a dermatologist with decades of clinical experience in ageing skin, a research scientist who has spent a career studying how skin and hair respond to cosmetic ingredients, and a consultant physician specialising in non-invasive skin treatments. Their role is to question the methodology, challenge the conclusions, and confirm that what is written matches what the testing actually showed. None of them is paid by, or holds a financial interest in, any brand under review.
Corrections and suggestions
Beauty formulas change, prices shift, and new products enter the market regularly. If something in a review is out of date, or you believe we have made an error, we want to know. The editorial team can be reached through the contact page, and every message about a factual correction is read and, where warranted, acted upon within a reasonable time.