Editorial Policy

Our principles

• Help readers first; monetize second.
• Explain who a product or approach may suit, and who should skip it.
• Discuss meaningful differences rather than listing features.
• Distinguish verified facts, editorial judgment and personal experience.
• Never promise skincare results or make unsupported medical claims.

How we research

Factual claims are supported by primary or authoritative sources — dermatology associations, government regulators such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, peer-reviewed research and manufacturers’ official documentation for product specifications. Each guide lists its sources so you can check them.

When we discuss research, we describe its limits: study size, duration, who funded it and whether results apply to products you can buy.

Research versus hands-on testing

Every guide states its basis. Most of our guides are based on independent research. We only describe hands-on testing when it actually happened and is documented. We never write “we tested” or describe personal results that didn’t occur, and we never invent testimonials or expert quotes.

Product information

• We don’t invent product names, specifications, prices, ratings, review counts or bestseller status.
• We don’t display prices or availability unless they come from a permitted, current source with a timestamp. Retailer prices change constantly, so we link to the listing instead.
• We don’t copy customer reviews from retailers.
• We record when product details were last verified, and we revisit guides when information changes.
• We assign editorial ratings only when a documented methodology exists. Rankings are based on transparent criteria explained in the article.

Images

We use original illustrations and properly licensed images, and we keep a record of each image’s source and license. Illustrations are labeled as such and depict general product types — we never present an illustration as a photograph of a specific product we recommend.

Use of AI tools

We may use AI tools to help organize research or prepare first drafts. Every article is reviewed by a person for accuracy, originality and usefulness before publication, and sources are checked against the original documents. We do not mass-publish unreviewed AI-generated content, and AI tools are never used to invent sources, specifications, prices or reviews.

Independence and affiliate links

We may earn a commission when you buy through some links on this site. Commissions never determine which products we include or how we describe them. Brands cannot pay for a positive mention. See our affiliate disclosure.

Corrections and updates

If we get something wrong, we fix it. Articles show both their original publication date and the date of their last substantial update. To report an error, please use our contact page.

Medical disclaimer

Content on The Gilded Skin is general information and not medical advice. It isn’t a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified clinician.