Product Reviews – An Overview

While I am happy to share products and brands on my site, there are a few criteria that need to be met in order for me to consider a review. 

Any and all products to be considered for review must be free from:

parabens

synthetic fragrance/phthalates

sulfates

petro-chemicals

bismuth oxychloride

lake dyes

BHT & BHA

formaldehyde-releasing preservatives or ingredients

known skin irritating ingredients

1,4-dioxane

any and all hormone-disrupting ingredients

animal testing

Any and all products must meet any and all standards of clean/green/eco-conscious beauty. Ingredients should be non-toxic, non-irritating, low-zero waste, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cruelty-free.

Once I’ve determined that a product meets my standards, I will accept the product(s) to be tested. Once I’ve received the product(s), I will email the brand/PR rep and let them know and give them an eta of when I should be able to have a full review completed. Below is a list of estimated time it takes me to fully test a product.

Skincare – at least 2-4 weeks to give my skin time to adjust and see any kind of results

Body care – same as above for lotions, oils, and body wash; sunless tanning could take a week 

Hair care – 2-4 weeks depending on the type of product

Make-up (including nail care) – one week

Food/wellness items – 2-6 weeks

Vocal (equipment, sheet music, voice care, etc) – anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months

These are just estimates as many factors could delay or move up the timetable. Both would depend on how many other products I already have in the testing queue and what my schedule looks like (as I am a vocal teacher and classical soprano). I will always keep the brand/rep updated on my review progress.

During the testing process, I will generally post a “sneak peek” of the product(s) on my Instagram to give my audience a preview of what I am working on and what to expect to see in the future. I will both tag and email the brand/rep so that they can see the post. 

Once the testing process has ended, I will begin my review. Once that is completed, I will again email the brand/rep with the link and then share it on all of my social media channels.

It should be noted that just because a product is sent, it is not guaranteed that I will share the product in a review. If I am not happy with the product, I won’t recommend it to my readers and I don’t like to write negative reviews about brands. If I am not happy or I have a reaction to something in the product, I will reach out to the brand and let them know. If they insist on a review, then I will do it. I will always give my 100% honest opinion on everything I test, and will not pretend to like something if I don’t.

It should also be noted that brands expecting me to purchase their products for review consideration will need to offer monetary compensation. The amount of time, effort, and care I put into each and every review and post is fully deserving of compensation. Any brand that requests I purchase their products and will not offer compensation will be refused. Brands open to monetary compensation can choose one of the options below.

Below are my rates for the following services:

Reviews – website/blog – $200

Reviews – social media only – $75

Social media take-overs – $50

Video review – Youtube, Instagram – $250

**For brands who send their products, I consider the products a form of compensation.

Any questions that you may have about my process, criteria, or services, please feel free to reach out at briezimmermansoprano@gmail.com