{"id":55,"date":"2023-01-08T08:08:43","date_gmt":"2023-01-08T08:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/?page_id=55"},"modified":"2023-05-07T08:56:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-07T08:56:04","slug":"review-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/review-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Review FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Review FAQ<\/h1>\n<h2>DISCLOSURES<\/h2>\n<p>Any pertinent disclosures will be included\u00a0at the top of each post. \u00a0We currently mark posts at the top with the labels\u00a0<strong>\u201cAffiliate Link,\u201d \u201cPurchased,\u201d \u201cSample,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0and<strong>\u00a0\u201cSponsored.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0In the case of paid placement, the post title will begin with \u201cSponsored\u201d for absolute clarity. \u00a0Below, you will find more in-depth descriptions of the common disclosures we make on the blog:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AFFILIATE LINK\u00a0<\/strong>|\u00a0The majority of links to third-party retail websites are affiliate links. \u00a0We receive a\u00a0commission if you purchase any product(s) through affiliate links. \u00a0It does not add any cost to you as the customer. \u00a0The commission comes out of the retailer\u2019s pocket, and the commission can range from as little as 1% to as much as 15% depending on the retailer, campaign, product type, etc. \u00a0For many of our affiliates, if a product is returned, the commission is returned as well.<\/li>\n<li><strong>PURCHASED<\/strong>\u00a0| The products featured on the blog is a healthy mix of products purchased by us for review as well as samples provided by brands. In order to make it clear that disclosures were not omitted\u00a0or forgotten, we began including\u00a0<em>Purchased<\/em>\u00a0to indicate products we bought ourselves.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SAMPLE<\/strong>\u00a0|\u00a0Brands, their representatives (such as their public relations firms, marketing affiliates, and the like), and retailers will send a product for consideration. \u00a0Consideration means that the product is submitted to us so we can check it out and determine whether it is a product we want to include on the blog. \u00a0We make\u00a0all decisions regarding when, how, and if it is even mentioned on the blog. \u00a0We do not allow brands to read a review in advance. \u00a0We do not accept compensation for our product reviews.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SPONSORED<\/strong>\u00a0|\u00a0Sponsored posts are specific posts that we have been compensated for. \u201cSponsored\u201d will occur in the title of the blog post. \u00a0Sponsored giveaways, where the compensation may be in the form of prizes and\/or financial compensation for exposure, handling of fulfillment, etc. \u00a0We do not endorse or otherwise review products for compensation, so you will see topical content (e.g. \u201c5 Tips for a Girl\u2019s Night Out\u201d), giveaways, promotions (like an upcoming sale), or advertorials (advertiser\/brand-written content). You may find round-ups or gift guides of a variety of products that are sponsored, but these will only contain products we\u2019ve reviewed previously (that were unrelated\/unattached to the paid post) and brands cannot have any stipulations on specific products\/brands for inclusion (e.g. they can direct the theme, like products under $15, but they can\u2019t say \u201cit must include this brand\u201d). \u00a0We also develop larger experiences like brand-driven Foundation Matrix matching, which involves creating and developing code and design for the brand, or swatching all shades in a foundation formula. There can be NO requirement that we must review products that are related to sponsored posts (unless a review existed prior to the brand reaching out).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>POLICIES<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personal Experience: \u00a0<\/strong>All reviews are written based on the Author\u2019s personal experience with the product and is not influenced by\u00a0third parties (advertisers, brand representatives, public relation representatives, etc.). \u00a0Products are tested in the way(s) and for as long as necessary to properly test a product\u2013e.g. a lipstick requires less time to test than a moisturizer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Based on Claims:\u00a0<\/strong>Each product is tested and reviewed based on the claims the product makes. \u00a0As much as possible, we defer to marketing\/advertising\u00a0text as written by the brand. \u00a0Whenever we feel we have to make interpretations, we try to walk readers through that interpretation. \u00a0We typically err on the side of the customer rather than give the brand the benefit of the doubt.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fairness:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0We review products in full and do not hide or ignore areas that\u00a0could\u00a0be improved. \u00a0When you see a review that doesn\u2019t mention any cons, that means we couldn\u2019t find any. \u00a0Similarly, if you see a review that\u2019s all negative, it\u2019s not because we want to bash a product\u2013it\u2019s because the positives weren\u2019t there!<\/li>\n<li><strong>No Brand Oversight<\/strong>: \u00a0We do not make changes to the character of our reviews. \u00a0We have not personally had a brand ever reach out in an attempt to change what we have written, but should it ever occur, we would not make those changes. \u00a0The only changes we will make to a review or post is for things like pricing inaccuracy or adjustments, retailer availability, release date updates\u2013fact-based changes that have no impact on our opinion but facilitate the spread of pertinent information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>PHOTOS\/SWATCHES<\/h2>\n<h3>PHOTOGRAPHY<\/h3>\n<p>We do our best to take clear, well-lit photos that depict color and texture accurately. \u00a0Unfortunately, brightness, contrast, and color can vary wildly from device to device, screeen to screen. \u00a0Even just angling a laptop screen forward or backward can greatly change the contrast and intensity of color! \u00a0Here are the steps we have taken to try to minimize variance to the best of our abilities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Studio lights: \u00a0these offer consistent lighting whether it is cloudy or sunny<\/li>\n<li>Consistent settings: \u00a0we use the same settings when shooting to avoid variance, and these settings are calibrated every other month or so to ensure they are appropriate (they do not change much, unless equipment changes, e.g. a camera upgrade)<\/li>\n<li>Color average across multiple devices: \u00a0we use default screen\/color settings and try to get a good \u201caverage\u201d across these devices \u2013 iPhone 7+, iPhone 7, MacBook Pro, LG PC Monitor, iPad. \u00a0The goal is to try to find a good color profile that looks fairly accurate on multiple devices vs. accurate on one device but wildly inaccurate on other devices. \u00a0We will favor iPhone\/Apple monitors over PC (though all editing and work are done through PC) due to the percentage of our users who use iPhone\/Apple devices to view the site.<\/li>\n<li>Color balanced editing room: \u00a0all lights are color balanced and take ambient light into account so help maintain consistent editing settings, including the time of day that phones are edited and reference photos are made<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>EDITING<\/h3>\n<p>All photos, whether for products or swatches, are edited for accuracy but not to make products look better (or worse) than they are. \u00a0We may adjust color, brightness, contrast, etc. as needed to depict the most accurate color by looking at the product in person while editing. \u00a0Backgrounds may be brightened or touched-up (e.g. a speck of dust, piece of lint, and so forth will be removed). \u00a0When it comes to skin retouching,\u00a0something like removing a pimple from a series of lip swatches may be done (we all have pimples but photos live forever), but if the photos in question were with respect to a concealer, foundation, pore smoothing primer, etc. all \u201cflaws\u201d would be left as is so that the photos would accurately depict things like coverage, ability to hide texture, and so forth. \u00a0Similarly, lip swatches are not edited to make a lipstick look like it applied better by sharpening the edges or blurring imperfections on the lips\u2013if the lipstick catches on flakes, we want you to see that.<\/p>\n<h3>SWATCHES<\/h3>\n<p>Currently, swatches are applied by taking flat, firm synthetic brushes and pressing, gently pulling the product about 1 centimeter at a time, and then repeating for the length of the swatch (about 3-4 centimeters). \u00a0After the color is applied for a swatch, we take a clean fingertip and use that to blend and soften the edges of a swatch using a technique\/pressure that is similar to using a fluffy brush (so really skimming gently across the surface). \u00a0<strong>Primer is not used in swatches unless specifically notated in the swatch\u2019s caption.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The methodology we settled on for swatches was decided after trying over thirty different types of products applied in practice (e.g. eyeshadow onto the eyelid) against the swatch. \u00a0The goal was to\u00a0make these similar so that swatches would be accurate in terms of color payoff (as finger swatches can sometimes apply products more heavily).<\/p>\n<p>Note, if a brand specifically says to apply their product a certain way, e.g. \u201cwith fingertip for maximum coverage\u201d or \u201cwet for full coverage\u201d then that is the method used (I try to follow instructions first, then deviate as necessary to see how things work using other techniques).<\/p>\n<p>There are some products that may show more than one swatch for the product, and here are those instances explained:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lip Swatches<\/strong>: \u00a0Lip products typically have two photos depicting the lips. \u00a0One is in direct light, which we use to simulate sunlight; think of it was the best and clearest light, where flaws are hard to hide. \u00a0The other is indirect and diffused light, which we use to simulate shade; think of this as more forgiving light, an office or a room where some light filters in but it is not bright. \u00a0Direct light offers better insight into texture, finish, and undertones, whereas indirect light\u00a0is more accurate for inferring true vibrancy (direct light makes all products appear a little brighter and richer) and is worst at showing finish (sparkles, shimmer, and glossiness get lost).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dry\/Wet Formulas<\/strong>: \u00a0Products that can be used dry or wet are often shown both ways, usually with the first swatch being dry and the second swatch (immediately next to it, within the same photo) is the product applied damp (unless otherwise specified).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sparkle\/Glitter Formulas:<\/strong>\u00a0Products are applied as-is as well as wet, usually with the first swatch being dry and the second swatch (immediately next to it, within the same photo) is the product applied damp (unless otherwise specified).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cream Formulas<\/strong>: \u00a0Most cream formulas are shown as a regular swatch, and then deliberately blended and sheered out \u2014 e.g. cream eyeshadows are shown \u201cas-is\u201d as well as a sheer wash of color, cream blushes are shown \u201cas-is\u201d and then sheered out as a wash of color (using an \u201caverage\u201d amount of product \u2013 not using the teeniest, tiniest bit but not loading up the area either!) as many people wear their cheek colors at sheerer coverage levels than opaque.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cheek Products<\/strong>: \u00a0The majority of cheek products showcase two swatches within the same photo. \u00a0The first swatch is \u201cas-is,\u201d swatched like any other product, which will give insight into the true color, intensity, undertone, and its coverage level. \u00a0The second swatch is blended and diffused to mimic application as it would appear on the cheeks, and this gives insight into the blendability of the powder as well as the real finish (products can often have better or worse finishes as they are worked onto the skin).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Liners &amp; Pencils<\/strong>: \u00a0Eyeliners\/eye pencils and lip liners\/lip pencils are often narrower at the tip than a lipstick, so the first swatch is a single pass of the liner or pencil, and then second swatch is a larger swatch to give better insight into the actual color, undertone, texture, and finish of the product as even in a macro photo, the single pass is too narrow to accurately depict color. \u00a0Though we do not try to build-up or layer the product heavily in the larger swatch, there is overlap as we go back and forth to create the larger swatch and make it look continuous, so the second swatch should not be used to accurately assess pigmentation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loose Pigments or Glitters<\/strong>: \u00a0Loose pigment is often shown as a dry\/wet combination, as they typically are such a formula. \u00a0Loose glitter is often shown as loose\/dry and then over a glitter adhesive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Review FAQ DISCLOSURES Any pertinent disclosures will be included\u00a0at the top of each post. \u00a0We currently mark posts at the top with the labels\u00a0\u201cAffiliate Link,\u201d \u201cPurchased,\u201d \u201cSample,\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cSponsored.\u201d\u00a0In the case of paid placement, the post title will begin with \u201cSponsored\u201d for absolute clarity. \u00a0Below, you will find more in-depth descriptions of the common disclosures we make [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101,"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions\/101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.makeupartistry2.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}