Editorial
How we assess
Every verdict on Corol is derived from checkable data: the ingredient list, regulated claims, and price. This page explains how, in plain terms.
How a verdict is derived
A verdict is not an opinion. It comes from the same signals every time, and those signals differ by category, because the honest question differs by category.
Skincare. We read the full INCI list, count the actives with independent evidence behind them, and flag ingredients that carry a caution for some skin types. Evidence weighed against flags decides the verdict. Example: “4 actives do real work, but 1 ingredient is flagged for caution, so it depends on your skin.”
Sun care. SPF and UVA protection are regulated and measured, the one place in beauty where “best” is objective. We take the regulated standard and find the cheapest formula that meets it. Example: “Meets the highest UVA standard, and it's the cheapest that does: €18.95.”
Makeup. No regulator measures a better lipstick, so we compare formulas. We compute the ingredient match between products and set it next to the price. Example: “An 87% ingredient match costs €22 less, so skip the markup.”
What the words mean
- Worth it: the data supports buying it at the current best price.
- Depends: the data cuts both ways, so we give you the fork: worth it if…, skip it if…. That's the honest answer.
- Skip: a close, cheaper match does the same job, or the flags outweigh the evidence.
- Not assessed: we don't have enough data yet. We won't guess.
We never publish a star, a score, or a verdict we can't ground in the data on the page.
What a match means
A match percentage measures how much of one ingredient list overlaps with another, and nothing more. INCI lists don't disclose concentrations, so two near-identical lists can still behave differently on skin. That's why we never say “identical” or “same formula”. Sunscreen is the disclosed exception: UV filters and their levels are regulated, so protection can be compared directly.
Accuracy & corrections
Checkable claims (ingredient lists, prices, match percentages, SPF ratings) are held to an accuracy bar of at least 98%. Corrections are published on the page they concern, and dated. Found one that's wrong? Dispute it here. We read every submission.
Independence & money
We take €0 from brands, ever. Retailer links may earn us an affiliate commission; a commission never reorders a verdict, a price table, or a match. And when the honest answer earns us nothing, we link there anyway.
What we don't cover
Some things our process can't see:
- Long-term irritation: no peer-reviewed study exists yet for most formulas.
- Individual reactions: your skin's history is data we don't have.
- Shade, finish and wear for makeup: a match percentage says nothing about how a colour sits on you.
Where a gap matters to a verdict, we say so on the product page.