When we are writing beauty product reviews, can we talk about what's being reviewed? Can we mention the downsides, or nah? Should we include photos or just stick to words?
Well, if you've ever wondered about that, you're not alone. I have too. I think other reviewer pals felt the same when they were starting out reviewing products.
Three years ago, before diving into writing reviews, I tried to figure out what should be included in a review article, how is the format, and how to present it. Sounds complicated, right? I thought so, just because I was worried about messing up and getting bad comments like "Ah, this review isn't thorough enough" or "What kind of review is this, anyway?" But after going through it, turns out, that writing reviews isn't that rigid. Not complicated at all. We can talk about whatever we want. Forget the format because writing a blog is flexible, not like drafting a research paper or your final thesis. After all, it's a blog, it's personal, and the writing style is up to us. If you often read product reviews from different beauty bloggers, you'll notice that their writing formats and styles vary. That's the uniqueness of it.
So, what are the usual points in beauty product review articles?
I once summarized some points that should be included in writing product reviews, including product packaging, product texture, product claims, product ingredients, product benefits, how to use it, and most importantly, our opinion while using the product. But, a few days later, I needed to add some more points.
But-- before moving on to other points, I have to decide my purpose writing on this blog. Like "Why am I writing reviews?".
Purpose:
- Delivering information to readers
- Providing product details
- Describing the product's benefits on my skin
- Helping readers make informed decisions
Apart from the purpose, I also need to understand what audiences want to know in a review. What do they want to read? What do they want to know? What are they looking for? Since before (and even now) deciding to buy a makeup or skincare product, I like to read reviews from people's blogs, so I recall the information I need from a product. And that's what I'll present in my article.
- Packaging details (pictures, appearance)
- How the product feels in hands
- How is the texture of the product and how it smells
- What are the ingredients in this product?
- What are the benefits of its ingredients?
- This product is safe for.. (type of skin)
- What can this product supposedly do? (product claims)
- Does it work?
- Why does it work? Why doesn't it work?
- How to use it?
- Is it used at night/day/every day/how many times a week?
- What if it's used too often?
- What if it's rarely used?
- How was writer's skin condition before using the product
- How is writer's skin condition after using the product
- Does the writer use other skincare product to get that result?
- How long does it take for the product's benefits work?
- Where to buy it?
- How much is it?
- Who is the target consumer of this product?
- Pros + cons
- Repurchase or not
- Worth buying or not
Tho the detail seems too much, don't worry, it's not a strict rule.
But if you want more organized detail, you can get it below this paragraph. Again, this is not a strict rule, not a standard regulation. I made these points myself as my checklist so that nothing gets missed out. But sometimes when writing reviews, I don't even open this outline file, so many points are skipped, oh well. Sometimes, I shuffle the order according to needs and what feels right, hehe.
Let's start!
Table of contents:
Intro
A. Packaging
B. Texture, Color, and Scent
C. Product Claims
D. Product Ingredients
E. How to Use
F. Expectations After Using the Product
G. Review
H. Price
I. Target Consumers
J. Conclusion
Outro
References
Intro
Placed at the beginning of the paragraph. What do we talk about in this intro? The points below can inspire you.
Background
- Skin issues (acne, acne scars, wrinkles, etc.)
- Why did you buy this product and from whom?
- How long have you been using this product?
- Product photo (which will be the blog post thumbnail)
- Why use this product?
Introduction to brand information
- Brand name (link to its official website -> optional)
- Brand origin
- What is this brand known for?
- Brand logo photo
Product name
- Your first impression upon hearing about this product
- Is this product a dupe for another product or similar to any product (if applicable)
A. Packaging
Explanations and photos of the packaging serve to help readers recognize the product packaging, to prevent them from being deceived by counterfeit products.
- Description of the packaging (what's included on the front and back of it)
- What is the packaging made of (jar/bottle/tube) and (plastic/glass/etc.)
- Weight/lightness
- Size/small/big
- Can it be taken for traveling/need to buy travel size/need to be transferred to a shareable jar (small jar)?
- With that packaging, how many months can it last? Frequent/infrequent usage?
- Is the packaging sturdy/frail/strong/easily breakable/causing product spillage/elegant/eye-catching?
- Is the packaging color eye-catching/elegant/calm/similar to any other product (try not to mention competitor products)?
- Photo of the front, back, top view of the packaging, etc.
B. Texture, Color, and Scent
Texture- Is the product liquid/thick/etc.?
- How does it feel when you touch it?
- Does it feel the same or different once applied to the face?
- What happens to the skin after the product dries/gets absorbed?
- Comfortable on the skin or not?
- How long does it take to dry/get absorbed?
- Mask: easy to rinse off or not
- Skincare: smooth, etc.
- Texture photo
Color
You can mention the color of the texture here.
Scent
- Describing the scent of the product can vary from person to person or reviewer due to individual differences in scent perception.
- Fragrant/sour/minty/etc.
- What does this scent remind you of?
C. Product Claims
- Mention the claims written on the packaging/product website
- Explain these claims (self-explanation)
D. Product Ingredients
- Mention the product ingredients
- Explain the benefits of the main ingredients
- According to the brand's description, what are their benefits?
- According to journals, what are their benefits?
- How do these ingredients affect the skin?
- Are they the same as claimed? Check.
E. How to Use
- Explain the usage according to the description on the packaging/official website
- Photo of usage instructions
- Personal habits of using this product, at what step (toner, serum, etc.)
- Photo or video of you using the product
- Restrictions, are not to be mixed with skincare containing what ingredients?
- Warning (only for use by whom, how to store it)
F. Expectations After Using This Product
- Before using this product, how was your skin condition?
- After using this product, how do you want the skin to be, based on CLAIM + PRODUCT CONTENT
- Photo of face condition before using skincare products, do you expect any changes?
G. Review/Usage Results/Experience During Usage
- Photo of your skin before using the product
- Explain it clearly
- Photo of your skin after using the product
- Explain it clearly
- How long have you been using the product?
- Frequency of usage: frequent/infrequent/alternating with other products
- Do you experience something during using the product? (breakouts, appearing blackheads, redness, etc)
- Instant effects of usage
- Long-term effects of usage
- When used with other products, what are they?
- Used only at night/only during the day/night & day?
- Does the result you get in line with expectations? EXPECTATION = CLAIM + CONTENTS
- If in line, how long does it take? How many bottles are used up?
- Progress in days/weeks/months
- Satisfied/not satisfied
- Do you want to continue using the product or not?
- How many bottles have been used up now?
- Summary (based on the progress -- before & after)
H. Price
- How much is the price
- Is the price affordable or not?
- Where to buy (offline & online)
- Easy to afford or not?
I. Target Consumers
- Based on skin issues
- Age
J. Conclusion
- Satisfied/not/still willing to use
- Pros & cons (pros: mention what you like about the product, cons: mention what you don't like or don't feel comfortable about the product. Express it nicely.)
- Criticisms & suggestions
- Repurchase/not
Outro
Besides being a conclusion, this outro invites readers to interact with us. They can ask if they've ever used the same product, inquire about their experience using the product, or encourage them to try the product we're using.
References
Reference sources (e.g., ingredients, product knowledge, etc.) obtained.
That's all
If you see my review format and wonder why I have so much detail guideline and why the structure looks like I'm about to write an essay, it's because my mind is full of stuff. Complicated. Without this kind of assistance, my sentences could wander all over the place.
So, can we mention the downsides?
If there are any, just speak it politely. If we think there aren't any, then no need to make them up.
Do we need photos or just text?
Gotta have photos, to make it interesting. So readers also know which product it is.
Alright, that's all, lol. For those of you still searching for a review framework reference, you can try my way but use your format, to keep it original, of course. Good luck!
Note: again and again, this is not a strict rule. Any other points to add? Any suggestion? Write it in the comments column, yeah :D