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.

1. Packaging details (pictures, appearance)
2. How the product feels in hands
   
3. How is the texture of the product and how it smells
4. What are the ingredients in this product?
5. What are the benefits of its ingredients?
6. This product is safe for.. (type of skin)
   
7. What can this product supposedly do? (product claims)
8. Does it work?
9. Why does it work? Why doesn't it work?
10. How to use it?
11. Is it used at night/day/every day/how many times a week?
12. What if it's used too often?
13. What if it's rarely used?
14. How was writer's skin condition before using the product
15. How is writer's skin condition after using the product
16. Does the writer use other skincare product to get that result?
    
17. How long does it take for the product's benefits work?
18. Where to buy it?
19. How much is it?
20. Who is the target consumer of this product?
21. Pros + cons
22. Repurchase or not
23. 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

1. Skin issues (acne, acne scars, wrinkles, etc.)
2. Why did you buy this product and from whom?
3. How long have you been using this product?
4. Product photo (which will be the blog post thumbnail)
5. Why use this product?

Introduction to brand information 

1. Brand name (link to its official website -> optional)
2. Brand origin
3. What is this brand known for?
4. Brand logo photo

Product name

1. Your first impression upon hearing about this product
2. 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.

1. Description of the packaging (what's included on the front and back of it)
   
2. What is the packaging made of (jar/bottle/tube) and (plastic/glass/etc.)
3. Weight/lightness
4. Size/small/big
5. Can it be taken for traveling/need to buy travel size/need to be transferred to a shareable jar (small jar)?
6. With that packaging, how many months can it last? Frequent/infrequent usage?
7. Is the packaging sturdy/frail/strong/easily breakable/causing product spillage/elegant/eye-catching?
8. Is the packaging color eye-catching/elegant/calm/similar to any other product (try not to mention competitor products)?
9. Photo of the front, back, top view of the packaging, etc.

B. Texture, Color, and Scent

1. Is the product liquid/thick/etc.?
2. How does it feel when you touch it?
3. Does it feel the same or different once applied to the face?
4. What happens to the skin after the product dries/gets absorbed?
5. Comfortable on the skin or not?
6. How long does it take to dry/get absorbed?
7. Mask: easy to rinse off or not
8. Skincare: smooth, etc.
9. Texture photo

Color

You can mention the color of the texture here.

Scent