Frequently asked questions

Meet the experts

• Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Omer Ibrahim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago
• Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Nkem Ugonabo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Haven, Connecticut
• Leah Ansell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Birmingham, Alabama
• Catherine Lucas, MD, a dermatologist based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
• Laura Lam-Phaure, a cosmetic chemist based in Los Angeles

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best Korean face exfoliators, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.