Independently Tested

The Hair Expert Awards

The Hair Expert Awards

A small seal that means one thing: we bought it ourselves, tested it properly, and it earned its score.

Every product category has a version of the same problem: too many options, most of them mediocre, and a wall of five-star reviews that all sound suspiciously alike. The Hair Expert Award exists to cut through that. When you see the seal on a product we’ve covered, it means our panel bought it with their own money, used it the way you would, and scored it high enough that we’d genuinely tell a friend to buy it.

We built it because we were tired of reading “best of” lists that read like a sponsored placement dressed up as an opinion. A score from us is not for sale, not negotiable, and not something a brand can influence by sending us a free unit.

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil

BEST TESTED AWARD

8.5

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil

A honey-infused finishing oil that demonstrated measurable improvements in surface shine and perceived softness. Application should be moderated on fine hair to avoid excess weight.

Ace & Taylor Airstyler Pro Ceramiq™

BEST TESTED AWARD

9.2

Ace & Taylor Airstyler Pro Ceramiq™

A ceramic multi-styler that performed consistently across drying, smoothing and curling protocols. Its value proposition was particularly strong relative to comparable systems.

Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil

6.3

Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil

A gloss-forward lip oil with a polished finish and comfortable application. Hydration retention and wear duration did not substantiate its premium positioning.

Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment

8.3

Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment

A peptide-based balm that effectively reduced the appearance of dryness while maintaining comfortable wear. The formula delivered sustained cushioning without excessive tackiness.

Rhode Pocket Blush

BEST TESTED AWARD

8.6

Rhode Pocket Blush

A cream blush with a highly blendable texture and controlled colour release. It produced a natural, skin-integrated finish across the assessment panel.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

BEST TESTED AWARD

9.3

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

An exceptionally pigmented liquid blush with strong colour persistence. The concentrated formula requires minimal application for an even result.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

8.3

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

A versatile complexion enhancer that delivered diffuse luminosity without visible shimmer. It layered consistently beneath and above base makeup.

YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick

8.4

YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick

A balm-lipstick hybrid that combined glossy colour payoff with sustained comfort. Its principal limitation was value relative to comparable formulations.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil

8.1

Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil

A reflective lip oil with uniform application and pronounced visual payoff. The formula functioned more convincingly as a gloss than as an intensive treatment.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

7.2

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

A sheer berry balm with broad complexion compatibility. Limited pigment intensity and abbreviated wear reduced its comparative score.

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

BEST TESTED AWARD

9.0

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

A rich lip balm with a smooth application profile, appealing shade range and reliable day-long hydration. The formula maintained comfort without excess residue.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

8.0

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

An effective overnight lip mask that improved softness and reduced visible dryness. The fragranced formula may limit suitability for sensitive users.

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

7.7

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

A high-adhesion primer that improved base makeup longevity. Its pronounced tackiness can cause pilling when paired with incompatible skincare formulas.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

8.2

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

A dependable medium-coverage concealer with reliable blendability and a natural-looking finish across a range of skin types.

Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer

BEST TESTED AWARD

9.2

Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer

A seamless cream bronzing enhancer that integrated evenly into the complexion and created believable warmth without pronounced edges.

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo

BEST TESTED AWARD

8.9

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo

A refined cream-and-powder blush duo with strong pigmentation, dimensional colour and above-average wear persistence.

Saie Dew Blush

8.1

Saie Dew Blush

A dewy liquid blush with an easily blendable formula and flattering colour range. The emollient finish may be less suitable for oil-prone complexions.

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

7.4

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

A capable multi-styler with strong airflow and useful attachments. Weight, operational noise and the learning curve limited its overall refinement.

Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler

7.2

Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler

A technically accomplished low-heat multi-styler with high-quality construction. Variable curl retention reduced the strength of its value case.

What a score really tells you

Every product we test is scored out of 10 across four categories: how well it performs on real hair, how much visible damage it causes with repeated use, how easy it is to get good results at home, and whether the price is justified by what you’re actually getting. A badge only goes to products that score 8.5 or higher.

Have a product in mind

Get in touch and we’ll add it to the testing queue. There’s no fee to be considered, and no guarantee either way, which is exactly how it should work.

Questions about how testing works

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