Methodology

Every product page on Besides is built from public evidence the same way: we search for what real users and qualified experts have said about that specific product across well-known sources, organize that evidence by purchase-decision dimensions, and present it without ranking, scoring, or picking a winner for you.

Where evidence comes from

• Primary evidence — Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, Sephora reviews, Ulta reviews. Real users with no incentive to lie.
• Authority signals — professional media (Vogue, Allure, NYT Wirecutter), industry awards, dermatologist or KOL mentions. We surface metadata only (e.g. “won 2024 Allure Editors’ Choice”), never paragraph quotes.

Dimensions, not ratings

For each sub-category (e.g. eye creams, moisturizers, foundations) we maintain a Playbook of 8–12 purchase dimensions: anti-wrinkle, dark circles, fragrance-free, longevity, etc. Evidence is sorted into those dimensions. You see what users say about each dimension — not a score we made up.

Why we don’t recommend

“Best” depends on you: your skin, your budget, your goals. We don’t know any of that. So we don’t pretend to. We organize evidence; you make the call.

What “pending evidence” means

If a product has no public discussion yet, we say so — clearly. Absence of evidence is itself a decision signal. We don’t invent content. Instead we surface similar products that do have evidence so you have a real basis for comparison.