Affiliate disclosure.

1. What an affiliate link is

An affiliate link is a tracked link to a retailer. If you click it and buy something, the retailer pays CiciTrends a small commission. The price you pay is the same.

We label pages that contain affiliate links with a disclosure near the top of the article. If a page has no affiliate links, there is no disclosure.

2. How we choose what to recommend

• • The product has to fit the reader’s need, not the commission rate.
• • We prefer products with a clear ingredient list, a published price, and a return policy.
• • We will recommend a cheaper option, or no purchase at all, when that is the better answer.
• • We do not accept payment for a mention, a score, or a placement in a guide.
• • Gifted products and press samples are disclosed in the piece.

3. Verdicts and scores are independent

A tested verdict requires the publisher’s own notes: what was used, for how long, what worked, what did not, and the price paid. A commission does not change a score, and a brand cannot buy a better one. If a product is not worth the money, the verdict says so.

The full standard is published at /editorial-standards/.

4. Prices and availability change

We name the price we saw and the date we checked it when we can. Retailers change prices and stock without notice. The price at checkout is the price that counts.

5. The rule we follow

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections between a publisher and a retailer. We follow that standard, and we apply the same disclosure to readers in every country rather than varying it by market. The FTC’s endorsement guidance is the reference:FTC Endorsement Guides.