The scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab—often referred to as the GH Beauty Lab—carefully evaluate beauty, haircare, and skincare products to find the products on the market that actually work.
Our Lab is staffed with chemists who work with a broad panel of testers nationwide to gather real-life feedback on product performance and combine these insights with in-depth Lab analyses for the most comprehensive test data. We regularly consult with industry professionals, dermatologists, hairstylists, and makeup artists and review clinical studies to ensure the most trusted, science-based recommendations.
How We Test
Testing occurs both in the GH Beauty Lab and in the homes of real consumers. When we look at products in the Lab, we follow standardized methods and use specialized equipment to accurately compare products in a controlled setting.
Here are some examples of our lab equipment:
Courage + Khazaka Cutometer, Corneometer, and TEWL Combo
Tracks skincare products' effectiveness by measuring skin firmness, moisture levels, and water loss.
VISIA Complexion Analyzer
Gauges the efficacy of anti-aging products by capturing images that track changes to wrinkles, pores, and dark spots.
QUV Accelerated Weathering Station
Assesses a hair product’s ability to protect against color fade by simulating hair exposure to UV light and moisture.
Hair Swatch Wash Station
Operates at a consistent water temperature and flow for equitably testing shampoos, conditioners, and hair dyes.
Hair Dryer Station
Measures hair dryers' performance, equipped with an airflow meter and thermocouples that monitor surface and air temperatures.
When it comes to consumer testers, our process is just as buttoned up. Our analysts carefully match products to testers based on a range of attributes, such as hair type, skin color, personal habits, and more. Testers are given specialized instructions, including how many times to use the product before providing feedback.
Once testing is completed, they fill out an in-depth survey with both quantitative scores and open-ended responses. This gives us insight into aspects like ease of use, comfort, perceived performance, and beyond.
Meet Our Experts
This is the team that oversees everything from staying up to date on the latest trends to assigning products to consumer testers to evaluating products using Lab equipment. Along with managing the testing processes from beginning to end, our experts use their skills to determine the winners of the annual GH Beauty Awards and thoroughly assess products that apply for and earn the Good Housekeeping Seal. They also partner with Good Housekeeping's Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino and Contributing Beauty Editor Dori Price to provide expert feedback and share top-tested picks for beauty content.
Sabina Wizemann
Sabina (she/her) has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries. Since joining GH in 2012, Sabina has overseen numerous laboratory and consumer studies across skincare, haircare, and makeup categories. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims, and evaluates products for the GH Seal and various awards programs.
Danusia Wnek
Danusia (she/her) evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics, and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and an M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with a concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry, including formulation, product development, claim evaluation, and efficacy testing.
Chiara Butler
Chiara (she/her) conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy, and scrutinize product claims.
- All of our product and hair tool studies are performed on real human hair, whether by consumer testers or on hair swatches in the Lab.
- Anti-aging studies done by the Lab are all conducted on real people and take place over a minimum of four months—but often longer.
- In a test with over 1,920 skin hydration measurements, the Lab found that a drugstore face moisturizer was more hydrating than a luxury $440 cream.
- These beauty products are so consistent that they have become our Lab "Gold Star Controls" for testing other products against—some for nearly two decades!
- Curel Ultra Healing Intensive Lotion
- Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
- Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo
- Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
