How we review products and deals

If there were a PhD in shopping, we'd be at the top of our class. Our deal-hunting, review-generating writers, editors and testers are seasoned pros in their fields (tech, style, home, beauty, health), many with 30-plus years of experience. Not to toot our own horns, but we’re an impressive bunch.

Among us, we’ve racked up a pretty impressive award wall — 23 to be exact (but who’s counting?!) — for everything from writing and editing to commerce, service journalism, video production and more. Our team includes New York Times bestselling authors, a French Culinary Institute graduate, anti-aging aficionados, health and exercise pros, magazine-industry veterans, podcast hosts, tech titans, design gurus, professional bakers and a former rocket scientist (seriously).

It’s a differentiated group, but we all have one thing in common: We love shopping.

Why you can trust us

We know if an eye serum is likely to get results or if a pair of sneakers is comfy enough to deserve prime real estate in your entryway closet. We have intel into which Apple gear is truly worth it and when to say goodbye to your old pillows and hello to a fresh new set. We have the chops to realize when a so-called sale is too good to be true. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation yet our opinions are our own, and our recommendations are sincere.

We’ve mastered the art of smart shopping. We independently evaluate and rigorously test the products we review, digging into 200+ items every month.

Consider this: It can take weeks, or even months, to make a confident purchase. And for every one need there are dozens — if not hundreds (sometimes thousands!) — of products to choose from. It's hard to separate the quality from the clutter — to do so takes an expert eye. We literally shop 365 days a year, bringing the kind of discerning approach that can only come from years of experience comparing product A to product B (and C and beyond). Our unbiased experts maintain strict editorial integrity: We only feature items we believe will add to your life and deals we believe will save you money.

Our mission at Yahoo is to help you feel good about every one of your buys. We are shrewd shoppers and we want you to get the most out of every dollar you spend.

How we test and review products

We care deeply about the review process, whether we’re trying out nonstick pans by flipping pancakes at the crack of dawn or making sure wireless earbuds have enough battery life to get you through the day.

Here’s our process for creating product reviews:

• To narrow down the products to test, writers with deep experience in their categories pore over the internet, then talk to experts to help craft an effective methodology and design the testing experience.
  

• Once we’ve carefully researched the products we’d like to include, we request test samples from brands or purchase them ourselves. Note: How we source items doesn’t affect our review either way — we remain editorially independent.
  

• The products are sent to a diverse, qualified panel for thorough testing. After a period of time, participants answer questions like: Does the product solve the problem at hand? Perform the way it’s intended to? Is it easy to use? Durable? Reliable? Enjoyable? In short: Does it make life easier?
  

• Our editors create specific tests to judge effectiveness and make sure products deliver on its claims. Case in point: For her article on the best cordless stick vacuums, senior home writer Kristin Granero set up "Carpet Course" tests to gauge how well different models could suck up materials like faux fur, rice, kitty litter and more,
  

• We include pros and cons in our writeups to give readers a well-rounded sense of how a product performs. If we loved an outdoor speaker but wished it had a karaoke function, we’ll say so. If our favorite retinol serum might feel oily to some, we’ll be upfront. We want you to feel confident in your choices.

How we assess retailer/brand trust

We do our best to ensure that each seller we recommend is a reliable, trusted retailer or brand that’s consistently earned high ratings and has a proven track record of offering quality products with reasonable shipping costs, return policies and delivery times

How we pick the best deals

With decades of deal-chasing under our belts, we know a good deal when we see one — we can sniff out a great sale like nobody’s business. We know you like to save money and get the best products at the best prices, so we have a team of writers who scan deals every day, helping you find stellar sales on the products we review and even some exclusive discounts.

When we feature items that haven’t gone through our rigorous testing wringer, we make sure they’re fully vetted. We know you want to hear from your peers, so our writers scour reviews, pulling out the good, the bad and the (sometimes?) ugly, and consult with experts to get their take. Our passion is for finding goods that make life simpler, healthier and more fun.

• Price comparisons: Not every deal is the real deal. Just because something is on sale, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should buy it. We obsessively comb through price histories and shout from the rooftops when we find an all-time low or a Black Friday-like discount. When we evaluate a deal, we adhere to strict guidelines based on research and testing. When we don’t think something’s worth your while, we won’t cover it.
  

• Reputable retailers: Our top priority is to offer you the best options at the best prices, but only from retailers we trust. If we see a price that looks too good to be true from a source we don’t feel is legit, we move on.
  

• First-person reviews: Our team of experts adheres to the strict testing criteria described above. Whenever possible, we add first-person perspectives to our deals content.
  

• Sellouts: Our team works around the clock to bring you up-to-date price and inventory information, meticulously checking deals to ensure items are still in stock at the time of publication.
  

Yahoo Life offers unbiased, thoroughly researched service journalism that you can trust. We take seriously our responsibility to give you the information you need to make smart buying decisions and feel good about your purchases.