Core Principles
Science over Clickbait
It seems like every day, there is a new skincare gimmick promising to be the “magic solution.” While these recent trends and products can be “fun,” we have found that they are largely a distraction from preventing the root cause of acne and other skin issues. That is why we created GoodGlow. We are deep into the science behind skincare and will leave the clickbait articles to the influencers. The blogs on this site may have a catchy heading every now and then, but we promise the content will consistently deliver and be backed by peer-reviewed research.
Prioritize Readers Wellbeing
Any content created by the GoodGlow team is not meant to substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consider it a starting point to begin your own research or discussions with a qualified medical professional. Everything we publish is designed to benefit our readers and community. GoodGlow is the guidebook our team wishes we had in our teenage years and early twenties.
It’s no secret that many companies try to pay for special placements, endorsements, and recommendations. We do not support this. The GoodGlow team never shows preferential treatment to a product or brand because they pay us. Although we monetize our blog through ads and select affiliate placements, our content team independently researches every product we write about. Once a product has been reviewed and a post published, our partnerships team will look to see if there is an ability to monetize an article. However, we want to be clear that we do not offer pay-to-play deals, and all of our content is genuine and authentic. If we recommend a product, we have thoroughly researched it and believe in it!
Curation based on Self-experimentation
At GoodGlow, we practice what we preach. Our most significant source of inspiration is what we are personally experimenting with. Reviews on Amazon are not enough for us to base our articles on. We need to try out both the processes and products we are discussing. The first few dozen blog articles were diary entries detailing different nutrition experiments I was trying to clear my acne. Know that our team is not just sitting behind a desk but that we are constantly trying out the tactics and products discussed in our content.
Writer Requirements, Fact-Checking Process & Medical Citations
GoodGlow is a health resource, and we take it seriously. Thousands of readers daily rely on us to provide information for real medical issues. Because of this, we have an obligation to rigorously verify every claim, suggestion, and opinion we publish.
As GoodGlow began to grow from a simple blog to the acne resource engine it is today, I realized I needed to recruit other knowledgeable professionals and medically certified skincare experts to help provide the expertise I lacked. The team is currently nine people strong. We have a diverse talent background, including dermatologists, estheticians, nutritionists, personal trainers, pharmacists, and medical researchers with a passion for skincare and science.
Despite the team’s robust credentials, we never rely on gut instinct or opinion. We fact-check everything we publish.
Fact-checking doesn’t mean taking a Reddit post or Twitter comment at face value. It means studying peer-reviewed research and breaking it down into plain English that anyone can understand and then make an informed decision based on their personal health factors.
We do not pull research from trendy blogs. Our team routinely conducts article research through Pub Med, NCBI, AAD, CDC, and other verified peer-reviewed databases to ensure we provide our readers with accurate, actionable information.
Commitment To Diversity & Inclusion
GoodGlow pledges to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, body type, ability, or sexual orientation.
Whether you are a casual reader or a “super fan,” we want you to feel welcomed, supported, and accepted whenever you visit GoodGlow.
When I started this blog, I had no idea that the readership would turn into what it has today.
Since day 1, it was always a top priority to make everyone feel welcome and help point them in the right direction to improve their skin. However, I never took concrete steps to outline the actions taken to make sure underrepresented individuals who visit GoodGlow feel welcome and properly communicate GoodGlow’s stance. That stops today. Below is a series of initiatives our team has undertaken to make diversity and inclusion a core part of our business and mission.
- Last year, we committed to having at least 50% of our content and technical work come from individuals in underrepresented communities and demographics. We were successful in this endeavor and have the same goal for 2023.
- Last year reviewed every single image and graphic on the website to make sure at least 30% of all photos (featuring humans) showcase diverse individuals.
- We also committed in Q4 of 2022 to ensure that at least 50% of all new imagery on the site features diverse individuals. So far, we have been successful in this endeavor.
- Additionally, we have committed in 2023 to producing at least ten articles promoting black-founded or owned skincare brands.
Today, we are pleased to have a diverse, knowledgeable, and kind team researching and creating content for GoodGlow. The team currently spans five different countries, and their backgrounds are a testament to their knowledge and passion for improving the health of others.
We will continue to update this page to highlight changes to our editorial process and diversity & inclusion policy as GoodGlow grows and evolves.
Although we work hard daily to promote diversity and inclusion, more is needed. We will never be able to do enough. Please let us know if you see something on our site that could be more inclusive to underrepresented individuals. Our editorial team will try their best to accommodate recommendations geared towards promoting diversity and inclusivity.
Product Reviews & Affiliate Disclaimer
As stated above, we try to separate writers from our monetization team. Our team writes articles regardless of whether or not we believe we will make money off the post. Once posts are written, reviewed, and published, our partnerships team analyzes the article to see if there is potential to monetize through affiliate links or advertisements.
The money we make off affiliate sales allows us to fund more research, buy products to test, and hire medical doctors to consult for research-heavy articles. If you are interested in learning more, please read our full write-up on GoodGlow’s product review criteria.
Feedback
GoodGlow is nothing without its community. What started as a group chat with a few friends and family members has transformed into a vital resource that tens of thousands of people utilize every month. I attribute GoodGlow’s success mainly to its reader base. We are fortunate to have a passionate, engaged community that does not hesitate to offer suggestions, advice, and regular feedback. That has been and will continue to be our north star. Please let us know if you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback for GoodGlow. We read every single message and sincerely appreciate you taking the time to help us improve.
