About Isha Says
An honest, ingredient-led Indian skincare review site. Here's how we work.
How we review products
Every product we review starts with the ingredient list. We read the INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) list, identify key actives and their likely concentrations, and cross-reference with peer-reviewed research where it exists.
We evaluate formulations on three criteria: efficacy (do the ingredients do what the brand claims?), safety (are there known irritants, comedogenic ingredients, or concerning combinations?), and value (does the price reflect the formulation quality?).
We do not accept product samples or payment for reviews. If we buy a product ourselves or receive it unsolicited, we disclose this. Our ratings and "Our Take" sections represent our genuine editorial assessment.
Our commitments
- ✓ No brand has ever paid for placement, a review, or a rating on Isha Says.
- ✓ Products are ranked by formulation quality and value — not by affiliate commission rates.
- ✓ If a product has serious concerns, we say so clearly — even if we have an affiliate link for it.
- ✓ We update reviews when formulations change. If a brand quietly changes an ingredient, we'll flag it.
- ✓ We will always be honest about what we don't know.
Affiliate links
Some "Buy on Nykaa", "Buy on Amazon", and "Buy on Flipkart" links on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you.
Affiliate income helps keep the site running and the database growing. It does not influence our reviews. We apply affiliate links equally to all products, regardless of commission rates.
All affiliate links are marked with rel="noopener nofollow sponsored" as required by Google's guidelines.
Why Indian skin specifically?
Most skincare content is written for Western skin tones, Western climates, and Western budgets. Indian skin is more melanin-rich, Indian climates range from humid coastal cities to dry northern plains, and Indian water is often harder than in European countries where many products are formulated.
These differences matter. Retinols may cause more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) on deeper skin tones. Heavier moisturisers may pill in Mumbai humidity. Some sunscreen actives leave a white cast that's less visible on lighter skin but very visible on darker skin.
We factor in these realities when writing reviews. Our skin type tags and concern tags reflect the Indian context.
Contact
Spotted an error? Have a product you'd like us to review? Found an ingredient in our database that's wrong? Reach out — we take accuracy seriously.