How We Make Money (Full Transparency)

Trusted Labels is free to read, and we intend to keep it that way. But running a research-driven review site costs real money — hosting, tools, hours of research per brand. Here is exactly how we pay for it.

Affiliate Links

Some of the links on Trusted Labels are affiliate links. That means if you click a link to a brand's website and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission. This commission comes from the brand or retailer — it does not increase the price you pay. Not by a single cent.

We participate in affiliate programs with brands we've independently reviewed and scored. We also use Amazon Associates and other retailer affiliate programs where applicable.

Affiliate links on our site are marked. When you see a "Shop" or "Buy" button on a brand review page, assume it's an affiliate link.

What We Never Do

This is the part that matters most. Here are the lines we will never cross:

• We never let affiliate status affect scores. Brands are scored using the same methodology whether or not they have an affiliate program. A brand with a generous affiliate commission gets the same scrutiny as one with no program at all.
• We never recommend a brand because they pay more. Our "Top Pick" and "Recommended" designations are based entirely on our dual scoring system — ingredient safety and independence. Commission rates play zero role.
• We never accept payment for reviews. Brands cannot pay for a listing, a review, or a higher position on our site. We have declined offers to do so, and we will continue to decline them.
• We never hide negative information about affiliate partners. If a brand we earn affiliate income from gets acquired, reformulates with worse ingredients, or does something we disagree with, we update their score and report on it. We've done this before and we'll do it again.
• We never create fake urgency or manipulative CTAs. No countdown timers. No "only 3 left!" warnings. No dark patterns. If we recommend a product, we tell you why with data and let you decide.

Our Commitment

Scores on Trusted Labels are based on objective criteria: ingredient safety data from EWG and INCI databases, certification verification, ownership research through public records, and corporate filing analysis. These are facts, not opinions influenced by revenue.

We believe the only way an affiliate site earns long-term trust is by being ruthlessly honest. If we recommended a product just because it paid well, and you or your family had a bad experience, we'd lose you forever — and we'd deserve to.

Our business model works because our recommendations work. When you trust our scores, you buy the products, and we earn a small commission. That only happens if we do our job honestly. The incentives are aligned.

Have Questions?

If you ever want to know whether a specific recommendation is influenced by an affiliate relationship, just ask. Email us at hello@trustedlabels.co and we'll give you a straight answer.