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Nicolebjean aims to cut through the barrage of ad-driven, mindlessly compiled shopping articles most publications churn out for rankings and TikTok shop flops with thoroughly researched pieces that are actually useful. Here, you’ll find highly curated lists full of products that you (gasp!) actually *want* to buy and quality reviews that tell the whole truth and nothing but. You’ll also find killer sales on everything from party shoes to patio sets (because who doesn’t love a good deal?).

Why You Should Trust Me

If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s shopping: so much so that I turned it into a career. For the past 15 years, I’ve worked as a commerce director and editor for national sites like PureWow, Reviewed at USA TODAY, Woman’s World and First for Women. I’ve tested and written about everything from the viral Bissell Little Green to the Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow oil, so I know which products are worth your money and which ones are “meh” at best. (Go ahead and skip that oil.) More than that, however, I run an independent website that’s not beholden to advertisers or editorial policies—everything that I write here reflects my true, honest opinion.

How I Make Money

Many pages on Nicolebjean feature product links that enable me to make a commission on a portion of the items that you click on and buy. Brands can also pay for featured placements on my site. That said, I will never feature a product I don’t genuinely believe has merit, and I do not accept partnerships with brands that do not align with my product standards or site aesthetic.

How I Pick Products

Every product featured on my site is one that I’ve thoroughly researched and vetted or personally own. I write about stores and brands I trust and shop myself and avoid the ones I don’t (no Temu, Shein, or Fashion Novas, here!). I pay attention to things like design, sizing, material, cost and sustainability when choosing my picks, as well as beauty labels, like “vegan” and “cruelty-free.” I also take the reviews of others into account if it’s something I haven’t tried for myself.

How I Test and Review Products

Most of the products that I test are either sent to me by the companies that make them or are things that I bought with my own money and loved enough to feature. I will make it clear in each post exactly where the product comes from.

As for the testing process, there’s no secret method to my madness: I simply try things like a regular consumer would. For beauty, that might mean wearing a new tinted serum in place of my regular foundation for several days in a row and pairing it with different products each day. For a home appliance, like a blender, I might try out a smoothie recipe, taking note of how easy the machine is to operate and how well it gets the job done (no chunks, please).

I do make a point to try everything that I write about more than once or over an extended period of time, as first impressions can be deceiving. For instance, shoes that initially feel like a dream can give way to blisters after a lengthy hike, By trying them out for longer, I can give a more accurate review.

How I Find Deals

As a former deals site employee, sales are basically ingrained into my psyche. I know which stores have the best deals at what times of year and exactly where to find the hidden gems in those sales. In addition to my natural nose for a discount and internal BS radar (watch out for “up to” language around discounts—it generally means you won’t be saving much), I receive sale information from PR reps, subscribe to deals newsletters and check out the competition on a regular basis.

Safety

I am not a safety expert and make no claims to be one. I will note any safety issues that I may see firsthand while testing products in my reviews, but I strongly recommended checking out a manufacturer’s instructions before using anything you may find on Nicolebjean. It’s also a good idea to register your products when possible to be notified in the event of a recall. To stay up to date on the latest product information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), check out their site here.

Contact Me

For comments, questions, partnership inquiries or feedback, feel free to reach out to me at nicole@nicolebjean.com.

More About Me

Find out more about my background in journalism and commerce here.