Every kit and product on this site is scored against a transparent five-factor model. Each factor is scored on a 1 to 10 scale, and the weighted sum becomes the overall score you see in the review. Here is exactly what each factor measures and why it matters.
The five factors
1. Value (25% weight)
Price per usable ounce, adjusted for the number of products in the kit that you would actually reach for again. A kit that gives you seven travel sizes you will use once scores lower than a kit with three full-sized hero products.
2. Ingredient quality (25% weight)
Are the hero actives at a percentage that actually matches the claim? Is the formulation pH-appropriate? Are the fillers reasonable? Are there red flags — denatured alcohol high in the INCI list on a “sensitive” product, fragrance in something sold for rosacea, that kind of thing.
3. Efficacy (25% weight)
Does it actually do the thing. Hydration that lasts into the afternoon. Barrier repair you can feel within a week. Brightening that shows up in before-and-after photos under the same lighting. Scored from our own multi-week trials and cross-referenced against community feedback on r/AsianBeauty and TikTok.
4. Experience (15% weight)
Texture, scent, how the products layer, how the packaging feels in the hand, how likely you are to actually keep using it after the novelty wears off. This matters more than beauty reviewers admit — the best routine is the one you stick with.
5. Giftability (10% weight)
How well the kit presents as a gift, travels, and holds up in a bathroom shared with someone who is not as into skincare as you are.
Badges
On top of the score, a kit can earn a badge: Editor’s Pick, Best Value, Emma’s Pick, Best for Sensitive Skin, Beginner Friendly, Luxury Splurge, Underrated Gem, or Gift-Worthy. Badges exist because reducing a good kit to a single number is reductive. A kit that scores 8.3 for oily skin may be wrong for you if you are dry — the badge tells you that.
Freshness
Scores go stale. We re-score every listed kit at least once a quarter, and reviews with price data older than 30 days automatically fall out of price-comparison widgets until refreshed. Every review shows a visible “Last updated” date.