I saw your comment and am a bit crushed!
All the results in our book are based on our testers' comments and opinions. Yes, Liz Earle has done fabulously well, over the years - because the products have done fabulously well with our testers, who trial things over a period of months, and report back very, very diligenty with the most diligent forms and scores. It really is that simple - and that honest.
There are FOUR Liz Earle products out of 260 or so in the new book The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible, which again is entirely based on our testers' opinions.
I said that Sarah Chapman's CLEANSER was my favourite cleanser and the one I use. And that the SPF15 moisturiser is the one I use. I actually state that in the new book, because it's true (and if you had a webcam in my bathroom, you'd see that). I also went on to repeat, during the later show when Liz Earle products were showcased, that the Liz Earle Superskin is 'the best moisturiser ever, ever, ever' - because I still think it is. I did not endorse any product on the show which I don't use; I read out genuine testers' comments - which are nonetheless highly impressive. Where I used it myself, I said so - but I would never claim to love something I didn't.
I am honoured to be held in such high regard by the brands - basically, their respect for Sarah and me and the way we conduct our tests is why they continue to support us with huge amounts of product for our trials, each time we write a book. I admit that I was slightly embarrassed by their comments about me, but I am pleased to have the respect of the brands because there is such a huge amount of work that goes into these books - two years, each time - that it is at least part of what makes it worthwhile.
The other great feel-good that we get is from knowing that in an incredibly crowded market, we really are working to help women identify products - out of the thousands out there - that make a difference to skin, hair, body.
I don't think you're a cynical weary old boot, but if you want to come and see how we do our testing, you're welcome, because it is a vast, military-style operation! And we are proud of it.
I hope that this may slightly have changed how you feel about the show, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I do highly rate all the brands involved and was delighted to see them there, because if they didn't deliver impressive results, they'd never make it to the pages of our book. End. Of.