Maria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.
The best epilators for easy at-home hair removal, tested for speed and pain levels
Swap shaving or waxing for one of these powerful hair removal gadgets
The best fake tans for a natural-looking year-round glow, tested by 250 women
Sunshine in a bottle
The best LED face masks for firmer, glowing skin, tested by 190 people
“After the second use, my skin feels more youthful, less saggy, less red and more evenly toned”
14 best sulphate-free shampoos for a gentler clean, tested by 580 women
Keep your hair clean without this harsh chemical
The best curling wands, tongs and wavers, tested by 110 women
Find out which hair tools our testers loved...
7 best nail supplements that actually work, tested by 160 people
Suffering from dry, brittle nails? Bid farewell to the flake with these tried and tested nail vitamins
The best hair repair treatments for stronger, shinier hair, according to over 200 women
Revive damaged hair with these bond builders, approved by our panel and experts
Fix patchy tans fast: The best fake tan removers that actually work
Shed your streaky skin with a fake tan remover
The best illuminating primers for glowing skin, tried and tested
Achieve flawless dewy results, whatever your skin type
Final hours! All the best beauty deals we're shopping in the Amazon Prime Day sale, from ghd to Clarins
Tried and tested favourites, including ghd, Medik8 and Shark
The best hair growth serums for fuller, healthier-looking hair
Hair line looking a little worse for wear? These serums can help restore locks to their former glory
The best neck creams that genuinely soften and tighten skin, according to 180 testers
“My neck was so smooth and plumped!”
The best period pants and reusable pads, tested by 355 women
These sustainable sanitary products provide hours of protection and comfort
The best anti-wrinkle creams according to women over 40
We’ve tested hundreds of products that claim to minimise wrinkles and restore dull skin
The best hair growth supplements for women, tested by 150 panellists
'By the three-month mark, most of our panel reported shinier, stronger and thicker hair'
9 best vitamin C serums for glowing skin, according to 270 women
Here to bust that pigmentation and restore radiance
The best SPF moisturisers to keep skin bouncy as it ages
‘My skin is in the best condition ever after using this!’
The best shampoo, conditioners and treatments to reduce menopausal hair loss
We recruited 570 perimenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal women to put them to the test
The best affordable haircare for 2026, as tested by the GHI
The best shampoos, conditioners and more under £10, chosen with the help of 3,200 readers
The best facial cleansing brushes for declogging pores, starting from £30
These clever tools passed our tests, according to 195 panellists
Prebiotics vs. probiotics: what is microbiome skincare?
We spoke to the experts and tested products on over 170 women
The best menopause products for easing symptoms, tested by 100s of menopausal women
From bedding to supplements, our picks all feature the MTick seal
‘I’ve tried dozens of LED masks and Shark's £300 CryoGlow Mask is the only one I use now’
Our beauty team trialled it for a month and were stunned
7 best whitening toothpastes for a dazzling smile
Tried and tested by over 270 people
The best nail strengtheners to repair and protect against breakage
For when tapping them against the table all day isn't quite doing the trick...
'My hair looks fuller’: This LED Hair Regrowth Helmet genuinely made hair thicker
Currentbody claims its LED Hair Regrowth Device generates 126% more growth than topical, laser and supplement treatments alone. We investigate…
The best beauty tools that really work, from acne devices to hair removal lasers
These high-tech gadgets are bringing the salon home in 2026
The GHI’s best facial hair removal device got rid of my moustache in just 12 weeks
After decades of depilating, waxing and plucking, this is what worked
9 best scalp scrubs for thicker, healthier hair
Fed up with your itchy scalp, dandruff and thinning? Look no further than our expert-tested treatments
8 best shampoos and conditioners for curly hair, tested on 160 women
Keep your curls soft and bouncy with these curl-specific sets
5 best razor subscription services for fuss-free shaving, tested on 165 people
You'll never use a blunt razor again
The best travel hair dryers for your 2025 holiday, tested by 70 panellists
The most lightweight and compact dryers to take on your travels, according to our experts