Advertising Disclosure and Sponsorship Policy for AreYouFashion
Quick answer: This is the advertising disclosure for AreYouFashion. It explains how we label advertising, sponsored content, studio work and affiliate links so readers always know what is commercial. Our editorial, reviews and recommendations are never for sale, and we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
Key takeaways
- Purpose: to make every commercial relationship visible to readers.
- What we label: advertising, sponsored content, studio work and affiliate links.
- Editorial firewall: coverage and recommendations cannot be bought.
- No hidden links: we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
- Standard: we follow the FTC endorsement guidelines.
Why we publish this disclosure
Trust depends on transparency, and a fashion, beauty and lifestyle publication that earns revenue commercially owes its readers a clear account of what is paid and what is not. This disclosure sets that out plainly so you can read AreYouFashion knowing exactly when a brand has paid for or supplied something, and when you are reading our own independent view. We would rather over-explain than leave any room for doubt, because a reader who trusts our labelling is a reader who can act on our advice. The principle behind everything below is simple: if money changed hands, or a brand supplied something, you should be able to tell at a glance. We apply that principle whether the arrangement is large or small, ongoing or one-off, and whether it sits inside an article, beside it, or within a link. Disclosure is not something we add reluctantly to satisfy a rule; it is part of how a publication earns the right to be believed, and we treat it that way.
Advertising
We carry advertising — display placements and packages — which is always identifiable as advertising rather than editorial. Advertisers buy space and attention, and nothing more. Advertising does not buy a review, a place in a buying guide, an interview or a mention inside independent coverage, and no advertiser is shown our editorial in advance or given influence over it.
Sponsored content
We publish sponsored content: articles funded by a brand and clearly labelled as sponsored so there is no ambiguity about their origin. These pieces let a brand tell its own story, but they are kept separate from independent editorial and are never presented as our own recommendation. A sponsored article does not become part of our reviews or guides. We also design the labelling so it stays visible however you arrive at the piece — whether from search, a social link or our own pages — because a disclosure that only appears in one route is not really a disclosure at all. And while a brand shapes the message of its own sponsored piece, it never gains any say over our independent coverage as a result; the two are handled by different processes and held to different purposes. Buying a sponsored slot buys space to tell your story, and nothing beyond it.
Studio and branded content
Our content studio produces branded content for brands. When such work appears on AreYouFashion, it is clearly labelled as brand-funded. Producing creative for a brand never earns that brand independent coverage or a place in our guides — the studio is a production service, not a route into our editorial.
Affiliate links
Some articles contain affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships never determine what we feature or how we rate it; the recommendation always comes first, and the link is added afterwards only where it genuinely helps the reader. Full detail is in our affiliate disclosure.
What we do not do
To be completely unambiguous: we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links, covert mentions, or places inside our independent guides and reviews. Our editorial, reviews and recommendations are never for sale at any price. If anyone offers you these in our name, it is not genuine and does not reflect how we operate — please tell us via our contact page so we can look into it.
How we label commercial content
Commercial content carries a clear label — such as “advertisement”, “sponsored” or “in partnership with” — positioned so it is visible before you engage with the content, in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines. Affiliate links are disclosed on the pages that use them. Where any relationship could reasonably influence how you read a piece, we disclose it rather than assume you will infer it. We aim to make labels plain rather than technical: wording a reader understands at a glance, placed where it will actually be seen, not buried in small print at the foot of a page. The goal is that you never have to work out whether something is commercial — it should be obvious from the moment you arrive. If you ever find a label unclear, hard to spot or missing, we treat that as a fault to fix, not a detail to defend.
Gifts, samples and events
We may receive product samples or invitations to events and launches. These never guarantee or shape coverage, and any resulting review remains fully independent and can be unfavourable. Claims about products — particularly in beauty and wellbeing — must be substantiated before we repeat them, and we will say so plainly if the evidence is not there. Being sent a product to try is a normal part of how any fashion or beauty publication works, and it does not put us under any obligation. We are free to be positive, lukewarm or critical, and a gifted item is treated exactly as a bought one would be. Where the fact that we received something could reasonably matter to how you read a piece, we note it. The gift secures our honest attention, never a favourable verdict, and nothing about receiving it changes where a product does or does not appear in our independent guides.
Questions and corrections
If anything here is unclear, or you think a piece of content is not properly labelled, contact us and we will review it promptly. We would far rather fix a labelling gap quickly than leave a reader unsure about what they are reading. You can reach us any time via our contact page.
Who you are working with
AreYouFashion is an independent fashion, beauty and lifestyle publication run by a named editorial team with published standards. You can read more via about us, our team, editorial policy, affiliate disclosure. Our reviews, edits and recommendations are decided by that team and are never for sale; commercial work is always kept separate and clearly labelled in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links, and nothing on the site is written to order inside independent coverage. To reach the partnerships desk, use our contact page or email partners@areyoufashion.com.
Frequently asked questions
What does this advertising disclosure cover?
It covers how we label advertising, sponsored content, studio work and affiliate links across AreYouFashion.
Does advertising affect your editorial?
No. Our editorial, reviews and recommendations are never for sale. Advertising buys space, not coverage.
How will I know if content is paid?
Paid and brand-funded content is clearly labelled, and affiliate links are disclosed on the pages that use them.
Do you sell links or covert mentions?
No. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links or covert mentions of any kind.
What standard do you follow?
We follow the FTC endorsement guidelines for disclosure and labelling.
Do free samples influence reviews?
No. Samples and invitations never guarantee or shape coverage; reviews remain independent.
How do I report a labelling problem?
Contact us via our contact page and we will review and correct it if needed.