Editorial and review methodology
Our working rule
Every material statement should make clear what kind of knowledge it represents. A manufacturer specification can be useful, but it is not an independent measurement. A plausible mechanism is not the same as a demonstrated clinical outcome. Personal experience is not proof of a general health effect.
Research and experience labels
PLT records six provenance states:
- Manufacturer claim: copied from an official manufacturer source, with its conditions retained.
- Third-party source: reported by a source independent of the manufacturer, including government records where relevant.
- Primary research: a direct research publication; its study design and limitations still matter.
- PLT researched: checked by PLT from cited public sources, without hands-on testing.
- PLT personally experienced: used or owned by PLT’s owner; this does not imply a controlled measurement.
- PLT tested: measured by PLT under a documented protocol.
The label describes provenance, not a quality score. At present, the launch panel shortlist is PLT-researched and not PLT-tested.
Product comparisons
We consider price and value, wavelengths, physical size, usable specifications, warranty and return terms, Australian purchasing implications, source quality, and unresolved questions. We preserve original units and measurement conditions where conversion or normalisation could imply false precision.
We do not award decimal scores or manufacture a winner when the source material cannot support one. Irradiance claims are compared only when distance, instrument and method are sufficiently compatible. Missing or contradictory data stays visible.
Scientific evidence
Evidence records distinguish laboratory, animal, observational, controlled human, randomised human, review and historical/government material. Editorial claims link to source records, and summaries include limitations. Manufacturer marketing cannot stand in for scientific evidence.
Affiliate independence
Commission does not determine coverage, ranking or conclusions. Merchant destinations are stored centrally, and affiliate status can only be activated after the owner records approval. The current product links are ordinary, untagged merchant links.
If a relationship changes, the destination and disclosure must change together. Read the affiliate disclosure →