The supporter edition.
Glow has always been free to read and always will be. Glow Premium is for the readers who want more — the full Confessions archive, the printable Glow 100, monthly editor Q&A, and advance access to every new ranking. AU$8 a month, less than a single coffee, supports the publication's editorial independence directly.
AU$8 /month →What you get with Premium.
Six things, on top of everything that's free for everyone. Each of them was added because subscribers asked for it.
The full Confessions archive.
Every Confessions essay we have ever published, organised by category and editor. Read the full back catalogue of expensive mistakes our editors have made so you do not make them too. New essay added every Tuesday.
The printable Glow 100 PDF.
The 32-page print-quality version of our annual list of record. Designed for your bathroom shelf — readable while applying SPF. The full ranking, full editor verdicts, with retailer prices that update twice a year.
Monthly editor Q&A.
Submit any beauty question; one of our six category editors answers it personally. Published in a monthly subscriber-only Q&A drop. Past questions covered everything from "should I use both retinol and AHA" to "is the Foreo UFO actually worth it" (no, see Confessions).
Advance ranking access.
Premium subscribers see every new ranking 7 days before public publication. Useful when a category re-test changes your routine — you find out before everyone else does, and your retailer of choice sometimes still has stock.
Quarterly editor's pick.
One product per quarter that an editor personally champions outside the standard ranking system. Often a smaller brand, often the editor's actual most-used product of the season. Comes with editor commentary and a discount code where the brand offers one.
The annual reader survey.
Premium subscribers vote on the products that get re-tested next, the categories we add, and the editors we hire. The publication is shaped by the people who pay for it. Survey results published annually as an editorial feature.
Free vs Premium.
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Category rankings (40+) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brand reviews (32+) | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Glow Edit weekly newsletter | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Routine Builder quiz | ✓ | ✓ |
| Latest Confessions essay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full Confessions archive | — | ✓ |
| The Glow 100 printable PDF | 3 referrals | Included |
| Monthly editor Q&A | — | ✓ |
| 7-day advance ranking access | — | ✓ |
| Quarterly editor's pick + discount | — | ✓ |
| Vote in the annual reader survey | — | ✓ |
| Sponsored content in your feed | Occasional | Never |
Choose your support level.
The annual tier is two months free. The Founder tier is for readers who want to support the publication beyond their own use.
Monthly
- Everything in Premium
- Cancel anytime
- Switch to annual any time without penalty
Annual
- Everything in Premium
- 17% saving vs monthly
- Glow tote bag (limited to first 500 annual sign-ups in 2026)
- Priority response on editor Q&A
A "Founder" tier at AU$240/year exists for readers who want to support beyond standard subscription. Includes everything in annual plus an annual one-on-one call with an editor of your choice. Limited to 50 subscribers per year. Email us if interested →
Common questions.
Will rankings ever go behind the paywall?
No. Glow's category rankings — the public service editorial — will always be free. Premium is for the supporter content (Confessions archive, Glow 100 PDF, editor Q&A, advance access). Putting rankings behind a paywall would defeat the publication's purpose.
How does Premium affect editorial independence?
It increases it. Subscriber revenue is the most editorially-protective income line we have — it does not depend on retailer relationships, brand partnerships, or sponsored editorial. The more Glow is reader-funded, the less we depend on commerce, and the cleaner the editorial wall stays.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Monthly cancels at the end of the current billing period. Annual is refundable pro-rata for the unused portion (no penalties, no questions asked). The cancel button is in your subscriber dashboard, not buried.
Is the Glow 100 PDF different from the website Glow 100?
Yes. The website version is the full ranking with affiliate links and continuously-updating prices. The PDF is print-quality, designed-for-paper, with no affiliate links — the document you actually keep on a clipboard or print and pin to a wall. Same verdicts, different format.
What if I subscribe and don't use it?
Refundable within the first 30 days, no questions. After that, monthly cancels anytime, annual prorates. We do not run "save offers" or retention discount tactics. If Premium isn't useful to you, we'd rather you didn't pay for it.
Do Premium subscribers get featured in editorial?
No. Subscribing does not buy you any editorial coverage, brand consideration, or product placement. Premium is a support tier for readers, not a back-door to commercial influence. The editorial wall applies to subscribers as it applies to retailers.
Support the publication you'd want to exist.
If Glow has saved you the cost of one bad beauty purchase, the annual subscription has paid for itself. Most subscribers say it has saved them several.
Start Premium →