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 curling wands, tongs and wavers, tested by over 100 women
Find out which hair tools our testers loved...
Rubber ducks at the ready, this is the best baby bubble bath for their sensitive skin
Bubble beards incoming
Soft and safe: the best baby lotions, approved by over 100 parents
For skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom
The best baby shampoo and body wash, tested and approved by 190 parents
Soft hair and skin, without the tears
The best parenting products of 2025, from car seats to sleep suits
From the car seats that offer the smoothest ride to the cosiest sleep suits, the Good Housekeeping Institute reveals its winning buys for babies (and parents)
19 best baby wipes to clean up any mess, expert-tested
Deal with anything life throws at you (literally) with these GHI Approved wipes
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
17 best LED face masks for firmer, glowing skin, tested by 170 people
“After the second use my skin feels more youthful, less saggy, less red and more evenly toned”
The GHI guide to the best hair removal products for epilating, shaving and IPL
Whichever method you choose, the GHI has got the best tool for the job
The best illuminating primers for glowing skin, tried and tested
Achieve flawless dewy results, whatever your skin type
It's your last chance to shop the best Amazon Prime Day beauty deals!
Tried and tested favourites, including ghd, Medik8 and Shark
Prime day ends at 11.59pm: 17 best baby deals to shop before they go
Shop with big savings on the must-have parenting products
‘I’ve tried dozens of LED masks and Shark's £269 CryoGlow Mask is the only one I’ll use now’
Our beauty team trialled it for a month and were stunned
The best fake tans for a summer glow, tried and tested by 250 women
Sunshine in a bottle
The best nappy creams, tried and tested on over 100 baby bums
The Good Housekeeping Institute gets to the bottom of it
The best blackhead removers and pore vacuums, tested on 65 congested noses
“This completely cleared my pores and minimised their appearance”
The best sulphate-free shampoos for a gentler clean, tested by 580 women
Keep your hair clean without this harsh chemical
Best nipple creams recommended by midwives and mums – and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute
Only the best for your breast
The best SPF moisturisers to keep skin bouncy as it ages
‘My skin is in the best condition ever after using this!’
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...
9 best vitamin C serums for glowing skin, according to 270 women
Here to bust that pigmentation and restore radiance
'My hair looks fuller’: We tested an LED Hair Regrowth Helmet for 16 weeks and here's our verdict
Currentbody claims its LED Hair Regrowth Device generates 126% more growth than topical, laser and supplement treatments alone. We investigate…
The best neck creams that genuinely soften and tighten skin, according to 160 testers
“My neck was so smooth and plumped!”
4 best epilators for easy at-home hair removal in 2025
Psst...some of these tried and tested tools are over £150 off right now
The best pregnancy-friendly skincare products to tackle acne, dryness and melasma
For the ultimate pregnancy glow
8 best hair growth supplements, expert tested
'By the three-month mark, most of our panel reported shinier, stronger and thicker hair'
The best products for smoothing frizzy hair, according to over 240 women
If you're off on a humid holiday this summer, these formulas deserve a spot in your suitcase
Fix patchy tans fast: The best fake tan removers that actually work
Shed your streaky skin with a fake tan remover
7 best facial cleansing brushes for declogging pores, starting from £30
These clever tools passed our tests, according to 195 panellists
The best shampoo, conditioners and treatments to reduce menopausal hair loss
The GHI recruited 570 perimenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal women to put them to the test
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
13 best body groomers for men, tried and tested
Tackle unwanted body hair with these trimmers