Hearst EVP - Story 6 - Good Housekeeping

Discover Unexpected Careers at Hearst: Meet Good Housekeeping’s Senior Chemist and Cosmetic Scientist, Danusia Wnek

A Look Inside Hearst

Author: Hearst StoryStudio | Published 8/06/24

Between overblown marketing claims and unreliable online reviews, it's tough to know if a product will live up to its lofty promises. Luckily, consumers can count on Good Housekeeping. For nearly 125 years the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided tried- and tested- product reviews, and even a limited two-year warranty, for products that carry the Good Housekeeping Seal. Powered by engineers, chemists, culinary experts and nutritionists the Good Housekeeping Institute is where the science –and magic! – happens. This 18,000-square-foot consumer testing facility is located on the 29th floor of Hearst Tower in New York City. There, home appliances, tech and beauty products, apparel, and so much more are evaluated for safety, quality, and efficacy.

Danusia Wnek, senior chemist at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Danusia Wnek, a senior chemist at the Institute, works in the Beauty, Health, and Sustainability Lab, one of seven Labs in the GH Institute. There, she evaluates and recommends haircare, skincare, cosmetics, and beauty tools and ensures that products applying for the Good Housekeeping Seal live up to their claims. In addition to being one of the world’s most recognizable emblems of quality, the Seal is, in fact, a limited two-year warranty from GH that promises a product will be repaired or refunded if it does not perform as promised. “It's really exciting to be exposed to so many different product categories and to put them to the test, neck and neck, to see which ones rise to the top as the best,” Danusia says. “In addition to reviewing products that appear in Good Housekeeping, we review products for the iconic and coveted Good Housekeeping Seal, to make sure that a product will do what it says it will.”

Where Beauty Meets Chemistry

For Danusia, working for Good Housekeeping is the culmination of a lifelong goal to work in the beauty industry.

"From a young age, I always knew I wanted to be a cosmetic scientist," she recalls. "Seeing how liquid soap turns into bubbles in the bath, creating clay masks to manage my oily skin and watching women apply colors to their lips that boosted their confidence – it all made me want to understand how cosmetics work. With so many opportunities out there for chemists, it was about finding where I belonged." Danusia found her place, when, as an undergraduate at St. John's University, she interned at the Good Housekeeping Institute. The blend of creative and scientific work, driven by consumer advocacy, was exactly what she was looking for—a job where her work made a difference every day. “We’re not only making product recommendations based on performance, we’re also giving tips on how to use the products and how to make smart purchases in each category,” Danusia says. These informed analyses lead to well-rounded product recommendations, delivered through engaging and easily digestible content. "I'm naturally curious and love to keep learning and the Institute provides that diverse

As seen on @goodhousekeepingofficial TikTok feed: a behind-the-scenes look at how Danusia and our Beauty Lab test top self-tanners.

The cosmetic industry is vast, and I want to be exposed to everything it has to offer, from new brand launches to the latest technologies. The Institute is the place to be if you want to stay up to date with all the newest products coming to market."

Behind the Scenes: Testing Anti-Aging Creams

One example of Danusia’s recent work is “13 Anti-Aging Creams, Tested and Reviewed by Skincare Experts.” To help consumers navigate the overwhelming options offered by the skincare market, Danusia and her colleagues, Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizeman and Beauty Director April Franzino, evaluated more than 100 products, narrowing them down to a carefully curated selection of reliable recommendations in a range of price points. Danusia used state-of-the-art instruments to gauge product performance, including a Corneometer to test moisturizing capability and a Cutometer to measure skin firmness. She also gathered and analyzed feedback from the Institute’s panel of consumer testers, who spend weeks using a product and complete a comprehensive survey about their experience. The objective lab data and the subjective consumer feedback inform the Institute’s recommendations. “We rely on consumers in addition to our laboratory results because some products that test well in a lab setting aren’t always popular with consumers,” Danusia explains. “Results absolutely need to consider consumer opinion. If we recommend something solely based on the science but consumers don’t want to use it, then how useful is the recommendation?” For Danusia, data is paramount. Whether she’s analyzing the capacitance measurement of the skin’s dielectric constant—a scientific method for assessing moisture levels—or reading a comment card stating an anti-aging cream is too greasy, she finds joy in all aspects of her analysis. “One of my favorite parts about working at the Institute is crunching the numbers at the end of the test and comparing my data with the feedback from consumers,” Danusia says. Danusia notes that no product has ever received a perfect score in testing. Discovering a product’s pros and cons and publishing an honest assessment is a hallmark of Good Housekeeping’s consumer advocacy.

The Lab utilizes advanced tools like the Cutometer to assess skin firmness.

The Corneometer is used for most hydration evaluations and is effective for testing moisturizers. Learn more—watch 'See how we test.'

Thriving in a Culture of Care

In her ten years at Hearst, Danusia has experienced a culture of support and encouragement. “Hearst Magazines gave me the opportunity to work full-time while completing my master’s degree," Danusia says. “That really reflects the accessibility and support of our management team, who are always open to new ideas and initiatives, including my pursuit of further education.” Working at Hearst Magazines and based in the Hearst Tower, Danusia appreciates the expansive network offered by the broader organization. “The term ‘culture of care’ perfectly encapsulates not only my team at the Institute but also the broader collaborative spirit at Hearst,” she says. “I collaborate with teams in various divisions of the business on a regular basis, and I also have the opportunity to connect with other colleagues within the building through employee resource groups and Tower activities. The willingness to support one another here is truly remarkable.”