Small rant: The Beauty Review Bandwagon

[malaviKat]

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Originally Posted by Casadalinnis To the people that receive the items from companies, more power to you. To the people like me that believed some of it, damn we were the asses that wasted the money. I have the 120 Manly palette that is the same as Beauty Factory because I believed the hype but still have yet to find out whether it contains safe ingredients or has been accurately tested....I will say I did 7 swatches for a friend and immediately washed my arm and let her know I didn't know the product safety stats and told her I was still afraid to use mine because as a friend I don't want to subject her to lead poisoning or something down the line if that proves the case. When I know it's been tested, than I will break it out but not until there's an official release of ingredients. Yay youtube hype for helping me make a purchase based on the must have of the season but I'm still terrified to break it in. Those palettes originate from China and Hong Kong and some articles in the past have been not so colorful regarding their factories and their safety so I'm looking out for me when I jumped too quick.

You bring up something here that has concerned me for a while and something that, in my opinion, has little to do with the hype of beauty gurus but is equally as important. Some of the products (palettes!) that have seemed to take off have been products with questionable origin stories. Worse are the versions that find themselves on ebay - they might have been the original product, they might have been "more affordable" dupes, it's hard to say. Well established beauty/cosmetic companies have faced backlash for years as a result of their use of questionable ingredients. Why is it that now people are so willing to trust in cosmetics that hold no manufacturer liable? (Or at very least aren't easily traced?)

 

[TISH1124]

^I agree..as Vixxan pointed out to me awhile back...Sleek palettes seem to look identical to the original fraud MAC palettes that were on Ebay...Who knows ??

 

[malaviKat]

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Originally Posted by paperfishies I don't do youtube videos but I can totally understand why a Youtuber would review only products they like...why waste time on saying, "oh I hated this it sucked" Some of the YTers like Panacea81 ( I think I spelled that right) have a massive following...Could you imagine what would happen if she totally ripped on a product she received from a small company? It could potentially cause real harm to that very small company's financial system.

I think it takes a lot of backbone to say that a particular product did/does not perform well and a lot of honesty on the part of anyone who would admit this. While I understand your concern for smaller, startup companies, I still think a fair review benefits everyone. If startup company A creates a lip product that does not perform well, then it's their lip product that does not perform well. Neither the reviewer, nor his/her audience should assume that this poor performance extends to said company's eye shadows or skin primers or (insert cosmetic here). That is the basis of a fair review. It is not intended to slag a company, but merely to suggest that money ought to be spelt elsewhere.

The benefit to this honesty is two-fold. First, audience members, avid cosmetics consumers etc. are not swayed to buy a poor product and, as a result, do not have their consumer confidence put into question. Second, this provides a company an opportunity to reformulate their product to better meet the needs of its consumers. Case in point, from what I understand, was the original #187 brush offered by Sigma. This brush was initially very sparse, with fewer white fibers than was necessary to make it comparable to its intended competition. Based on criticsm from people like enKore, the brush was eventually redeveloped. Whether or not it is "perfect" now is moot. The fact is an honest opinion did not destroy the company and now consumers have an opportunity to buy a better product. If the company chose to ignore this criticism well then, as another poster said, that's capitalism, and consumers should speak with their wallets.

As far as larger companies go, people have long been honest about their opinion of MAC foundations (as an example). For some, MAC foundations have caused horrible breakouts and are products that they will no longer touch. That said, the prevalence of this opinion has not slowed interest in either MAC foundations or the rest of their product line. (I dare say that you won't see MAC reformulate products for anyone, either). It is however possible to be honest without harming a company.

The only thing I can think is that perhaps, for many YT gurus, their fame has destroyed the anonymity of the internet and this has made it harder for them to voice an opinion as they might have once done. This is unfortunate, I agree, but to be honest, if that's the case I can't quite blame them.

 

[Shimmer]

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Originally Posted by LeeleeBell IMO there are more than 4 products to review out there at any given time. Choosing to review the same product as others is one thing, choosing to say exactly the same thing that has been said a dozen times before (and by gurus who reach the same people and more)...I don't see what the point is. Someone needs to enlighten me. It feels like a load of bs after a while. Hype for hype's sake (and probably to entice companies to send more freebies). I don't like watching infomercials...but yes I have learned a lesson and will stick to watching 3 or 4 of my favorite "gurus" and take it all with a grain of salt.

The answer to this question is because the companies go on a bit of a blitz, all pushing the same product at the same time. MakeYouPretty Cosmetics will tell its Page Ranking dept. that they want the word out on SuperGorgeousProduct, so the PR dept will contact the bloggers/vloggers with whom a relationship has been established, and send out press kits.

There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but the problem bloggers/vloggers run into is that we all want our perspective out FIRST, so when readers/viewers see the review, they d on't say "Yeah saw this on xxxx site" or something like that.

 

[paperfishies]

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Originally Posted by TISH1124 ^^ Sorry girl I didn't have time to read all that...I am busy watching all the BitchSlap reviews.... Maybe later j/k I did read it....

Ugh, I will admit the bitch slap thing is getting old. Not only is their webpage the most obnoxious damn thing around, I've used the paint wheels and it is the crappiest crap I think I've used. It's chunky and glittery and if you get a piece of that glitter in your eye, you are done for, it hurts and is a real bitch to flush out.
That company is such a turn off for me, from the promotions, the site, the name, youtube videos, all the drama whoring that went on on youtube. Ugh *pukes*. It really does seem as though a lot of the YTers who promote bitch slap do so because they got shit loads of free products from them...I haven't really noticed a lot of the more popular guru's promoting that lame excuse for a company/product. Blah, I just have such a huge problem with that company. It seems like they are trying soooo freakin hard to be edgy and in your face that it becomes obnoxious, cheesey and lame.

I did find something that I found HILARIOUS, for some reason on the bitch slap site...If you go to the before and after photos on the site and scroll to the bottom...The chick who's pictures are at the bottom...she took her pictures of her "bitch slap" look at a MAC counter! You can see the MAC brushes in beakers behind her, haha.

WWW.BITCHSLAP-COSMETICS.COM

 

[frocher]

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[lafemmenoir]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous Some things I want to clarify, not because I feel personally attacked at all, but more because I like being a part of the YT community and feel like I should try to highlight a few things from the other perspective. Most of the comments I've read are coming from people not involved in the video making process, so I just want to highlight some things from the other side of the coin. I do feel that overall, there are some pretty exaggerated statements thus far. I hope that helped to illuminate some of the issues at play here. I do feel that vloggers are sometimes used as scapegoats which is a bit unfair - most of us are just in this for fun, and to share our love of makeup with like minded people. If we were in this for money from YT Partnerships, you'd get richer investing the allotted time in a second job, rather than spending countless hours producing videos.

Julia, while I commend you for standing up for vloggers, just as it is an option for people to watch videos, it's also an option to create videos. It seems that some, not all vloggers are vlogging to promote themselves not a product. Do you meant to say you aren't interested or counting how many views you get? Or the ones receiving the most featured? It's gotten ridiculous how some will nearly tell you you will get good luck if you rate them five stars. It's not personal, it seems it's become an infomericial or self promoting rather than informative.
In addition, a person can give a good review without being obvious or over the top, I have seen it done. I don't think a product has to be slammed either in order to get an idea if one likes a product or not, I don't think it's fair to expect a "guru" to determine whether I make a purchase on a product, most can't for me, since the big named gurus don't have my coloring and therefore I can't discern how a product will look on me by how they wear or swatch it, I can get a general idea and that's all I want.
I hadn't realised YT was a hobby since it has become such an extension (follow, my blog, Twitter, Facebook, BlogTV, etc.) it seems it would be a full time job for some. I don't knock it, as it worked well for Lauren Luke but she appears to not be shilling some of obvious companies.

 

[LeeleeBell]

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Originally Posted by NernersHuman I used to think that too...but honestly I've come to believe that many people will believe a lot of these gurus even if they said curdled milk was the next great evolution in beauty. Some folks just got the charisma, I guess.

Sadly, I agree with you. I am pretty skeptical before buying...careful, and if I can be persuaded...that's something. I work in retail and I know how easily persuaded some people are.

 

[LeeleeBell]

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Originally Posted by Shimmer The answer to this question is because the companies go on a bit of a blitz, all pushing the same product at the same time. MakeYouPretty Cosmetics will tell its Page Ranking dept. that they want the word out on SuperGorgeousProduct, so the Page Ranking dept will contact the bloggers/vloggers with whom a relationship has been established, and send out press kits. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but the problem bloggers/vloggers run into is that we all want our perspective out FIRST, so when readers/viewers see the review, they d on't say "Yeah saw this on xxxx site" or something like that.

I have seen several people in blog/yt reviews who said "I bought x because I saw Tiffany talking about it in her video" and then they proceed to give exactly the same review Tiffany did (exactly the same way)...nothing else to add or say. So basically this person was (a) either trying to get free product because they know the company sends freebies out to youtubers and/or (b) wanting to jump on the review bandwagon...adding to hype that's not necessary

 

[TISH1124]

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Originally Posted by lafemmenoir Julia, while I commend you for standing up for vloggers, just as it is an option for people to watch videos, it's also an option to create videos. It seems that some, not all vloggers are vlogging to promote themselves not a product. Do you meant to say you aren't interested or counting how many views you get? Or the ones receiving the most featured? It's gotten ridiculous how some will nearly tell you you will get good luck if you rate them five stars. It's not personal, it seems it's become an infomericial or self promoting rather than informative. In addition, a person can give a good review without being obvious or over the top, I have seen it done. I don't think a product has to be slammed either in order to get an idea if one likes a product or not, I don't think it's fair to expect a "guru" to determine whether I make a purchase on a product, most can't for me, since the big named gurus don't have my coloring and therefore I can't discern how a product will look on me by how they wear or swatch it, I can get a general idea and that's all I want. I hadn't realised YT was a hobby since it has become such an extension (follow, my blog, Twitter, Facebook, BlogTV, etc.) it seems it would be a full time job for some. I don't knock it, as it worked well for Lauren Luke but she appears to not be shilling some of obvious companies.

well said....I can't speak for most ...But I notice that some bloggers...NOT ALL...will do anything to get followers...they almost beg for followers...I mean some are so bad they damn near buy members with free stuff...Oh wait they are called contest....But of course you have to be a follower to compete in the contest..Not makeup skills, looks etc...Just follow me and you are entered in the contest????....I mean to each their own I just choose to follow a select few because I genuinely like their look, like their attitude, they have mad skillz, and I like that they are having fun with what they do. It's the monkey sees monkey do's that get on my nerve...they bash the bloggers then the next week they have a blog. wtf???
I mean thank goodness for the ones that do get free stuff..some of the people spend tons of money every week just so they can have something to review to get followers...I mean how beneficial is that? I guess I just don't get it...

But some people do have the skillz to sell without speaking and I applaud that talent...Hell, Lawd knows I have bought every damn pink lipstick Shimmer wears in her fotd's and they still don't look like that one me...damnit to hell!!!

 

[frocher]

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[user79]

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Originally Posted by lafemmenoir Julia, while I commend you for standing up for vloggers, just as it is an option for people to watch videos, it's also an option to create videos. It seems that some, not all vloggers are vlogging to promote themselves not a product. Do you meant to say you aren't interested or counting how many views you get? Or the ones receiving the most featured?

Of course it is rewarding when one of my videos gets upwards of 100,000 views or gets featured, it shows me that people are liking what I do and that they are sharing that video with other people because something about it "grabbed them". Am I supposed to be feel guilty about that? Sure, it makes me happy. But I never know which video is going to be a hit, and I don't produce videos specifically to become a hit. I make videos that are fun and challenge me, or build on a new creative idea, etc. If I was in it purely to get hits, I'd do more celebrity looks (Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox anyone) or other subjects such as that. Of course, you do have to throw in some of those looks because of tons of requests for them. There's nothing wrong with feeling pride in one's work though, so I'm not sure what you're expecting me to say - should I not be allowed to feel happy when a video becomes popular? BUT, to me personally, it's not the most important thing. Some of my most fave videos do not have very many views in comparison to other more "popular" ones.


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I hadn't realised YT was a hobby since it has become such an extension (follow, my blog, Twitter, Facebook, BlogTV, etc.) it seems it would be a full time job for some.

A lot of videographers, not only in the makeup sphere, have Twitter or Facebook. Heck, people have these things outside of YT as well. So, why can't videographers promote their own personal sites on their channel? I personally love interacting with my viewers through these other sites, and I update when I have the time and interest. Sometimes I'm busy and then I just don't. I personally don't see what the problem is with having those other sites - if it's no interest to you, just don't follow or subscribe to them.

PS: What you said about Lauren Luke isn't quite true - she is sort of a unique case in the YT community anyway, but she was actually paid by Barry M to explicitly promote and use their products exclusively in many videos she did. And, she also gets gratis from other lines, I think Clinique and Bobbi Brown, which she does product placement for. So, she too collaborated with a makeup company.


The general vibe I am getting from this thread is that there are some people out there probably on YT who are in this just to get free products, and there's probably others who are pissed off that some people get gratis while they themselves do not. But I just want to reiterate that as a viewer, you shouldn't underestimate the personal integrity of a videographer just because they have tons of subscribers and viewers and get sent products. The draw of free product is not that great to some that they're willing to give a good review on a bad product. However, we also shouldn't undervalue the importance of viewers conducting their own additional research on a product and not just taking one person's word on anything. I can only offer my own opinion on something, and ANY review will be biased - that's the point, one person's personal opinion on something. Be it in a magazine or on a blog.

BTW since someone did bring up magazine reviews - do you honestly think that magazines aren't paid or sponsored by huge companies such as Chanel, Dior, Lancome, MAC etc to feature their products in their magazines? Come on, money talks. These companies are the lifeline of fashion and beauty magazines in the form of big dollar advertisements within the pages. If a magazine like Vogue or Elle were to publish relentlessly negative reviews on Dior cosmetics, do you think Dior would happily continue to spend thousands of dollars on advertising? I mean, have you ever seen a negative review on a cosmetic in a big name fashion mag? No. So to say that magazines are more reliable and unbiased in their opinions is completely false - even popular industry insiders, for example Johnny Lavoy, have spoken up on this issue.

 

[LeeleeBell]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous BTW since someone did bring up magazine reviews - do you honestly think that magazines aren't paid or sponsored by huge companies such as Chanel, Dior, Lancome, MAC etc to feature their products in their magazines? Come on, money talks. These companies are the lifeline of fashion and beauty magazines in the form of big dollar advertisements within the pages. If a magazine like Vogue or Elle were to publish relentlessly negative reviews on Dior cosmetics, do you think Dior would happily continue to spend thousands of dollars on advertising? Please! I mean, have you ever seen a negative review on a cosmetic in a big name fashion mag? No. So to say that magazines are more reliable and unbiased in their opinions is completely false - even popular industry insiders, for example Johnny Lavoy, have spoken up on this issue.

I am well aware of that myself...I realize it's done. But a lot of the products reviewed in magazines etc...we can go into stores and try for ourselves...or return if the product sucks. A lot of beauty blogs/you tube channels hype products/items that are only available online, from startup/new companies...that we have no way of "testing" in person. That's the difference to me. I think everyone "expects" magazines to hype products that they've been paid to promote....I am not sure that everyone expects youtubers/beauty bloggers to become "commercial spokespeople".

But again, to me that isn't the issue I was bringing up in the OP...although I think I have repeated myself one too many times on the matter

 

[user79]

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Originally Posted by LeeleeBell I think everyone "expects" magazines to hype products that they've been paid to promote....I am not sure that everyone expects youtubers/beauty bloggers to become "commercial spokespeople".

Hence where personal integrity comes in. My statement is that not all bloggers and vloggers can be "bought" with the allure of a free lipgloss. Bloggers and vloggers write or talk about things that hold their interest - whether that item was purchased or free should make no difference to the quality and honesty of the review.

 

[TISH1124]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous Am I supposed to be feel guilty about that? Sure, it makes me happy. But I never know which video is going to be a hit, and I don't produce videos specifically to become a hit. I make videos that are fun and challenge me, or build on a new creative idea, etc.

I think what you don't get is...You are ONE of the many exceptions to this rule IMO...and although I know you want to defend YTbloggers...but it is not directed at the true YTboggers that really have their facts together, offer helpful information, are TALENTED, people we can look at their work and say...WOW, now she/he knows makeup and knows how to apply it and knows the quality of good from bad....She has used all brands and she likes many different brands and is not just biased to the ones that simply offer free products....
I mean you have put your time in and worked hard ...you deserve your following...But you also don't have to beg for followers...you already have a good reputation established by your work alone...What about the bloggers who can't even arch their brows, are cluless on how to contour, fotd's look worse than mine...and thats bad....they bounce from product to product daily....and every product is SIMPLY THE BEST....But they want to blog just because it's cool and they are offering no valuable information whatsoever....but yet they are popping up daily....Just because you might like makeup does not make you an authority on it especially when you have no skillz at application....
So yes, you should be proud! You have amazing skills and know what works and what doesn't....But the other people polluting the www are simply trying to be like you with no experience or knowledge of doing so but hoping just because they beg up on followers they will appear that they MUST know something when they don't know squat. I mean damn...just because a person likes food does not make them a Chef....

They want to review consumer products...but have no knowledge of doing it...so those just want freebies

 

[Face2Mac]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous Of . T Please! I mean, have you ever seen a negative review on a cosmetic in a big name fashion mag? No.

Actually, yes. Allure magazine has women test products all the time and print their honest opinions of them. Usually it is face creams, anti-aging products or whether one red lipstick fits all coloring, and usually it is a mixed review. They have one it was fantastic and one it was horrible, you get both sides and sometimes they will outright bash a product (a big name company too.) People Style Magazine even prints whether you are a clown for wearing blue eyeliner and post of poll of it.

I strictly come to specktra for reviews from these informed ladies. I have tuned all the other stuff out, I usually wait now until products have been released for a while, I might be late, but I won't have threw money down the drain. I watch YT strictly for color combinations and MAC hauls. I think your videos are fab.

 

[frocher]

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[LeeleeBell]

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Originally Posted by MissChievous Hence where personal integrity comes in. My statement is that not all bloggers and vloggers can be "bought" with the allure of a free lipgloss. Bloggers and vloggers write or talk about things that hold their interest - whether that item was purchased or free should make no difference to the quality and honesty of the review.

I know it's true that not all bloggers and vloggers can be bought, but a whole lot of them out there seem to be trying really hard lol...Enough of them that we are noticing and getting annoyed by it.

I ditto the posts above who are saying this isn't about you, but more about your "copycats" out there, perhaps riding on your coattails and trying to do the exactly the same reviews as you/other trusted sources just to get free stuff. And then of course, there are those out there who just do it (copy reviews that have been done 6+ times), because they have NILS (name in lights syndrome).

 

[TISH1124]

Oh NILS....thats it.....love that! So true!!

 

[lafemmenoir]

I did not mean to offend you Julia, not at all, if you or ANYONE wants to make a web page, Twitter, Facebook, BlogTV, or buy and give all the makeup, host contests etc. that's your choice, but what I was saying was along the line of "gurus" stating how this is a "hobby" but it seems this is more of a job for them. Heck, I couldn't do it and I can't pretend to walk in your shoes, but anyone who tells me they don't get something more than the, "I do this just because I love you all..." doesn't strike me as real. Seriously, you mean to tell me there is no narcissism in the makeup guru community? What me shop with "xyz" guru ... It's easy for gurus to think people are hating on them because they're doing videos and putting in their time, money etc, but they will diss each other, diss some of their followers and compare who has the most in terms of numbers in a minute.
Please don't feel I am hating on you since most of the gurus used to be frequent posters on many of the same forums I am a part of so I don't think they are doing anything I can't do; however, makeup is shopping for me, it's not my life and though I may blog I don't do it for anything other than to put my money where my mouth is when I do make purchases and I don't advertise or anything so no before anyone says I'm jealous or hating, it's just an observation not directed toward anyone. I am more than happy for Lauren Luke, she was able to make her dream happen and get her name out there, this was a career strategy for her and I've noticed a few "gurus" dissing her skills, but one has to admit, she made good and I applaud her for it. Again, makeup is fun, I love it, but I try not to take it too serious and am offended when gurus or even sales people try to sell me anything, as I said, you can give a review indicating pro's and con's (yes magazines will do this) and say how it worked for them, what they liked or if it fared well during the day without being harsh. I enjoy YouTube, but at the end of the day, it's one of many outlets I use to advance either my skills, knowledge or simple entertainment.