Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Jealous, are we?

SamMakeup recently wrote this article, called "Is Blogging the new media?" I'll spare you the trite summary because this article has made its rounds on the blogosphere already. I encourage everyone to read this article and give Sam your two cents. We're a thriving community of outspoken consumers and we deserve to be taken seriously.

Beauty blogging is worth its weight in gold precisely because it IS written by amateurs. I value an amateur's opinion much more than a glossy review in a magazine because the amateur is probably applying a makeup or skincare product in much the same way as I am. In fact, magazine reviews often just show beautiful images of products with a small caption. You rarely read about how best to apply a product, what it smells like, or what is an affordable dupe. I also trust bloggers because most of our products are paid for out of pocket, and it is not usually our day job. Therefore, the review is more likely to be honest and fair. When an amateur dislikes a product, they are happy to warn their readers about it. But when was the last time you read a magazine article on a product that was rubbish, or clothes that lost colors after one wash? Why doesn't Glamour run a write-up on "Products you should stay away from?" We trust bloggers because we do good and bad reviews, and sometimes even have changes of heart. It's authentic, fair, and much more in-depth than any "clinical trial" I've read about in the glossies.

It is possible that the author came in contact with some bad apples at IMATS. Indeed, there are gurus out there with huge followings and I always scratch my head why because they completely lack authenticity. As a wary consumer, I rarely take just one person's word for how good or bad a product is. I make up my mind only after reading multiple reviews on the same product. I also consider whether the blogger has a similar skin-type as me, which would obviously affect whether I too would have the same experience.

As someone who has learned everything about makeup through YouTube and the blogging community, I can honestly say that I have almost never bought a reviewed and raved product without loving it equally myself. Thanks to the beauty community, I've discovered affordable gems and must-have splurges alike. Most beauty bloggers are honest, and our collective reviews save us all the time and money of experimenting with rubbish products. Until the professionals start talking about products they don't like, and do more in-depth reviews of a single product, I'll be sticking to bloggers to help me make my next haul wishlist, thank you.

21 comments:

Jem said...

lovely thoughts,hun!
i also made a post about that article..
-___-"

looks like this is the hottest topic in town,huh?

Anonymous said...

I was suprised to read such a negative article! While i can agree that some bloggers are useless and provide little useful information it doesnt mean that someone else wont benefit from it- each to their own etc!

However like you, i would much prefer to read a bunch of reviews on a product im interested in trying out on the internet instead of one in a glossy magazine. Journalists get paid for their job and are given these products for free, of course they arent going to say a bad word about them!

I have learnt so much through youtube and fellow beauty bloggers and while i am no proffesional i dont think that means my opinions should be dismissed! Maybe the truth is that companies are getting worried seeing bad yet honest reviews of their products online because they arent living up to the claims that they company makes out they can deliver, but why should we have to pretend something is great if it isnt?? So much post editing is used on adverts now, even mascaras say how long and wonderful they can make your lashes but oh btw this picture was edited- what is the point? It is disshonest to consumers and on here girls keep it real which i love!!

I know that we can not trust everything even some of the most popular bloggers state, mainly because a lot of advertising seems to go on these days and just because they may say a product is no good for them doesnt mean i may not like it or 100 other girls may not think its their HG of a product.

I also love the aspect of swatches and nail of the day posts that bloggers can provide! Looking at a bottle of nail varnish or lipstick in a store it can be decieving to think how it will actually work or colour will transfer on a real pair of lips.

Wow rant over, but i really do think beauty blogging is great on the whole and i value the opinions of everyone on here!

Beautygirl24 said...

Thank you for the heads up about this article. I completely agree 100% with you! I'll have to read the actual article when I get home tonight.

xcharleym0ox said...

I totally agree, i much prefare reading bloggers reviews i feel like they give a more honest opinion than they do in the glossy magazines. We arn't afraid to say when we don't like a product but you never read in a magazine that they don't like something, its always just praise.

xx

Laur* said...

Well said!! x

Laur* said...

well i just read that article, and she really annoyed me! so i posted a reply.. i wonder if she will allow it?..

Maybe your jelous? Im really sorry but, is there not enough room for an individual’s views and opinions? Its not just the professionals that can be listened to, you know.

And for your information, the reason that bloggers seem to be taken more seriously that the professionals is because they are not being paid to do reviews, they do it out of passion for beauty. People will more often than not go with their thoughts because they KNOW its genuine (unless of course they are being paid for it etc) whereas professionals.. its their job. You could be lieing, then again you could not be.

What im trying to say, basically, is that your not talking from an overall view point, your talking from a very negative view point and quite honestly i find you very arrogant and insulting to all bloggers out there, as if we should be classed lower than you?

And as you say above, you don’t have any kind of journalism or writing qualifications just as many bloggers may not, so then, why are you considered to be higher than we are? Because really, you should be shutting up and doing someones makeup like your trained to do. Thats basically what your telling bloggers to do and i think its wrong.

Either accept bloggers as part of this industry, whom you can learn from and in turn teach, or shut up and let us get on with it.

Dreams That Glitter xoxo said...

Couldn't have said it better myself :)
xoxo

beautyparler said...

Yes, I too read this article & have avoided responding to it on that site because I don't want to spend too much time on the subject. Basically, everyone is entitled to their point of view. Nobody is forced to read anyone's blogs. The fact is blogs have become a popular "media" outlet & are written by someone & not advertisements but a persons point of view. Everyone has their own reasons as to why they blog, so, lets continue what we love to do & if people follow great if not that's ok too:)

Tanveer said...

I totally agree with you Ashwini! Tht is a very well written post by you..

I guess that Sam is just mad that suddenly the consumers now have a voice and won't just accept any rubbish product that the glossies decide to hype coz they have been paid to strategically advertise it.

Especially in India - where you just cannot find any reviews, has lead to some companies producing such rubbish and fostering it on us.

Helen said...

Well said! I trust blogger-reviews a lot more than 'official' reviews where half the time the companies have paid for them to be written in the first place.

Foxy Frangipani said...

Very well said, and I agree 100% with you. That is one reason why beauty bloggers blog..

Its a shame that that had to come from a "professional".

Ashwini said...

@Thiamere: it certainly has exploded as news all over the beauty blog world, and I liked your write up too!

@thedicegirl: I SO agree about the mascara ads! How is that not false advertising? It's totally ludicrous that is legal.

@Beautygirl: glad to be the bearer of such news haha.

@Charley: yup, whether or not the pros buy or get their products for free, they never give bad reviews, or at least good/bad. What the heck. Even when I rave about a product, there is still a "but" in there somewhere.

@Laur: well said, I hope she does publish your comment. She's been pretty good about that.

@Dreams: thanks. :)

@Monica: agreed. My reason is that I love writing very much, and I want to know how my write-ups are taken by this audience. That and I have a slight makeup/skincare problem. ;)

@Tanveer: oh India is impossible when it comes to finding good honest reviews. Thats why I love reading desi girls' blogs. They are priceless!

@Helen: yup, totally agree!

@Foxy: I think that's probably why beauty bloggers got started in the first place. Because we can't find honest, and critical when needed reviews from the pros!

B said...

What a great post. And thanks for sharing that article. Your sentiments line up with mine. I didn't read beauty blogs until I created one. It was then when I stopped reading magazines. Like you said, beauty bloggers have nothing to gain from posting whether or not they like a product. Allure editors, however, have to show a ton of love to their advertisers..no matter what.

♔Jaimie said...

i agree girl, i commented on the same thing

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