Beauty & The Blog...

Today the New York Times published an article with the lovely Tia Williams in her "Beauty Room" (First of all, how great is that??) but instead of being an empowering article embracing this new form of media.  It became essentially an attack piece on Beauty Blogs as a whole. Kayleen Schaefer's acid laced piece was nothing short of bait and switch kamikaze journalism.  It was my understanding that the bloggers were being interviewed to cast light on how the new form of media is essentially replacing some traditional media outlets, instead...Schaefer comes off sounding like she is a jealous school girl who didn't get her cut.

You can read the entire piece (link below) and judge for yourself. One of the main things that bugged me so much  is the assumption that a beauty blogger only writes for swag and notoriety.  I will admit, the "swag" (if you call a $50 jar of cream swag then so be it) is nice...but I have never been given a designer anything or flown anywhere on a PR company's dime EVER.  Not to say that it couldn't happen, but it just is not happening right now (seriously...it is SO NOT).  And I feel like it was unfair to lump everyone into that pile and just assume that we all get it and in exchange for free products you are guaranteed a positive glowing review.  I have written about hundreds of products that I am not crazy about.  I just like writing about the ones that I love more.

I work really hard on this blog, it is like a third job for me (seriously - I spend nearly 20-25 hours a week on this site AND I have a job by day as a Project Coordinator AND my makeup artistry business that I operate on the weekends and evenings, plus i am a single mom).  I pay for my hosting, my domain name and other things like travel, business cards etc. out of my own pocket.  I honestly do this because I am happy to provide my readers with help and advice.  So you tell me...am I doing this for the swag (First of all what swag....I still buy products!!  I am a beauty consumer just like you.) So I think not.

Seriously, All editors of any publication are plied with certain gifts, and a blogger is no exception...that's just the way it is.  I will say this though, it is amazing that today of all days, the pre-cursor to fashion week...this supposedly defamatory article comes out.  Well guess what...beauty bloggers got more press than ever before in one day...so it backfired - take THAT Kayleen Schaefer.  I will let you, my readers be the judge and please let me know what you think about this whole thing.  Here are a few articles for your perusal, leave me a comment with your feelings on the subject good or bad.

New York Times
Jezebel
Jossip
Tia Williams
Beauty Addict

Read Pretty!!

Comments

[Ellen]

Not impressed with the Times piece but then again the dark cloud of the Jason Williams scandal still hangs over them IMO. The writer seems likes she's so impressed with herself (beauty bloggers get free swag!!) but most bloggers freely admit this. I've never seen a magazine own up to its swag or the contracts which don't allow them to say negative things. The Times comes off looking intimidated by a new brand of journalism. As for me, I treat blogs like I treat the advice of a girlfriend, half of the fun or more is the discussion. And I'm still more likely to buy a product that a blogger recommends then a mag because I have yet to see a blog that rec's Great Lash Mascara. A blogger might be influenced by a company but they aren't total sellouts either.

[Kristen]

The Times article was essentially a journalistic booby trap. I was told I was being interviewed about how beauty companies and agencies are recognizing the growing influence of blogs, and instead it's some kind of third rate "expose" that paints all beauty bloggers as opportunistic, greedy sycophants who are rejoicing because they no longer have to "beg" for free product.

And then my comments about how I think it's important to be diplomatic and balanced get spun into this idea that I'm afraid to post negative reviews. Give me a break. Kayleen Schaefer is a snake and an idiot. I'm ashamed to even be included in this article.

[Erin @ Scandalous Beauty]

Preach Lianne! That's my thing...we are beauty junkies just like everyone else. I'm a broke college student and live and breathe for my blog, still having to pay for many things with the money from my retail job. And yes, what swag?? We don't think we are Anna Wintour! Gimme a break....

[Beth]

Absolutely! I completely agree with Kristen! Blogs are at least up front about what goes on between them and companies. I blog because I like to, and since I am new to it, I have yet to recieve a single free item! Doesn't stop me from ranting and raving about the products I try. There are thousands of beauty bloggers out there and I'm willing to bet that the majority of them are just like me, doing it out of passion not greed for free "swag"! Any press is good press, but lets see some letters to the editor, defending our integrity as Beauty Bloggers ladies!

[Me&me]

Beauty blogs are just like Oprah's favorite things. I read the blogs because you guys do all the hard work for me. I also read the blogs to find out about new things. Plus its fun reading about the fashion world and seeing regular people meet the people I could only dream of meeting. What the regular mags dont get is that blogs are real like your friend who gives you advice and show you how to wear makeup, unlike the glamor mags that show you unattainable beauty. When I look at glamour I think "I can't" wear that, when I read the blogs I think "I can" and that inspires me more than seeing anorexic models.

[Jamie]

I am also so infuriated by this article. The writer for the Times comes off sounding like someone who wishes she could have a successful blog but couldn't, so instead she decided to bash everyone who could. I think we all agree that we work hard and love what we do. We need to band together and fight back!

[Josi Lauritzen]

I agree. Basically she doesn't seem to get how the beauty industry works.......it thrives off junkies just like us!......I have been pushing product in some shape or form for these guys going on 13 yrs now......and used to literally donate bags and bags of products they gave me to my family and friends,there was no way I could use it all. ...BUT as retail/corporate employees it was still OUR DECISION as to what we tried and loved and recommended to others......isn't that why stores have buyers?
I don't see sampling beauty bloggers as anything different from what these cosmetics companies have always done....except times are different since they've realized how much money they can make in e-commerce.
I don't see anything wrong with accepting free product, swag...bring it on I say! But as far as my blog would go, honesty is the best policy....."if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"...we don't have to review a product if we don't like it..free or not...But we can mention our negative opinions in a very diplomatic way....
I mean, thats why blogging sites are so great...you know the products these girls choose to feature probably work pretty well.....and as a reader who buys on recommendations, I can always return it if I want to, right? No different than buying from the counters, I'd say!

[Breezy]

I'm so mad about this article. I love beauty bloggers! You guys are the honest ones out there and whenever I want to try something new, I look at your site and others first. I trust the opinions written by you guys and often rely on them in purchasing new products. Keep up the good work! Don't let her get you down.

[MizzJ]

This is a great post! I totally agree with you. Traditional fashion/beauty magazines shouldn't feel threatened by bloggers at all! Why do traditional media always seem so aggressive against new forms of media rather than embracing change like their audiences? I love reading my blogs, but I also still subscribe to magazines. Fashion magazines are like indulging one's fantasy where we're all airbrushed and glamorous, whereas blogs are like gossiping with your girlfriends. Besides which, writers for magazines get free swag AND a salary - do most bloggers get that? I think not.

http://highmaintenancewoman.blogspot.com

[The Glamour Bee]

I thought it was a pretty fair article but, unfortunately, she puts the stuff about the woman starting the blog just for swag at the very end, so that's what people will take from the article: that all beauty bloggers only do it for the freebies.

[Bethany]

I saw a post on this article on Tia's blog. It's so disappointing. As someone said, we come to the beauty blogs because you all really care. You give great pointers and tips about products. And you're approachable. I hope that article backfires on that woman.

[Bionic Beauty]

Great piece. I agree with what Me&me says above "When I look at glamour I think "I can't" wear that, when I read the blogs I think "I can" and that inspires me more than seeing anorexic models."

That is what makes blogging worthwhile. Being part of a community, building friendships, and getting each others thoughts on products, styles, and trends. And blogs are flexible enough to publish quickly and honestly.

Thanks for a great response!
Jami
Bionic Beauty

[Ellen]

I have been reading the New York Times article about beauty bloggers and several blogs that have responded to them and I am a bit surprised. Either there is a huge difference between Europe and the US when it comes “writers”, “bloggers” and “the beauty industry” or my English is not good enough to fully understands the article…

I am a beauty/fashion blogger from Europe and let me give you some in-depth about the traditional beauty magazines and websites here. It is common for the companies behind them and their writers to receive gifts and trips, to ensure that they write positively about certain products. Off course brands are willing to pay thousands for advertorials. So the major magazines have now started their own blogs. Which contain mostly product promotions and advertorials, dressed as blog posts.

When it comes to receiving gifts, products and this is not new. This has been around since the 1890s. The main difference between independent bloggers and magazines, websites and blogs owned by the major corporations, is that independent bloggers give their own opinions about brands and products. Instead of writing about a product because the brand is paying you, your boss or that someone is afraid to give their opinion, because someday that brands might want to advertise.

It’s good that the a company as big as the New York Times is noticing beauty and fashion blogs. Mainstream media in Europe is not there yet to recognize beauty and fashion blogs.