A recent article on Independent Fashion Bloggers on posting about “courtesy of” products got me thinking about how we as beauty bloggers write our reviews with products provided for consideration.
As IFB is a blog predominantly for fashion bloggers in the US, the article talked about personal style posts of bloggers wearing clothes provided to them for free by certain clothing brands. The question posed in the article asked the readers of they were bothered with posts of bloggers always featuring a majority of clothes provided courtesy of the companies?
Reading that article got me thinking about beauty blogging, and the posts we write on reviews of products that are provided for consideration. I’d like to follow the tone of the IFB article and make this into an open discussion as well.
If you are a beauty blogger, do you write reviews for said products consecutively, or do you break up the flow of your reviews with products you’ve purchased? If you’re a reader, does it bother you to read review after review of products that were provided for consideration?
Here’s my take on it. I think it’s fine to receive product for reviews. There’s nothing wrong with it, as long as it’s related to your blog, and you’re honest and open about it. However, I do think it’s a good idea to mix it up, to review one product that was provided for free, and the next day to review something you’ve purchased. Perhaps do a non-review post instead. I understand that it’s difficult because we do sometimes get inundated with a lot of products from PRs, events, etc, and the only way to get them reviewed as soon as possible is to schedule them one after another.
Personally, I’m not keen on writing consecutive reviews, and I try not to do so if I can help it. It breaks up the monotony of the blog, and it makes it more interesting for you to write, and for your readers to enjoy. It’s nice to mix your reviews with some products you’ve purchased as well. Surely you buy beauty stuff too! 😛
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this issue, because it will also help me in how I should schedule my posts in future. Does it bother you to always read reviews of products that are provided for consideration?
I think if your blog is 100% product reviews, it’s a lot harder to mix it up. Buying products is expensive, and often what I buy for myself is soap or boring stuff. If you’re lucky enough to have a blog that is fashion or beauty related but is also diverse, in terms of having a mix between say outfit posts, reviews, commentary, etc, then it’s easier to not have 100% “provided for consideration” at the end of every post, or asterix-ed next to every product.
From a readers perspective, I get quite bored when I know a blog is made up of mostly PR-sent products. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it makes me question their motives and how honest they can be when the blog obviously has a lot invested in their PR relationships.
It is a really fine line though.
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CClarebear: I know what you mean, and that’s why I asked the question. As a blogger, it’s difficult to not write about the stuff that I receive as I don’t buy much beauty products anymore (except for makeup. I cannot NOT buy makeup). So it seems like every product I do review are the ones I get from PRs.
From a reader’s perspective, however, I do feel unreasonably irked at reading reviews of products received again and again. I don’t know why. It’s not fair to do so, because I write them as well, but …. sigh.
Like you said, it really is a fine line.
Whenever I see that a product has been provided for consideration, I get weary of what has been said about it. Even if the poster has an honesty policy, I just can’t help it. I prefer to read reviews from products which have been purchased instead. But meh, that’s just me. I’m a cynical pessimist :/ I do, however, appreciate that products provided do open your eyes to new things you might have otherwise overlooked 🙂
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Rin: I don’t believe you’re a cynical pessimist, because I feel exactly the same. Hence the reason for the blog post. I wanted to know if it bothered anyone if they read review upon review of stuff they did not purchase themselves.
On the other hand, I do want to write about the stuff I received, especially the good and the bad ones (the ones I feel indifferent to, I don’t bother much). So on a blogger’s perspective, I feel one way, but on a reader’s perspective, I feel another. Gah, I’m such double standards! >.<
Frankly, it doesn’t bother me. I mean, if the blogger is not honest, you can tell pretty much quite easily. Also, if it’s an active blog, are we supposed to expect the blogger to purchase everything with his/her own money? That’s just ridiculous! Unless of course, it’s that blogger’s full time job, and the blog is making lots of money from advertisements. Even that, if the blog is so successful, I’m sure it’ll get even more attention from PR.
I love reading beauty blogs, and I always take it with a pinch of salt. I’m sure many do their research and blog hop before purchasing something. I don’t understand how it can be a huge fuss if someone decides to frequently do reviews of products sent for consideration. To each its own. Blogging is a personal thing, business or not. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. For me, it’s simple like that.
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Lily: When I first started blogging, I didn’t receive any free products (unless you count a small bottle of lotion from the US one time :P), until I came to Australia. For that year, everything I reviewed were purchased out of my own pocket. It wasn’t easy, but it was doable 🙂
I do agree with you that blogging is a personal thing for us readers, whether it’s a business to the blogger or not. If I like the writing style, I couldn’t care less about whether the blogger purchased it or not 🙂
I’m fine with products provided for consideration – it means a blogger has a wider reach. We don’t always have access to all brand/products. But unless a blogger also attracts me with their writing style I don’t hang around much if its mostly PR products. I prefer to read blogs that have a personal style vs a product compendium. I’ve unsubscribed to some big blogs because of this.
On my part, I break up reviews with other posts. I don’t know if readers get bored (I’m sure they do) but I most certainly do get bored writing reviews. Besides, we try to be nice and fair when writing reviews especially for sponsored products. We’re honest yes, but for the most part we also try to be fair and sometimes all that tiptoeing feels a bit artificial to me. So my rule of thumb is if I get bored, so will everyone else 🙂
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Paris B: I hear what you say about blogs being a product compendium. I’ve unsubbed to big blogs because of that too.
Writing style is definitely important. There are blogs I thoroughly enjoy reading, even though I know that most of the products they blogged about were received for consideration. If you inject your personality into the articles, it will shine through the reviews.
Hi Tine! great post!
Hmm..re : mixing up products that are sent for review and own purchased products, I do agree with you but it all boils down to the style!
I like mixing up makeup tutorials, product reviews, (nail art tutorials) and events! It has a mix of everything and right on with what other commenters say, even if its purchased or sent for review, you’ll know if the writer is talking “bull” just to kiss ass 🙂
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Nikki: Ahh and that’s why I enjoy your posts Nikki. There’s a good mix (ending the week with food!) of posts which keeps all of your readers thoroughly entertained 🙂
I tend to be picky so I will only accept if the product is something I would use or would like to try. I can safely say 99% of my content consists of stuff purchased on my own. But PB is right, it does get a wee bit boring if it’s just reviews alone so I need to learn how to do something “fun” in between 🙂
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Lyn: Hahaha I know what you mean. I try hard at trying to inject “fun” into the blog too, because quite honestly, writing reviews can be quite boring (unless you’re *ahem* doing a negative review :P).
i don’t really mind if the review is on product being sent or purchased. i usually form my own judgement after reading a while if the blog is worthwhile to read and if the review is honest or not (of course that’s just my judgement). i prefer to read reviews where the blogger has actually use the product than just a marketing / pr blurb.
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Coco: I hear you on the PR blurb. Bloggers should never regurgitate press releases. Ever.
Great post, Tine!
Personally, as a reader of other blogs, I’m not too fussed about reading review after review of products sent for consideration as I take every review, be it those personally bought by the blogger or those they got for consideration with a grain of salt anyway. I read their review out of interest of their thoughts and only really analyze it’s possible efficacy on myself if the product is of interest to me. I’m not fussed at all about reviewing products being accepted for consideration as I myself accept it and acknowledge that without products provided for consideration, the breadth of reviews we’re able to cover as bloggers would be way limited. Plus, to me, it’s the blogger’s blog so really, they should be able to write the blog as they see fit.
As a blogger, I try to break the monotony by mixing it up as I know there are some readers who’d like to see that the blogger is not just reviewing products provided for consideration but is also purchasing her own products and laying out her thoughts on them. So I mix them up – in a week, it’s almost a 50-50 divide between the two categories. I also try to mix up reviews of haircare, bodycare, makeup and skincare in a week so as not to be reviewing moisturizer after moisturizer, lotion after lotion, etc.
I must admit though I sometimes try to break the monotony of review after review with other stuff, I don’t think I’m as talented as other bloggers (including yourself 🙂 )out there who do tutorials, other interesting beauty posts such as tips, tricks etc, so I keep my blog on an almost laser focus towards reviews. So instead I break it up with other brand awareness type posts through interviews etc. 🙂 I like to think I’m covering a niche interest in reviews though I’m sure there are readers who get bored to reading a review after another as so many of the commenters above have attested. LOL!
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Nadia: That’s a good idea, Nadia, to mix reviews of different genre of products. I try to do that too as much as I can. I can’t do tutorials either (hell no when it comes to makeup. I have to look at other blogs for that!), so that’s out of the question. The interviews you do with brand owners are fantastic too 🙂
Having just started a beauty blog (And therefore have low readership and reach for now), I personally feel that I still prefer to purchase products for review, even though yes, I do not really mind getting free stuff to review. Not that I’m being snobbish or whatsoever, but I can be quite picky about the the things I write about based on things such as my own experiences, skin type and concerns, knowledge and skill level and level of comfort. For example, for now I don’t think I’d be writing about eyeshadows or blushers or doing FOTDs when I don’t even know how to properly use them, so what can I say about them besides the standard stuff? 😛 You know what I mean, hopefully haha! 🙂
Yes, I know it might jeopardise my blog’s future, but I feel that it’s better for my skin and myself as a whole 😡
I prefer to have blog posts that alternate between products purchased and provided in consideration 🙂 Like you said, it breaks up the monotony!
Stephanie/Yukaeshi recently posted..I Love Uniqlo!
Stephanie: Write what works for you. That’s most important. But we should also learn to push the envelope when we can. I believe it helps us grow 🙂
Yes ma’am, understood! 🙂 I will do try to compromise once in a while of course!
Stephanie/Yukaeshi recently posted..I Love Uniqlo!
I prefer reading beauty blogs with a mixture. On the topic of review posts, whether it is sponsored or bought by the blogger, I would still enjoy it more if there was a break from product write ups. I personally love FOTD posts and from there if I see a colour or brand I like I would then love a review of it. I also love these kind of posts you do where it makes you think and you can also give opinion too 😀
On fashion posts, I don’t like to see an outfit decked out in branded clothing because to be realistic, I’m not going to be able to afford it and there’s less inspiration. When a clothing or shoe is sponsored it’s very interesting to see how they incorporate it into their style with their OWN clothes. I don’t like it when the whole outfit is sponsored 🙂
Sorry for the long blabber comment Tine~~ xx
しずか ♥ (heartofpearl) recently posted..Gradient Lips | A Dark Mysterious Version & A Soft Natural Version
Shizuka: Oooh I love posts that make you think. It doesn’t have to be a controversial topic (you know that usually opens a can of worms and blows the blog wide open), but just mini topics that make you go “hmm. What do I think? Ahh..here goes!”
PS: Love your Instagram posts.
I have made the mistake in the past of scheduling a whole bunch of “provided for review posts” consecutively, didn’t even realise I had done it but some of the comments I received made me realise to mix it up a bit, however I tend to prefer to mix up topics instead like makeup, hair, skincare, nails, fashion, FOTD rather than worrying about whether the products have been received for review. Often I’ll do a FOTD where one or two of the items might have been provided but the majority weren’t however if someone doesn’t read the post correctly they might think I’ve received everything.
I guess I’m still learning to best way to balance everything out, it has been hard too after ABBW as well since we just received so much stuff! I’ve actually started backtracking through a lot of my old makeup that I bought ages ago and writing reviews of it all so I can mix it in with the provided stuff. If I read a blogger that has a lot of things provided I really do not care, I can usually tell by the way the review is written if they are sincere or not instead of it sounding like an advertorial.
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Megan: I always thought you have a great niche there, Megs, writing about life up in the air. Many of us do not have the luxury to travel by air often (I know I don’t), so it’s good to know tips and tricks to “survive” 30,000km above sea level 😛
It’s good to mix things up when blogging. Makes it more interesting for you to write, and more interesting for your readers as well 🙂
I sub to a lot of beauty blogs…and the ones I usually read are the ones who engage me and who I get to know the blogger behind the blog. That’s what keeps me reading them – regardless of whether they get their products for review. I think I mentioned it in a previous comment but I seriously have a thing about bloggers who only write positive reviews – I want to to know the nitty gritty bad side to a product too…even if it’s just the smell or whatever. NO WAY can a blogger sustain a blog if they only have good things to say about every product they review, right?? If every product is amazing, then why are you trying another moisturiser, for example…
Okay…totally went off on a tangent. I like knowing the bloggers behind the blogs…and even if they write boringly, I will still read it just because I get to know them more…I feel like a stalker now hahaha…and to be honest, I still prefer full feeds in my reader than partial feeds – they drive me nuts and even if I know them or like them…I will just skip past them and forget about them sometimes.
Okay…STILL going off tangent…
I like mixed – a bit of product consideration…a bit of what you buy…and a mix of everything else under the sun…
Ling recently posted..Love Australis FOTD
Ling: About only writing positive reviews, I have two theories, so indulge me 😛
1. The blogger is not keen on writing anything negative on the blog, which means if she encountered a product that did not work for her, she will not blog about it.
2. If the products are provided for review, she does not want to bite the hand that feeds her.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either theories. It will certainly make the blog more interesting if there are negative points to a product as well. It’s especially a fine line for #2, which was why I blogged about how we can write negative reviews and still be professional about it.
That’s the thing about blogging. No two people do it the same, and that’s why we love it! 😛
Woah. I sure wish I could quickly see the day where I ‘get inundated with a lot of products from PRs, events, etc’.
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Bun Bun: I’m incredibly blessed to be working with brands who love working with bloggers, thus I admit I do get sent products from time to time for review. After attending the ABBW and MBBE events in the span of 3 months, I did “collect” a lot of beauty products. It’s overwhelming at times looking at the mountain of stuff you’re expected to review. Every piece is a reminder of looming deadlines, and that’s no fun 😛
I’m fine with products sent from PRs as long as the blogger is open and honest about them. But I prefer when bloggers don’t post too many reviews of them in a row, but mix them up by talking of products they buy themselves. I also like when they give tips, post tutorials etc as it breaks up the monotony for both the reader and the writer. At least I’d get bored of writing reviews only…
gio recently posted..Product Review: Elie Saab Le Parfum Fragrance
Gio: I agree. A mix of posts – reviews, hauls, inspirations, quotes, personal stories, etc, is a good one. I get bored very quickly, so I can’t write reviews one after another if I can help it 🙂
As a blogger I definitely break up my PR reviews by posting about things I’ve bought or doing FOTD, NOTD type posts. As a reader of many many blogs, I don’t really have a problem with “for consideration” reviews posted one after the other. What I do have a problem with is when I know for a fact that a product has been provided for free, but no where on the post is that mentioned. It especially bugs me when all those “for consideration” reviews are always extremely positive because then I get suss about the honesty of the writer.
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Lilit: My sentiments exactly. Here’s a question for you, which has been bugging me for a while now. If you receive a lot of products for review (assuming your blog is predominantly for product reviews), would you write “this product was provided for consideration” in every single post? Do you think it will hurt your blog? Appreciate your input in this 🙂
It is always a good idea to break up the reviews with non-review posts too and give readers a chance to read something else….but I strongly think that it depends on the blogger to create an image of herself before jumping into reviews so that her reviews come out as genuine and not for her benefit or such!!! That would help the readers too and gain confidence on the blog too 🙂
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Swati: I agree with you there, Swati. In your opinion, how would you advise a blogger to create an image of herself? For example, what would you do? 🙂
that’s I think an ongoing process for the time you run your blog!!!! being honest with your posts is the only way I suppose and slowly as people recognize your style of writing, its easy to discern if a post or a review specially has been written honestly or not or has been written halfheartedly!!! I don’t think its something which can be done consciously.
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Swati: Great comment Swati! You’re right, it’s not something we can do consciously. Our personality will show in our writing, good or bad.
Getting sent products for reviews is a blessing to me. I started blogging as a student (now minimally-paid employee) and makeup isn’t cheap! But since I was working in the beauty industry, I had the privilege to try out different brand (including ones I couldn’t normally afford). Nevertheless, a lot of the stuff that I use were still bought by myself or gifted by friends and family. As for the products I receive, they’re either hit or misses and as much as I’m obligated to review them, I can’t guarantee a raving review. Some people may see it as ungrateful *shrugs* I get BORED when I simply just write sponsored product reviews but I do try to give them priority because I feel obliged to. I am still very much flattered that companies care to know what I think about their products and I’ll feedback however I can
Connie De Alwis recently posted..Naked Palette Fall Tutorial: Retro Red Carpet
Connie: Love your comment Connie. I’m incredibly blessed to be sent products for review as well, although I do admit that sometimes there’s an obligation behind those “free” products, and that can get quite overwhelming at times.
Feedback to the brand is a very good idea, whether it’s a positive or a negative one.