Are YOU qualified to beauty blog? (Warning: LONG)

I heard about this issue from ~tHiAmErE~. You can read her post here.

It is in regards to this article:
http://makeupadviceforum.com/2010/02/is-blogging-the-new-media/

To summarize, the author basically is saying that beauty bloggers should not be taken as seriously as MUAs or other professionals because they don't have the same credentials. Excuse me?

The author herself says:

"I will hasten to add that I’ve never been to journalism school and don’t have qualifications in writing, however, I write with a journalistic approach. When I review a product, I talk about it from both a professional point of view, and from a personal point of view. I talk about the good and bad points of a product and my articles have a start, a discussion, and a conclusion."

So she does not have real credentials either, yet she's saying that she's better qualified than the rest of us just because she writes with a "journalistic approach?"

Do beauty bloggers not write from a professional and personal point of view? Do they not look at all aspects of a product, good and bad? Do they not have thorough and detailed discussions in their reviews? Okay, I will digress that not ALL beauty bloggers might plan out their posts so meticulously, but it's certainly unfair to lump ALL of us into the category that isn't qualified to be blogging. I know I sure as hell try to make my reviews as thorough as possible, without being completely wordy but also not so brief that you wonder if I've even used the product at all.

Also something to note; not EVERYONE wants to read a fucking novel of a review, nor only an extremely short bulleted list. Different people review differently... and it's YOUR choice to decide what kind of reviews you like... she shouldn't imply that all beauty bloggers should be doing their reviews the same way as hers in order to be "qualified."

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She bases her judgement upon a few bloggers she has met, a few blogs she has read, and her view of bloggers in general. I understand and agree with her on the point that there are many bloggers out there who just blab about the latest trend products, give half-assed reviews, or only gush about freebies they got, etc. But does she realize that WE'RE NOT A SINGLE ENTITY? Yes, the beauty blogging world is rather close-knit (although I DO feel like there are some "cliques" or those who feel like they're "higher" than others) but everyone is different. Everyone has a different blogging style. Everyone has different opinions. WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. Some are professionals, yes, but some just want to share what they learned/know. What difference does it make? We all have our own opinions and are entitled to share them.

She says:

"I struggled to find blogs about core products that brands offer. Very few talk about foundations and powders and base makeup, and even less talk about staple eye products, like neutral eye colours and shades. What they all talk about is the ‘latest thing’ that’s on the market, new ‘cult’ lip products or wacky eye colours."

Well, you must not be looking hard enough. I got to where I am now by reading blogs all about the basics. You just have to go through their archives. While I do agree that there are many blogs out there who just want to be the first to review the new "IN" thing, WE ARE NOT ALL LIKE THAT. There are many blogs out there that cover the basics and staples of beauty, from drugstore to high-end. Maybe she isn't thinking of looking at their blogs because they don't have 8504917564 followers?

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Also, beauty bloggers are very important for up and coming as well as established brands/companies. I don't know about you, but I would much rather read 10 reviews written by beauty bloggers than 1 review written by an MUA. Regardless of if they're totally trashing or loving the product, I'd feel it would be more honest than a review done by a professional who probably just wants to endorse the product even if it sucks.

Furthermore, just because a product has bad reviews doesn't mean that NOBODY will ever want to buy it. If I read multiple reviews trashing a product, but I'm still interested in it, I will go ahead and try the product anyway. If it sucks, it sucks. If it works, it works -- and NOT just because I'm trying to force myself to agree with the reviews I read. Everyone is different, and will get different results. Anyways, if a large company has a product that is being badly reviewed by bloggers, it is NOT going to kill the ENTIRE business. A brand isn't made popular solely by reviews... history of the company, price, quality, customer service, availability, etc. all factor in as well.

Her example:

"OCC (obsessive compulsive cosmetics) have had great success with their Lip Tar based on blog reviews, but their other mineral products have had less than favourable blog reviews, and as a result aren’t selling anywhere near as much."

Who fucking cares? If they're having success with Lip Tars and not mineral products, then they should listen to what the consumers are telling them and quit it with the minerals and go on with the Lip Tars. Maybe the quality of the minerals SUCKS anyway. The opinions of everyday consumers are just as (if not MORE) important as professionals... I would say we're the buying majority anyway.

I guess she feels the opposite, but I know I want to hear reviews from REAL, everyday people, who aren't getting paid to do reviews and just want to offer their honest opinion. I believe I have enough sense in me to know which beauty bloggers are just blindly agreeing with what everyone else is saying about a product, and which bloggers are actually testing the product over a period of time, looking at all aspects of it, noting the pros/cons, AND THEN giving their unbiased review..... btw I don't think I've ever read a review in a magazine that really trashed a product....

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Lastly, if I don't like what I'm reading, I STOP READING IT. I can look elsewhere for the information I need. I think the author should consider trying this before summing up ALL beauty bloggers as "unqualified" or "unprofessional."

She concludes with:

"So is blogging the new media? Well it would appear that we’re going that way, but perhaps its time to take more seriously, the blogger who has a professional background to what she’s saying, rather than the one that talks the most and the loudest, often with not a lot of content."
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I guess I won't be taking her seriously then.

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