So NOT Pretty: NY Times Article on Beauty Bloggers

I've had an incredibly busy day trying to get out of the office to get to NY, but I couldn't let this day go by without addressing the article that ran today in the NY Times about beauty bloggers.  I'm on the train as I type.  Well, first the attack on some of the best beauty bloggers and my beauty buddies in the makeup jungle is so not fair.  I wonder if the Times are feeling the crunch of a new form of news medium that they had to go on the defensive.  I guarantee there is not a beauty editor in the print medium paying for those products.  Celebrities get free stuff all the time and journalists don't seem to mind that.  I'm glad to see Kristen chatting with Daria Werbowy and to know that bloggers were flown to Paris to speak with the perfumer Jacques Polge and see Chanel's apartment.  I raise my lip gloss in admiration for these ladies because it's great to see smart, intelligent, beautiful women unite in our love for beauty.  If Victoria Secret wants to fly Tia around the world, go ahead girlfriend and toss up the champagne glass for all of us.  As Jill Scott would say - "Hate on me Hater."

We all know when beauty bloggers love a product and when we hate something - we hate it.  Did they not read my write up about the Bobbi Brown Brightener which I hated, the Lancome Fatale mascara which was just wrong for me, did they not see my rant about the rudeness at the makeup counter last year, or do they understand the power of how beauty junkies united over our love the Lancome Behnaz lipstick, which I bought four from all four Lancome boutiques in the US.  Maybe, they should have been in my home last night as I sifted through my receipts from 2007 from Bergdorf, Neimans, Bendel's, Barneys, Sephora (on 2 continents no doubt), CVS, Walgreens, Target, and the Dollar Store (beauty has no boundaries). 

The best thing about the article was my fairy godmother, the uber-talented, funny, witty, smart, and fabulous writer Tia.  [I have the same exact MacBook].  Her makeup is perfect, her hair is flawless, and by golly "I want my own beauty room." 

What the blogosphere has done is given me new friends and acquaintances that I never would have met otherwise.  I don't know all my readers, but I like them all the same.  I never would have met TB from Chicago, Tara from New York or my fellow beauty buddies in the Beauty Blog Network.  The reason I started blogging is to have an online beauty party with ladies just like me.  That's what blogging does.  It's the connection and no amount of free lip gloss will ever get in the way of that.

Love, life, and always may the lip gloss be with you.

Comments

[Sarah]

You know, I didn't think the article was that bad--and I love All About the Pretty, Blogdorf Goodman, Shake Your Beauty and tons of other beauty blogs.

Maybe the NYT writer's tone was mean-spirited , but I think the fact that bloggers receive freebies that newspaper writers would never be allowed to accept (Magazines are a different story) is fascinating. I don't agree with how the writer chose to explore this theme, but the subject itself is really interesting to me.

I work for a newspaper and we can't accept any freebies--n-o-t-h-i-n-g. I think the freebie policy in the blogsphere could possibly change the free goods policies of a lot of newsrooms and THAT is really interesting. I think maybe the writer should've focused on that aspect.

All I know is that 1) I trust the information I receive from my favorite beauty blogs and 2) All press is good press--I highly doubt anyone will stop reading any beauty blog because of that story--most readers probably did the opposite and immediately visited those sites looking for the latest beauty dish!

[Lianne]

HAHAHA!!!
Hate on me, hater
Now or later
'Cuz I'm gonna do me
You'll be mad, baby
Go 'head and hate on me, hate on
'Cuz I'm not afraid of it
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me...

The new Beauty Blogger anthem...

[beauty chick]

I was really surprised by the NYT article - I mean, the real story is how blogs now present a credible alternative to traditional media, not how *shocking* it is that bloggers now get the same free stuff that magazines and newspapers like the NYT have been getting for a century.

I just can't get that worked up over it - the journalist missed the mark and is the one who ended up looking bad, not us.

[Eleanor]

Oh dear heavens. I suppose the NYT wants me to give up the free press pass I got to the Vagina Monologues last month too. Because I'm sure their theatre reviewer never gets free tickets.

As a blogger, I work for free and refuse to feel bad if freebies come with the territory. It's the only "salary" I get.

[Xica Bahia]

I am a novice blogger and I've been greatly inspired by bloggers including yourself who take the time to give us honest feedback on a variety of issues that matter to us.

It is truly empowering not being held captive by beauty editors or cosmetic companies.

Xica Bahia

[Faye]

My friend, who knows I'm a beauty junkie, sent me a link to the article. I just rolled my eyes and congratulated myself on making the right choice to stop my NYT subscription years ago.

Like many of the ladies here, I've been a beauty-products lover for years. And like you, I purchase products from many different types of retailers. I probably would do that anyway, but the beauty blogs give me heads-up about great products. They are also a great way to meet other people. Why is that such a problem? Not to get too political, but is this another attempt by the so-called Gray Lady to make women who are interested in "girly things" feel ashamed? If anybody saw their sneering article several months ago against romance novels, you'll know what I mean.

And I love how they act so indignant about the free products bloggers get. Why shouldn't they? It's a chance for them to try new things and let us know about them. Why don't they start attacking restaurant critics for getting comped free meals at some of the most expensive restaurants in town. Oh wait . . .because there's a restaurant critic at the Times.

I'm going to laugh off the Times and keep enjoying the beauty blogs. They pretty much lost all their credibility with the Jayson Blair thing, and this really finishes them off.

-Faye

[ElleB]

I totally agree. That NYT article made me so upset! I'm glad the beauty blogosphere is speaking up about it!

[Grayburn]

Thanks for speaking up for all of us!

Grayburn

[Erica]

WOW.....Seriuosly???? The NYT couln't find something else to shine a negative light? I mean really,whith all thats going on in the world? Oh well, my mom always said if they are not talking about you, you must not be doing something write.

[Roxy]

Wooohoooo!!! Way to go, girl; you tell 'em! I cannot believe the ridiculousness of the NY Times article. You've given completely fabulous feedback to that non-sense, so articulate, so well thought out, and so succinct! xo

[Tara]

Some people got nothing better to do than to spew hate on others. Brush it off your shoulders and keep on doing what u do! I'm sure glad that you do!

Tara