The Ugly Side of Things...

So I was ranting, and I thought I would share with you...I know what I am about to say is not going to sit well with some people but I just have to get some thoughts off my chest. After all, I have been blogging and raving and rambling about beauty stuff forever, and not everything is a bed of roses.

And it's all just makeup.. right? And why do people read blogs? Because they trust the opinions of the blogger - who is usually a makeup junkie, tries lots of stuff and shares her/his opinion with a community of like-minded people. But these days, brands and companies have seen the advertising potential in this whole blogging biz..and nowadays, you don't even need to blog.. you just need to maintain a very active social media. Most of the big name bloggers I followed from ages ago are now more influential on their social media anyway (facebook, instagram and now snapchat, is so trending for all the sneak peeks).

I guess the whole point of my rant is to let you know, to NOT believe everything you see on your instagram/ facebook. or watever it is..well mainly instagram. If only you could see what I see... I have seen so much false 'advertising' online.. and then I meet them IN REAL LIFE. Let me give you examples:

People who post all these beautifully staged pictures - new products, new this, new that... new skincare, new makeup...offering their raving glowing reviews of products - when they don't even use them! I have seen these people in real life (IRL)... and man, you won't even recognise them from the romanticised idealised versions of their online selfies. In real life, they look 20 years OLDER, 10kg heavier - can you really believe that the eye cream they raved about is really good when you see these people IRL and they have such haggard tired skin? But in their online pictures, every flaw is filtered into oblivion... and have you seen people who posts foundation reviews, but posts FILTERED smooth skin in their blog posts, to say that this foundation makes their skin look FLAWLESS? And I have seen them IRL... and while it is okay to have less than perfect skin condition, we are all humans after all, and nobody is perfect.. but I think there is something wrong with people posting all these fake versions of their faces and bodies and expect their audience to not know the difference? I find that highly insulting to their readers, if these so-called influencers actually think that they are 'selling' products based on all these superficial and fake images.

I wouldn't think that an eyeshadow palette, a lipstick, or even a hotel room is that fantastic just because you took a beautiful photograph of it. How can anyone think that a restaurant sells nice food just because you have been invited to try out the food, stand on a chair and take a nice aerial shot of it...how can anyone think that a lipstick is gorgeous just because it looks so pretty next to your dress/ matching sandals/ earrings/ hairclips and throw in some flowers, how can anyone think that a hotel room is amazing because you took an OOTD in the room? Would you have paid to stay in that hotel suite with your own money? Yes, of course, the picture is pretty. And that's all. People should not, and would not buy a product or a service just because it looks good in a picture. Yes, their interest is piqued.. but that's about it. Products and services should be viewed in context of everything else.. in terms of how it is used. If only you have seen these 'makeup influencers' IRL, they don't even look like they use the products that they staged in their pictures... everything is always brand new.. and I am not surprised..because everything and anything for a picture. "Let me buy this pretty highlighter cos it is going to look good in my next photo on instagram". - that seems to be the motto these days?

I don't know where I am getting with this rant..and what about people who accept sponsored treatments, take for example. a weightloss treatment .. but IRL.. that person looks heavier than her online pictures? And I have evidence of doctored pictures... actually you can just screenshot and zoom in on the areas where they have LIQUIFY their body shape!! Gosh... do they think that their readers are so naive? How can one make such false images and pass them off as "ABC weightloss treatment is effective now I can wear anything I want/ this dress looks so good on me" and then the next instance, post a food porn picture.. so are we supposed to believe that you can eat anything you want, and you can look 'slim' so long as you have your slimming sponsors at your back and call? What is the message being sent here? That really, some of these bloggers/ influencers will just promote anything they want as long as it's sponsored? (well, actually I can't blame them if blogging is actually their source of income - actually it is THEIR JOB to feature and rave about something because they are PAID to do so, in very specific terms by the companies that choose to engage them).. well this is another whole entry another whole topic...which I shan't get into here.

I have heard bloggers at events, saying stuff like "PICK THIS PRODUCT!! COS IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE!! THE REST YOU CAN BUY YOURSELF!" Gosh??? I have seen blogshop owners selling knock-offs of designer bags... and calling it their own label..

I have shared this view with a journalist from a magazine last year.. and that is I don't understand why some bloggers can be trusted to review a 'five-star' lifestyle which they are sponsored...ie, if they won't actually pay their own money to participate in such 'five-star' activities. And the funny thing is their audience are young and probably not the target market for these luxurious treatments/ accomodations etc etc anyway. I don't know if the marketing department of these companies are doing their homework. You can't expect people to throw you a sponsored $20,000 party if you it is not a party that you won't organise for yourself anyway. So.. who are you to actually comment on whether it is good or not (and in turn your readers should trust your views?). What is the logic in that?

I have stopped accepting products from a lot of skincare companies.. because I know I am unable to keep up with the trials.. and I only accept them with the understanding that I will eventually get to use the products IN MY OWN TIME, and not to rush out reviews to keep up with the launch date.. after all, I have a full time job, and I can't be testing out new products for the sake of it. That's is why I only blog about skincare reviews and updates every few months, and I will just give a run through of stuff I am using. I cannot just jump from one brand or one product to the next within a short time.. because products (even the most expensive and amazing ones) take time to work.

Ultimately, I am very grateful for the wonderful blogging opportunities that have come my way, and I am also very grateful for everyone of you who have continued to read my blog over the many many years.

I guess that's all I have to say. I know it is a nasty rant and ramble. But I have not rest my case. The struggle is real.

Thanks for reading, as always. Loves.