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Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:08 am  |
What do you think about reviews of skin care products on such sites as MakeupAlley.com, Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, Epinions.com, etc (I realize that some of these sites are not beauty review sites, but they do contain a lot of beauty reviews)
Do you think that beauty reviews are too nice, not critical enough, and overly optimistic? Or, do you think that they're spot-on?
What is your favorite review site, and why do you like it so much? |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:05 am |
| Accuracy of reviews will vary as we all have different skin type/needs. I don't think any one site can be relied on 100% because of that. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:48 am |
IMO anonymous reviews have serious limitations for certain groups of products. For example, in anti-ageing people often review after a couple of weeks of use, far too soon to see anything more than increased hydration. With hair dye/ bleach I often see people complaining unreasonably, when they have chosen the wrong product for their hair type or base colour, neither read the instructions nor performed a strand test!  I prefer places like EDS because you can ask questions of the reviewer or read their past posts to find out their skin type, age, goals, other products and so on. I also read ingredients lists and research them for myself. Silicones are likely to lead to reports of silky feeling skin or hair for example. |
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Sensitivity, forehead pigmentation & elevens, nose & chin clogged pores. Topicals: Aloe vera, squalane, lactic acid, Myfawnie KinNiaNag HG: Weleda calendula, Lanolips, Guinot masque essentiel, Flexitol Naturals, Careprost. Gadgets: Vaughter dermarollers, Lightstim. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:22 am |
I read them occasionally, but sometimes it gets frustrating, honestly. I know EDS has a guide for product reviews and the posters on review sites would benefit from reading it.
My most common issues are similar to ones Firefox 7275 stated. In their reviews people talk about the SA, their car, their family and then in the end include a breathtaking statement along the lines, this cream didn't remove my wrinkles overnight, I'm returning it!
Makeup and fragrance reviews are even worse. Why do people rate a product low if the shade or scent doesn't suit them. I's think rating a product low is justified of it oxidizes or doesn't last long, but not because the light in store was off.
My favorite useless reviews are the ones that consist of one sentence (along the lines, I like it!), bad or good, and a rating. Gives me no clue about the product whatsoever. Or the ones that give lowest possible rating and rant about how allegedly "toxic" the ingredients are, very common with nail polish, don't buy brand X, it has formaldehyde in it, it causes cancer! By then I get completely thrown off track and try to think about the last time I saw a gaseous nail polish.  |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:23 am |
I would say that I've learned more from EDS than anywhere else... I've been coming here since 2004 and not only have I learned so much, but I've also been wooed by amazing review/results on several products and have spent a lot of money  - as with any products, mileage varies, and I've had good luck with some products and some...not-so-much.
With Make-up Alley, I ALWAYS filter the reviews by age group - when I see an 18-19 year old reviewing something like a foundation or skincare product, I always tend to rule their opinion out as I've got 30 years on them! MUA is usually my go-to review site for my biggest addictions - mascara and lipgloss!
Maria |
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Maria, early 50's, post meno, normal to dry skin, more dry in winter, some sun damage... |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:35 am |
I agree with Firefox in that a lot of people tend to post reviews way too soon. You can't really judge an anti-aging product, for example, before 4-6 weeks.
Also keep in mind that some companies (though not all) pay writers to post reviews online in favor of their products. This is where social media, blogging, tweeting, etc gets a little hairy because not all reviews are accurate or reliable -- some are even fake.
I used to get caught up in reading reviews on makeupalley, but I think you have to take things with a grain of salt. I've also found that some products recommended by celebrity makeup artists, raved about by the masses, etc, while they may be good, just don't work for me personally. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:44 am |
| BellaKai, a part of me also wonders if celebrities faithfully use the products that they advertise/recommend. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 1:51 pm |
I don't look for skincare product reviews anywhere but eds, really, or maybe skincaretalk (or whatever dragon/fawnie's site is), since its good to hear from those more knowledgeable, plus everyone's experience is so unique. Truth be told, I don't purchase many skincare products, preferring to go the diy route.
I don't look to eds for makeup reviews, preferring pictures & video, most often, but will skim MUA for specific makeup/product reviews once in a while since their search function is set up so well. I still find it too time-consuming since you have to skim through a LOT of useless fluff, i.e. "I like it, it matched my eyes."
Googling and stumbling upon a helpful & detailed blog on a specific product is always a nice surprise. It helps if they're good writers, and take properly lit pictures.
I find there are a few youtube makeup artists who give good advice, and those are my favorite since you get to see their expressions and genuine reactions... the consistency of products, packaging, etc. Plus some of them mow through sooo many products, that just their experience comparing & contrasting can be valuable even if their actual reviews are lacking. My favorites are the ones who don't stick to high-end or low-end, and just look for whatever works.
some of the "beauty-guru" bimbos can bite me though. Rich little princesses with very little to offer but boring, overdone makeup that they've simply learned in a colour-by-numbers approach from real youtube makeup artists... loads of pretty, disposable things (hauls) and surroundings, and tons of young subscribers fantasizing about what its like to live their daddy-funded, rich, extravagant lifestyles. They're not all bad, but some are just a laughable, vapid, waste of time. |
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Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:36 pm |
I don't really rely on reviews anymore, aside from filtering out everyone but the fair-skinned reviewers on Sephora because most foundations are too dark for my skin. I basically am set in my skincare routine, and even otherwise, I just check the ingredients list. It says a lot more than the average review.
There's a lot of reasons not to pay attention to the average review. There are people who are used to buying drugstore cosmetics/skincare products, and then when they dip a toe into the higher-end stuff and pay $30 for a concealer (pretty standard price for Sephora) they expect too much from the product and end up giving it a negative review when it doesn't turn out to be the be all and end all. Then there's the people who don't follow instructions and apply the products incorrectly, and think it's the product that's defective. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:46 pm |
| In any forum you are at the mercy of the reviewers background, knowledge base, perspective, mood , peers, etc etc. I try to narrow to what I call valued opinions by choosing in my age group (when applicable), eye color - for cosmetics this seems to help at times), and my favorite is to try to list most helpful or longest review since they are actually saying something that may be of value. You really need to sift. |
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Enjoying dermalogica with my ASG and Pico toner ** Disclosure: I was a participant without remuneration in promotional videos for Ageless Secret Gold and the Neurotris Pico Emmy event. |
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Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:02 pm |
| I think a review from others is far better than jumping for a product with no reviews/opinions stated at all. While this is my first go to place for reviews, if a review of a product I am interested in isn't found here, I will definitely look for a review somewhere else. |
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Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:17 am |
I’ve used Makeupalley, QVC and Amazon for consumer reviews.
Since finding essentialdayspa, skincaretalk and Dragons skincareboards, I’m now also utilizing those
Makeupalley, I may read all reviews, but for skincare only my age group holds weight. Never found anything close to Holy Grail.
For makeup, I may read all, but only my skin type holds weight.
I tend to look for a review from someone who I think is similar to me, and link to her other reviews and so on and so on. When I find a product that is common among all those similar girls, I’m all over it.
I found my Holy Grail of lipsticks this way.
MAC’S CHATTERBOX, a true Barbie Doll Pink.
I’m Blonde, fair, and 51, this color looks good on me.
Amazon, seems to have honest reviews when it’s from a verified amazon purchase. However, since amazon allows anyone to review and the product is up for sale , those reviews hold 0 weight in my book. It also causes me to question the possible dishonesty of the seller who could possibly be stacking the deck in their favor….as far as the positive reviews go.
I have not found a Holy Grail of skincare or makeup using amazon, however I did just purchase a Wake Up light that mimics sunlight. Received verified positive reviews. Haven’t used it yet, but it connects to beauty by hopefully waking me up earlier than norm to get some healthful exercise in.
QVC, what's to say? The reviewers all purchased from QVC and those reviews seem very honest. In my 20 years of buying from CVN/QVC, I've only returned about 4 different items and my thoughts about those 4 items were just about spot-on with the others. |
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Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:15 pm |
Thanks VeronicaM- That's a good article and has some great tips for writing a review. |
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Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it |
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