Can You Really Trust Your Favorite Beauty Influencers?
If you are as interested—and more importantly invested—in beauty as we are, then you definitely have a few people in the beauty community whose opinions are your go to. Youtube and Instagram have become huge platforms to check out the latest makeup and skin care products. We know it may be hard to navigate this field with so many products and influencers popping up recently. Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to figure out if your favorite influencer is giving you an honest review.
1. Were they sent it for free?
So here’s the deal. Some—but not all—influencers are sent free products to try out and give reviews on their specific platforms. It’s an amazing opportunity for them to try out products and give their audience a taste of what they might be spending their hard earned money on.
This is where it gets tricky: the word ‘free’ is a trigger for girls our age. Considering the fact that it seems like we can’t get anything of quality for under $25, seeing the word ‘free’ is the equivalent of getting Halloween candy as a kid.
Naturally, when influencers are sent free products it is extremely exciting. I mean imagine being sent free stuff just to try out and potentially review. Seems like a fun and easy gig, right? But keep in mind that being sent a free product might sway the influencer to do a good review instead of telling the truth. Good reviews may equal getting sent more free products, so taking reviews with a grain of salt is always the best course of action.
2. Are they getting paid?
Similar to receiving free products, it is fair game for companies and brands to pay influencers to push their products out to their audiences--or even feature them in a video or Instagram post. Companies are aware of the reach that influencers have, so this new type of advertising is catching a lot of steam as companies try to keep up with technology in the industry.
Knowing your favorite beauty influencer or guru has been paid to promote a product may change your opinion on whether they are telling the truth. Keep and eye out for the #ad on Instagram and the list of affiliation with the company in the description box on YouTube.
3. Buyer Beware
One of the most important things to keep at the forefront of your mind when you consider purchasing a product that an influencer has talked about is the simple rule of buyer beware. Being a smart consumer means doing your own research of the product, looking at more than one review, and simply trying it out for yourself. What works for someone else may not work for you, so don’t be afraid to get several opinions!
While we love beauty as much as the next girl, don’t forget that it is a business just like anything else. Money may influence people and change opinions, but that does not mean we have to be fooled in the process.