Editorial : Beauty and Fashion Tech

Scenes From September: It is Still Summer and I’m Not Going to New York Fashion Week

Welcome to September, the time of year when it is suddenly OK to wear fall colors and not so OK to be sporting those neon pink summer nails. It is the month where the season has not officially changed, but posts abound about fall trends. To confuse the matter, it is also a month of coverage about what spring will bring, thanks to the presence of fashion week in New York City beginning this week and in other cities later this month.

So with that in mind, what do I plan to cover this week and next? Well, I have a few pink summer nail features planned, a reader giveaway, and some miscellaneous product reviews. Yes, I will cover the fall trends sometime this month, and yes, I will keep a bit of an eye on fashion week news, but mostly I am avoiding both until I reach the end of my denial that summer is officially over in the fashion world. So instead of writing about new trends, I am avoiding the fall trend set by the multitude of websites and blogs that will be covering nothing else for the next few weeks. I’m sure that they will do it quite well and I see no real need to duplicate to the process. Instead, I will read the blogs of my friends who are covering the spectacle that is New York fashion week and perhaps point out a few of the best posts. Meanwhile, I will enjoy my period of extended summer in September.

You see, I am not going to New York Fashion Week, and I am OK with that, perhaps even rather glad of it. Earlier this year, I made conflicting travel plans for something much more amazing to me–a vacation. Initially I regretted that I would miss the opportunity to go to New York, but as time went on, I was able to ponder just what it was that I was missing. There would be no expensive plane fare and no bunking up with several strangers to save a few bucks on an outrageously priced hotel room. I would not get the pleasure of waiting for invitations to shows that might never come, or juggling the ones that came scheduled at the same time. There would be no agony over what to wear or how to behave, and I would not be faced with being treated as a second class citizen because I am a blogger. The more I considered it, the less I cared that I was not going to be there. I don’t even cover fashion extensively–I write about makeup, and it is mostly product reviews at that. Thus, on the whole, the expense of New York fashion week is a bit difficult to defend as a business expense. I might visit the nearby Milwaukee fashion week in October instead.

For those of you dying for some fashion week coverage, the Beauty Blog Network Website is running a widget with a feed of its member’s fashion week headlines. I have also included the widget on Beauty and Fashion Tech.

For a few different angles on fashion week, the following are also particularly good reads:

* From the New York Observer: oh Lowly Blogger? Your Seat’s in the Back. Feel gossipy? Take a look at Jossip’s different take on the matter: Fashion Week vs. The Blogs: Kelly Cutrone Plays Hardball. Yes, Fashion Week definitely has its drama.

* From Slate comes the answers to your burning questions that you were afraid to ask. Check out The Fashion Week FAQ and The Fashion Week FAQ Part II. Slate is full of interesting Fashion Week commentary. For more, simply run a search of the term there.

Finally, lest I appear overly cynical about New York fashion week, I must say that I will truly miss the opportunity to meet some wonderful people who I have connected with online through networks such as Splendicity, The Beauty Blog Network, Total Beauty, and Glam Media–all of whom will be providing online coverage of the events quicker and generally more in depth than the print sources–even if the writers get sent to the back row. I also will miss seeing colleagues whom I have met before, but in the end I am happy knowing that I will enjoy reading their coverage of the events while I search out oysters in Boston and lobster in Maine a week later. Keep an eye out for me, I’ll be the one still wearing summer pink nails.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Blogging, Freebie Policy, and the New York Times

Just the other day, the New York Times got me ranting about Target, and now I find myself annoyed with Times. Yeesh!

If you read the popular beauty blogs, you are likely already familiar with the story. The New York Times ran an article (free registration required for reading), portraying beauty bloggers as women who exist to beg for swag, and who write as slaves to the product companies. The paper interviewed a number of popular and influential bloggers, several of whom have taken issue with the resulting article. The common theme among them is generally that the Times’ reporter entered into the project with an agenda and practiced selective editing to meet a preplanned goal. Thus, statements from the bloggers were taken out of context and information was presented inaccurately.

Most of the bloggers interviewed have posted reactions: Beauty Addict, Bon Bons in the Bath, Jolie in NYC, Shake Your Beauty, and My Inner French Girl. A number of bloggers who were not interviewed have have also posted reactions. For example, you can read some more thoughts on the matter at: Sugar Shock, Beauty Blogging Junkie, Jack and Hill, Temptalia, Canadian Beauty, The Beauty of Life, Spoiled Pretty, The Life of a Ladybug, The 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, The Non-Blonde, and even on the Beauty Blog Network Blog.

Those women cover the topic quite well, so I don’t plan to dwell on it except to state a bit about my own freebie policy. First off, yes, I get freebies from various companies. I do not beg for them– they tend to contact me–and I generally do not get swag of the types mentioned in the article. Trips to Paris? I wish!

I also strive to provide accurate reviews of products whether I purchased the items or received them for free. I do not promise positive reviews, and I have never been made to feel like a company would blacklist me or otherwise retaliate if I posted something negative about their product. Many of my reviews observe both up and downsides to any given product. Although I am frequently asked to do so, I do not accept compensation for reviews or for any substantive content on my sites. I do, however, have sidebar advertisers and use affiliate links.

I have never made a conscious effort to indicate when I received a product compared to when I purchased it. However, I do often mention that I “received” an item, meaning that it is a freebie, and I often mention where I made purchases. Thus, things are usually pretty transparent. I will try to do more of this, but in all honesty, I don’t want my writing to become a formula that includes plugging in product disclosures simply because the Times decided to write a negative article. So here is what I ask. If as a reader, you ever want to know about where I got a product for review and it is not clear from the article, please feel free to leave a comment and ask. I will happily tell you!

Oh, and if I do ever really get some serious swag doing this, I’ll let you know that as well. I don’t do this for swag, but darn if I wouldn’t accept it and enjoy it. I won’t hold my breath waiting for it though.

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Why I am Disappointed in Target Stores

Blogging, while becoming rather influential in consumer choices, still is seen as the black sheep of media to various companies. Perhaps it is confusion with purely personal blogs or with spam blogs, or perhaps it is resistance to change and new forms of information media. Another theory is that companies have a fear of working with blogs because they tend to exist independent of advertising obligations, ad agencies, and public relations companies. So there is always a risk that a blog who speaks with a company or receives a product and hates it will tell it like it is, without sugar coating any unpleasantness. Why companies should not fall into that trap and should embrace blogs is a topic for another day. Today is about a more narrow issue: Target’s absolute refusal to talk to a blog.

Regardless of any black sheep stigma I carry as the editor of a blog, I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of companies, retailers, and public relations agencies that work with bloggers and form great working partnerships with them. So I was particularly disappointed in Target after reading The New York Times article, Target Tells a Blogger to Go Away.

Here is what happened. A blogger from the website, Shaping Youth, called Target to express concern about an ad displaying a woman lying over the Target symbol with her crotch at the bullseye. Instead of addressing her concerns, Target responded that it does not participate with nontraditional media outlets and stated that the practice “is in place to allow us to focus on publications that reach our core guest.” For a more complete story, visit Shaping Youth’s transcript of the New York Times interview.

Now I don’t have strong feelings about the ad, and I wouldn’t be offended if Target had sent a polite response but declined to give any interviews or written reply. But to reply that bloggers as whole do not reach the store’s “core guest,” and hence are apparently irrelevant, seems to be ignoring reality. I am assuming that the term “core guest” focuses on the typical, regular shopper at Target Stores.

Why should I care? Well, I write a good deal about drugstore cosmetic and beauty brands, including some exclusive to Target. I also tend to shop at Target for items for review, and mention Target as a location where products are available for purchase. So Target has received a fair amount of business purchases and gratuitous advertising from me– free advertising that is read by a demographic that I believe includes a high number of Target’s “core guests.” Yet apparently if I would like to communicate with Target in some manner related to my blogs, I will be told that I am not worthy. Does this mean that, vicariously, my readers are not welcome as well?

I am not the type to get overly worked up over such things and I’m sure that I will continue to shop at Target. But I do now find myself questioning future mentions of Target on my blogs. I can, and often do, purchase items for review at Walgreens and CVS, both of which have worked indirectly with me on products sold exclusively in their stores via PR agents representing those products. Perhaps in regard to business purchases and decisions, I should be focusing more exclusively on them?

According to The Daily Dog, Target is looking at adjusting their policy. I hope that do.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Eight Beauty New Year’s Resolutions

The new year often brings the standard lose weight, save money, quit smoking, and other similar resolutions that are good for the health or pocketbook.

How about some resolutions that will keep you looking beautiful as well? Here are a few ideas:

(1) Wear sunscreen daily. Sunscreen is not just important to avoid skin cancer, it keeps you from wrinkling! If you start just one beauty habit this year, make it this one! Need to find some sunscreen? Take a look at the ones I have previously reviewed!

(2) Clean your makeup brushes. Dirty brushes are not just nasty looking, they harbor bacteria as well. Give them a good regular cleaning. Don’t have a brush cleaner? In a pinch, or to save money, use plain old baby shampoo!

(3) Keep brows neat. Want to give yourself a new year’s gift? Go get your brow professionally shaped. Also try out regular grooming. For a nice brow kit, look at Estee Lauder’s brow kit.

(4) Do regular manicures. Having nicely done nails can make you look and feel polished as a whole. If you lack time for full blown manicures, check out Sally Hansen’s Natural Shine, Instant Nail Finish. For a whole lot of nail polish ideas, check out the blog All Lacquered Up.

(5) Start softening your feet now for the summer. Getting rid of calluses can take awhile. Start now, and your feet will be gorgeous when spring sandal season arrives. Check out my previous post on getting your feel ready for summer.

(6) Experiment with new colors. I recently did this and was pleasantly surprised to find that I like some of the bolder colors. If you always wear neutrals, try out some brighter eyeshadow colors or deeper color lips. If you usually wear a lot of color, try out the natural look for a change of pace.

(7) Develop a skin care routine. If you do nothing other than a soap and water rinse, consider developing a skin care routine. Explore some of the great skin care products out there, then start a morning and evening routine that works for your skin type and stick with it. Your skin will love you for it. Need ideas? Check out the skin care posts here on Beauty and Fashion Tech. Also check out Savvy Skin, which is a great site devoted to all things in skin care.

(8) Be kind to your hair. Quit all that daily drying and straightening or curling. The heat is horrible for your hair! Let your hair dry naturally whenever possible, use good products, do some deep conditioning, and use heat protecting sprays. My favorite spray is Schwarzkopf Bonacure Moisture Kick. It is hard to go wrong with that one!

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Best Products of 2007

I went through the posts of the past year seeking out the favorite new products that I reviewed. The following are the results.

I found all of these to be excellent products. Some are expensive, but well worth the money. Others are highly affordable, making them an even better buy! Each link is to my full review.

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme, Moisturizing Foundation: The best moisturizing foundation that I tried all year.

Estee Lauder Tender Blush: I really love this cream blush. The stick applicator makes it easy to carry and use.

Freeze 24/7 Lip Plumper: This is the only lip plumper I tried that I thought that maybe, just maybe, I saw some actual plumping. It has the best tingle too!

Cat Cosmetics Lip Liner: The best neutral lip liner ever, hands down!

M.A.C. Paint Pots: I adore MAC’s new paint pots. This eyeshadow goes on like a cream, but dries to a silky finish that lasts and lasts without creasing.

Rimmel Vinyl Lip Gloss and Loud Mouth Lip color: Absolutely the best value lip gloss and color out there!

Revlon Makeup Eraser Pen: As I predicted would be the case, this was the best purchase I made all year. I have put mine to good use erasing mascara and eyline smudges and mistakes.

Vita Amazonia DMAE Moisturizing Cream: An expensive, but highly effective, anti-aging night cream.

ColorScience Powder Sunscreen: Gotta love a way to put on sunscreen over makeup!

Jane Cosmetics Blushing Earth Sheer: A high quality, high pigment, drugstore blush that is a dead ringer for Nars orgasm, but at a tiny fraction of the cost.

DHC White Sunscreen: For those with melasma or hyperpigmentation, this sunscreen is a winning combination of a physical blocker plus arbutin as a treatment active.

Schwarzkoph Bonacure Moisture Kick Spray Conditioner: Incredible for heat protection and extra conditioning. I have gone through several bottles of this since reviewing it.

Bioelements Pumice Peel: My absolute favorite scrub.

CoverGirl Lash Exact: I tried a lot of mascaras this year. Some I really liked and some I really disliked. It was hard to pick a true favorite, but I finally decided that Lash Exact was the best of the new ones in 2007.

Revlon Pinch Me Gel Blush. A great cheek stain in gel form and available in several shades. For those wishing to save money, it is a good alternative to Benetint.

ProFoot Slik Stick, anti-blister stick: This stuff works prety well to help prevent blisters. Use it with your strappy sandals to avoid strap rash as well.

Beauty Buyble Book and Samples: A wonderful way to sample a bunch of products, plus read about them. The book can still be purchased, but it is going fast. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a 2008 version, but have yet to hear of anything.

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Happy Holidays!

Beauty and Fashion Tech and Girl Gloss are traveling and taking it easy through the holidays.

Over the next 10 days there will still be some posts, but not the daily activity that you normally see. Don’t worry if things are quiet. It will pick up again quite soon!

Keep an eye out for the end of the year best of 2007 lists and a few other items. Things will resume as normal after the holidays!

Happy Holidays Everyone and a Happy New Year!

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Last Minute Beauty Gifts

Are you still shopping? It may be too late to shop online, but it is still easy to pick up some great beauty gifts at local stores. Here are a few ideas:

At Target: Look for Sonia Kashuk brush sets. These make great gifts and they are often packed in attractive kits. Target also has some great cosmetic bags. I was there earlier in the week and saw gift sets consisting of three different sizes of matching bags. Look for those in the cosmetic department.

For stocking stuffers, Target has tons of Hello Kitty, Karma, and Bonne Bell items, plus they have quite a few holiday cosmetics sets.

In the purse section, you can find some really nice, yet affordable handbags. Consider buying one and filling it with random cosmetic items!

At CVS: Look for Essence of Beauty Brushes. These are good value brushes and mixing and matching some would make for a great gift. CVS also exclusively carries Skin Effects and Lumene products. Both are great lines for creating a custom made facial or skin care set.

At Walgreens: Look up front for a great selection of fragrances and bath products. They seem to have more than many of the other stores this year.

Popularity: 9% [?]