Yes! It kind of implies that since this person, with a massive collection with hundreds of mascaras, couldn't resist the thing, how possibly could I?! It normalizes and encourages others to not restrain their spending.
Yes precisely! It always makes me think that they're unaware that shopping addiction is a serious problem for some people. For me, that phrase writes it off as something frivolous and may prevent people from seeking help because of shame.
One of my favorite things about you is that you are comfortable inhabiting the space of wanting/liking, but understanding that you don't need to own everything just because it's beautiful.
It's time to bring back the fine art of window shopping. I remember grabbing my friend in the 80s and we would walk to the stores and just browse and made a day of it. We had no money, we just tried stuff on and made mental notes of what we'd like to purchase one day. We had no purchases to show for it at the end of the day but we had a great time.
Whenever a guru says it's worth the money with luxury products they received in PR I roll my eyes. Anything is worth it if you received it (and most of your makeup collection) for free!
Exactly. But sometimes they do buy it themselves; but that still doesn't change how I feel because they CAN afford spending $150 on a foundation, I can't.
Exactly, I wish Gurus would review a product they received in PR as if they spent their own money to buy it. There are very very very few who does that.
Abhirami Viswakumar I’m not even sure that they can. Without actually having spent the money they can’t really relate. Samantha ravendahl did a video about it and not receiving any more pr because she didn’t think that she was actually able to justify that she’d buy the thing when she got it for free.
Obsessed! I’m so obsessed with this new xyz! It’s the best I’m totally *obsessed*. It drives me insane, obsessed is such a strong, powerful, almost negative, word to me. I cannot recall a single time I have used it on an everyday basis. And I can confidently say I don’t consider myself “obsessed” with anything. Not in the way that it takes over my life entirely to where it is all I can think of, for days upon days. So when people throw this word around like it’s nothing, about the most minuscule things like lipstick, I am almost shocked. It always stands out to me and makes me question the person. I remember watching a video and it was, maybe 10 minutes long and I heard the word obsessed 6 times, minimum. It’s so commonly used, but it is something that still upsets me.
hi Wendy! Yes, this is such a good one. This is also one I find it hard not to say myself. I don't think I say it a lot on youtube, but I do in daily life, always in kind of a joking context, but still. I have to make a round 2 of this video!
I can understand if it’s a product that you have used continuously for a really long time at least a year. But I HATE it when I see it in first impressions same for any of this kind of language. First impressions are fun for seeing what’s new and how certain products work. But I genuinely feel there are certain creators that try to pass them off as reviews.
@@xXPirate-KittyXx I totally agree! I can obsess over a TV show because I've spent multiple years with it like Game of Thrones ive been there since 2011, however being "obsessed" over an eyeshadow that youve used for like 3 minutes and it was sent to you by Burberry... doesnt really make any of us viewers feel better (especially our bank!)
"I love it so much, I already bought a backup" - as if you're going to use up that Omega Bronzer anytime this decade, Karen. When influencers don't take into account the fact that makeup expires, we are taught that we can accumulate things as if they will be worth anything in 10 years. The phrase irks me especially since it adds to the FOMO, because the thing might not be available if you wait, so hurry!!
This reminds me of something I heard once about the phenomenon of hyperconsumerism is countries like China, where people would buy stokes of products (like long-expiring food). It's crazy, and worse of all this mechanisms are now ingrained in our society and all of us are influenced by it.
I am just starting to clear my head of the "OMG I need a backup!" mentality. I have been so susceptible to the scarcity mindset and it's really easy for a video (or my own wishful thinking) to scare me into stocking up on stuff because what if it goes out of stock/is discontinued, when odds are it'll expire before I need it OR I'll get bored of the product and want to try something new anyway! Hannah's videos are SO helpful for rooting out these little tricks that fear-based marketing teaches us to play on ourselves.
I bursted out laughing when I read "I love it so much .....anytime this decade, Karen." How true is that statement! Yes, our skin is the largest organ that makes up the human body, but we would have to apply ( whatever ) .from head to toe everyday for months on end to get through the mountain of (whatever) product we have amassed. And, that's assuming we dont buy anything else. I am done throwing my money into the landfill because my products expired or went bad and I am done financing other peoples skin care and makeup because I have given away a mountain of products to friends and family, and I am tired of lining the pockets of sephora. I'drather line my own pockets. I have figured out that my skin/face doesn't need as much crap as the beauty industry wants me to think it needs and at my funeral nobody is going to stand up and give a speech reflecting on how glowy my complexion always was. I want to be remembered as someone who loved and was loved by family and close friends , not as someone who loved product.
This may be a little bit of an unpopular opinion, but the phrase I can't stand is "It's good... for the price." I like keeping a very curated collection, so I don't want to buy something just because it's inexpensive. If it's really only the expensive options that are great, I'd prefer to save up for one of those products I'll really treasure, rather than just buying more of the cheaper items I really won't love, because then I just end up buying another, and another trying to find one I like. However, I understand that some people want cheaper options, but I believe that there are many inexpensive products with incredible quality, so those are the products that should be recommended instead of the new ones that are "good for the price." I think that that phrase feeds into the mentality of makeup being about continually buying rather than utilizing actual quality products.
I agree! It rubs me the wrong way when people say that because: 1: it implies the product is somewhat sub-par (at least to me) 2: it implies that you should get it just to get it 3: it seems to be said on channels where buying stuff because it is cheap is a reason in and of itself..
I agree with this so much! I would rather spend 5 times the amount on a product I will cherish and love to use everyday than something sub par that I can’t wait to use up and have out of my collection.
@@Katiewadsworth I totally agree.. I do realize that makeup is makeup and that it should ved the makeup you pay for, but I have to say I do like sleek/pretty packaging that makes my makeup feel special.. I totally get not wanting to pay, say Pat McGrath prices, but the packages seem very well thought out and in tune with the colours them selves - and as a person who makes my own clothes and draw/paint on occasion I think some things are taken for granted in the name of "affordable"..
Cristina B I totally agree. Bc then I’m wondering is it really good? Or it’s good for 10$. There’s s big difference and I’ve been sucked right in to buying crap bc it was ‘good for the price!’
There are quite a few “poisonous phases” that seem to show up in some declutter videos. Things like “I don’t use this, but I love the packaging” or “I want to have the whole collection” or “I’m not using this now, but I might in the future” or “I need to have at least one colorful palette” or “this was limited edition, so I can’t get another” or “I don’t use this, but I like this one shade” It always bugs me because the point of those videos is to get rid of things. Not only are the products just going to waste in someone’s collection, but also it encourages other to hang on to things the don’t need and to in some ways promotes the idea that you have to have complete sets even if that means buying more thing you don’t really want. A product being limited edition is not a good reason to hold on to something that your not using. If you never use that colorful palette, you probably don’t need it. If you only like one shade, depot it and the pass one the rest. This type of language bugs me because i probably have I minor hoarding problem and I watch declutters to help me let go of things. It also bugs me when YTers recommend things they got in PR without knowing the price. It’s always a red flag when someone says “I’m not sure what this costs”.
Vanessa Sky I like them too, I watch them all the time. I just think that there are some justifications people use that are problematic. I think that because the beauty community is very commercialized that most videos have these issue, it’s just worth recognizing that this occurs even in videos promoting decreasing waste. I know I’ve used a lot of these same justifications to buy and hold onto makeup that I don’t need over the years which is why I recognize them as being slightly problematic.
Also with limited edition products, what really gets to me is "It's limited edition so I can't wear it on camera because you won't be able to get your hands on it." Like what? First you told your audience buy it because it is limited edition, now that it's not available anymore it's somehow unusable.
Riiiight?! Like where are these people going and how often? I'm guessing most of us travel a few times a year if that. The whole "perfect for travel" thing annoys me.
Abhirami Viswakumar omg, I actually talk back when I hear this one! I’m like, oh I should huh? Yes, that is absolutely the most important thing I should be doing right now. 😂😂😂
@@MoreCoffeePlease. hahahahhaha.. Infact, i will definitely not buy it if someone says that.. . I mean, i get it - They are trying to emphasize how good the product is, but there are soo many adjectives in the dictionary to do this. like Hannah points out, language is powerful.
My pet peeve is a someone encouraging the use of payment plans by saying "I know it's expensive, but if you buy it from this company they have a great program where you can pay for it over 3 months." NO! Monthly payments are for your house, not makeup, which will probably be sitting in your drawer barely used and forgotten while your still seeing it show up on your credit card!
This reminds me of discussions on the Makeup Rehab subreddit about the word "collection" for the makeup we own and how it can make people feel like they need to constantly add to it, want to save makeup and not use it up, need a wide variety of products, or actually own an entire product line, etc.
I've always thought it sounds pretentious and ridiculous when youtubers talk about "collections." They are trying to legitimize their hoarding addiction by making the stuff sound more precious than it is. Ugh, same with the whole trend of discussing color "stories" in eyeshadow palettes. They are trying to make it sound more intellectual, artistic and just "more" than what it really is: a bunch of colored powders arranged in a very pleasing way. As somebody who values books and actual, real stories and narratives, I want to point out how ludicrous it sounds to talk about "color stories" in palettes. Just say you like or don't like that bunch of colors! Lol
@@jcjccmz to be fair, I really like the thought of a color story - eyeshadow is a very relaxing and artistic thing for me and my 'zen' time daily, so I really love that phrase. I also feel like it encourages only keeping or buying ones that inspire you instead of ones that bore you but you feel you 'should' buy because of youtube
@@zeyns1646 Hi Zeyn, I am sorry I sound so cranky about this. I hope you understand what I mean if I say that what you just wrote actually kinda proves my point. I feel like you and others are giving a cooler name, a nicer name, to what is basically product design and giving it more credit than it deserves. I too LOVE the act and process of applying makeup and really appreciate the transformative act it can be. But I don't need to talk about an eyeshadow's "color story" to do this. It's already an amazing process without a fake and inaccurate name to go with a product involved. I probably also object to the use of the word "story" in this context because what people mean is "theme" or "scheme," and they are using the word "story" because it sounds cuter and more relatable.
My least favorite phrase is “You need this.” Nope, I don’t need it. People have enough trouble discerning the difference between a want and a need as it relates to makeup. Sometimes makeup is a necessity-for drag queens, actors, people with disfiguring flaws that help them to feel normal; but most of us don’t need it. Wanting something is not the same.
Even the word ‘haul’, everyone in the beauty community knows what it means, but until I came here it was a negative word about moving a ton of stuff. It’s like they’ve given it a new meaning, for a while I used to love watching them, and now for me ‘haul’ represents excessive overspending in one category.
I feel like this is problem with youtube. You can't record videos with same educational content over and over, and sooner or later you would ran out of art or cosmetic theory. So all your videos with helpful things are mostly viewed by first of your 100 followers, and by the time you gained enough traction you ran out of things to say, and had to relay on product reviews.
Gah I am feeling so personally attacked right now haha XD No but really, I do think I have said the phrase "if these are your colors...", but I think it's mainly about me trying to not step on anyones toes haha. This video is a great eye opener for any creator. I will have this in the back of my head
I think there are some big YTers who have very good sales & marketing skills who also happen to be very good communicators/actresses, and a lot of other YTers tend to copy them, consciously or unconsciously. So there are some who are purposely engaging in sales tactics with this kind of language, and others are just kinda copying the big YTers they admire, without actually knowing they're using the same "poisonous" language.
Haha I had to stop watching your videos for a while, Angelica, because you used to rave about buying everything that spoke to you. Which is of course fine for you, but that language can be triggering..
Just so you know, none of these were from you, Angelica! I think you tend to be pretty thorough, like "if these are your colors and you're in the market for something like this, I suggest it." I don't think I've ever heard you say "if you like this then you should buy it" or the equivalent. To me there's a big difference.
I always notice the “pick it up” euphemism for “buy.” It must be a requirement on YT because almost everyone I watch uses it. Also, referring to your makeup as a “collection.” A collection of items that will expire and become worthless makes no sense. Also “if you want to try it...” or “I love trying concealers” (or whatever). “Trying” is for a free sample, like a bite of Chick-fil-A on a toothpick. I don’t buy things to “try “them.
This video and these comments are awesome for pointing out phrases I had never even noticed were having an effect on me! I'm suddenly realizing how well the "just pick it up" / "just grab one" euphemism works on me, whether it's coming from a video/ad or my own internal justification (I say this to myself a lot!). Now I'll be on the lookout for it in the future.
Aimée Goudreau-Côté it is, thanks for noticing! my life got changed when i found the best black lipstick combo that lasts thru drinking and is actually black and by the fact that even together they’re still cheaper than a ”mid-end” black lipstick. it changed for worse tho’ since now i have like 6 black lipsticks and every time i hear about a new black lipstick i have to watch atleast 6 reviews before deciding on ’testing it myself’ and i can’t stop the thought that maybe there is a lipstick thats both combined....
I'm at a point in my life where if I hear someone tell me something is "life changing" I walk/click away as I've learned whatever they're selling it's likely at best overpriced trash and at worst potentially dangerous. When I was young, vulnerable and not in a great place with my mental and physical health I'm not proud to say this worked on me more than once, it's amazing what you'll buy into when you're sick and desperate. Sometimes it's innocent and something people just say but sometimes it's very deliberate predatory marketing that can really hurt people. I know I'm being a little dramatic but it actually makes my heart hurt a little when I hear it now.
My least favourite comment comes with declutters, when someone with over 100 palettes or lipsticks etc... says “I never reach for it.” If you own 100 palettes, you CAN’T “reach” for any of them often. Even if you rotate through them, you’re looking at over 3 months before you circle back. At that point, you’re probably using the ones you adore only a handful of times a year. And if you do use anything regularly, that means 90% of what you own goes to waste or is barely touched so it’s time to re-evaluate. Figure out cost per use and it will look a whole lot different than cost per product.
Yes, I get very confused by this... sometimes I’m thinking, “does this person change her makeup 10 times per day? I don’t understand how else she is reaching for all of these palettes often”
Ulta does the same thing. One of them was something like "wants vs needs- what's the difference again?" I felt like showing them the difference by not shopping there because I don't strictly NEED anything they sell.
HANNAH LOUISE POSTON THE GIRL SINGLE HANDEDLY CHANGING THE BEAUTY COMMUNITY AND CONSUMERISM!!!! I salute you!!! Absolutely needed to hear this today thank youuuuuu xoxo
Vanessa Sky yeahhhhhhhhh. Me too. It is. I can feel it in my bones. Hannah making history. She started this movement and it's getting bigger and bigger. X
"I know I have these colours a million times over in my collection, but I bought this palette just for this shade right here" -- this one always gets to me. I had a limited edition obsessed several years ago, but now I've realised that either 1. the quality isn't as good (it's all about cool packaging or an interesting concept or just putting someone's name on it) OR 2. it's going to be made permanent later or come back at some point in another form if it's THAT good because the company will want to capitalise on the hype and make all the money they can out of it. Omg the "bye-bye money" thing. It used to be that when I saw that hashtag it would automatically make me feel like I should give in to my desires and go for it, but now it makes me feel more sad than anything. I remember watching a Pat McGrath swatch video once where the girl mentioned her car got repossessed but she was fine with it because "at least she had this highlighter" -- breaks my heart!
I’m honestly shocked this was “all” the poisonous phrases you picked up on. UA-cam feels like a nonstop commercial ad for products now! Your videos are sanity in a sea of crazy!!
Yea that is a HUGE one I just don’t get-UA-camrs calling for better packaging. Uummm that adds to the COST of the item. First of all, who cares? You travel so much that your cosmetics need to be encased in Kevlar? Second, there’s so much waste by companies sending these RIDICULOUS PR boxes that are a 2’ x 2’ pizza box housing 3 lipsticks. WHAAAT?? I love that Samantha Ravendahl has taken herself off all PR lists. Good on you girl!!
The one that bugs me, as someone of Indian descent, is saying that a product is 'universally flattering' or 'would look good on anyone' or that a lipstick is 'the perfect nude'. A lot of the time those products would be way too light for me. It reinforces the idea that makeup is made for light skinned people and that darker skinned people aren't worth considering. I was also going to comment on people saying that a product is 'worth the money' and you covered it beautifully. Surely whether something is worth the money entirely depends on what the particular consumer already has, what they like, what they need, and what their financial priorities are? Also, I am wearing an antique gold-bronze eye look today, completely inspired by you, and I feel so so good about it.
@@HannahLouisePoston I would love to see a round 2! And yes, I imagine the 'universally flattering' comment frustrates you as well as someone with very light skin.
I’m Indian too and feel the same way. Thanks to Hannah I stopped my play box subscription mostly because I kept giving away the “universal” color products. This year I came dangerously close to VIB rouge and I decided 2019 will be my no buy year.
I assume that you are referring to white/ light skinned women using the “universally flattering” line, if I am not mistaken. While the concept of a universally flattering colour is somewhat debatable and depends greatly on the individual’s complexion, please understand that watching videos of white women trying make up and then complaining that the products they recommend based on their own opinion are too light for one’s skin, comes off as having somewhat missed the point. It is obvious that those women test products by using their own skin tone and rate them depending on how good they look on themselves, therefore it goes without saying that their recommendations resonate mostly with women of a similar skin tone. Similarly, there is no implication that darker skinned people are not worthy of wearing makeup whatsoever and it doesn’t reinforce any idea that makeup is made for light skinned people.
@@ClioMako The complaint is about the term 'universally flattering', which is almost never the case. It is also a marketing term from the PR write-ups that reviewers receive, so it does betray a manufacturer's bias if they claim it is universally flattering, but really is only flattering for a certain range of skin tones.
I really dislike when a grown woman put an expression of “ups! I did it again!” on the thumbnail of a haul video. I always think 👏🏼STOP 👏🏼ACTING 👏🏼LIKE A 👏🏼CHILD 👏🏼 The society already infantilizes us enough.
I personally just never watch Haul video, I don't like the concept. I understand if you receive a package and you're excited but that's really not what those videos are about nowadays.
Mine are the holy grail items, the staple item, the product we all know by heart now. Hula bronzer, Better Than Sex mascara, the Modern Renaissance palette, Pillow Talk lipstick, Becca highlighters, etc. I have seen these items and determined I did not want them for myself (except the modern renaissance palette) so I didn't buy them. But then you see them over and over because they are great products but the beauty community kind of assumes as a given that you have it too. They start off my saying "And of course I will be using the ..." or "This is my holy grail item." After awhile I start to feel desire for something I had no real interest in before. I know that hula bronzer is too dark for me, I am not into powder highlighters, I think the pillow talk color is fine, I really don't like the Nars orgasm blush but I almost bought a mini of that with the Nars bronzer to try because they have been drilled in my head. I love it when gurus use the same products because I feel that when they use the same thing over and over again then that is the true test of if they actually do love a product, but it has that conflicting effect of me feeling that I need it as well. Along the same lines, I hate when a UA-camr is reviewing a palette or product and say "This is just a basic eyeshadow palette and you probably already have these colors in your collection." My collection is tiny, I assume that a lot of people's collections are actually very small because makeup is just super expensive and even if you are a lover of makeup, it doesn't mean you will have the funds to have those colors in your collection. I hate when they assume that I already have something and then leave the review at that. I normally just have one item per category, sometimes two. I do have a lot of lipsticks (for me) but even still there is a good possibility that I can't dupe something. This in itself isn't the biggest problem with that statement. The larger problem is that triggers me to say to myself "I don't have this staple item, therefore I need to add this staple item to my collection." When a guru says "You probably already have this a million times over in your collection" and I don't have it, suddenly it is like permission for me to go get it because obviously it is common and everyone else has it as a basic makeup product. I almost convinced myself to buy a Naked palette because everyone beauty youtuber in the world has said that "You probably have this in your collection." I don't like the Naked palettes but I spent two hours debating if I should get Naked 3 or Naked Heat before reminding myself I don't actually want the palettes.
Damn you put into words what I've been doing! The # of times I've considered buying the Nars orgasm blush is ridiculous even though I personally think it is too shimmery. I recently bought a Sephora favorites set and was happy that it included the benefit hoola bronzer..... even though it's too dark for my skin smh. Thank you for reminding me that I've been duped into thinking I need all those 'cult classic' products lol. ♥
I asked for naked heat for my birthday because of that. I actually went to the UD counter to go and swatch all these naked pallettes and decide for myself which one a) is wearable. I cant rock up at work wearing very bold colours. Or collect my son from nursery sporting colourful eyeshadow. B) easy to apply. Warm tones or neutrals would be better than a smoldering black grey pallette that takes a millenium to blend out and has the danger of making me look like a Panda. C) i would commit to using it. I got naked heat and it is absolutely brilliant and i love it. I wouldnt say it was a basic or staple item because it is so special to me. I can create so many looks from it but the only issue is that the metallics need to be applied with a wet brush. The matte shades are soooo good though. It goes to show that if you put a lot of thought into it and dont just collect stuff for the sake of collecting it, you will get so much more enjoyment from it 🙂
Holy grail/ride or die/faaaaavorite products kind of irk me. I perceive that label as going to something that was really above and beyond the other competing products. It sounds like the product was the magical ray of light at the end of a long and arduous journey of testing sooo many other items very thoroughly. And it often seems to get slapped on the current "it item" which hasnt even been tested that long. But I may just be salty. The difference between an initial impression and a detailed review has become very apparent to me as I get more knowledgeable about the community. And being around panners has made me aware of what a deeply used item looks like. A holy grail item should show the wear from your testing, it shouldn't look spotless and new.
Insert_Something_Meaningful YES, there are tons of colors or types of products that are popular right now that I don't have, and usually that's because the product doesn't suit my colouring, taste, etc. But that blasé comment that "you already have these colours" makes me wonder if I should. It also normalizes having gigantic makeup stashes, because the BG is assuming that all viewers do. I actually see this language a lot in anti-hauls and it irks me, like "actually this argument is useless for me and is even giving me a bit of fomo".
As a former linguistics student AND someone who spends too much money on makeup, I loved this video! Some more phrases that rub me the wrong way are 'must-haves', and 'if you haven't tried X what are you doing with your life?' -- I'm sure I don't need to explain why! I also get really irked when I see people justify a purchase by saying 'these are the colours I wear regularly' because all I can think is: 'why are you buying more then?'
"It's perfect for an event..." how many events do you go to?! "It looks beautiful on photo" ....How much of your life revolves around taking pictures of yourself?!
rachel turner yas! Being a good and kind person, doing your work in life or at your job, working on goals-these things don’t deserve rewards. They should just be things we do for their intrinsic value. I do believe in self-care. That means something different to different people. A pamper session, reading, time with friends... but just doing right in life doesn’t mean you earn presents along the way as carrots to keep you going.
About the "if you can get your hands on it" I have adopted the notion that if the store/site i want something from doesn't make it easy for me to get the product - WHY IN HEAVENS NAME WOULD I WORK TO GET SOMETHING I'M PAYING FOR???!?!?!?!!!!! - so I will not buy from that place... Edit: why do er spend hours waiting in line to spend money? Especially at full price, horrible service etc😅
This video is perfect for you because you are also actually into writing and language... I NEEDED THIS VIDEO. Specially with all the sales emails this last weekend ...one of my personal favs from Sephora is when they send me an email saying “because getting a package is fun” makes me wanna throat punch them 🤦🏽♀️
"If you are serious about makeup..." "If you really love lipstick..." "If quality is important to you..." I feel like all of these statements go to identity and imply that if you aren't buying this item, then you must not be serious about makeup/love lipstick/value quality.
You can just say it. If someone has a huge junk drawer of unopened products and they’re buying more of a category they have a lot of, it’s not a need. Period. I honestly don’t even see a collection when I look at most people’s hoards here on UA-cam. A collection is curated and shows the personality of the wearer; all LE, a specific kind of packaging, etc. Most are homogeneous piles of makeup that’s been released in the last three years. I’m bored.
When I was little, like 4yo, I learned to say "I need it" when asking my mom to buy me a candy bar or something else in the store. It didn't work on her, but it's interesting how early I started to pick up on the difference between the word "need" and "want".
The phrase I detest the most is "this is to die for." I also think it's weird that they refer to their makeup as a collection, as if it will appreciate in value. "I need to add this palette to my collection."
In addition to the words, it's the energy and excitement put behind them by the person delivering the message. There's a reason that Jaclyn Hill's favorites videos always sell out of her recommendations... Her delivery is always injected with an extreme sense of purchase urgency, lol. 👀
Brilliant! I really liked this video! Another thing... First, they "sell" us the limited edition makeup and then... they declutter it after a little while! They say that they can't use it anymore on videos because we can't purchase it anymore and they forget that per their suggestion some people have bought that LE item and now what are they going to do about it? :/
thank you so much for making this video! I think one of the things that sticks out to me the most about consumerism especially when related to UA-cam culture is how “normal” it is to hoard makeup. Sometimes I find it hard not to have a little bit of judgement when it comes to people who have entire dressers of a particular item (especially something like eyeshadow palettes that take so long to use up), more than one person (or professional makeup artist!) could ever even dream of using in several lifetimes, even ignoring expiration dates. Then they do a declutter, and get rid of a bunch of stuff, but even in the video they talk about “now I have a bunch of room to fill up again!” It’s totally fine to have a diverse and beautiful collection, one that you truly make use of and appreciate, but most people don’t have the financial means to have a whole wardrobe full of makeup. I feel very fortunate to have been raised in a way where I’m wary of debt, considering I’ll probably end up dealing with student loans, but I know a lot of people just think massive amounts of credit card debt accumulated from shopping is normal. Beauty gurus who receive masses of PR obviously aren’t putting themselves in those financial situations, but I’m scared that the young girls watching them will forego saving and establishing a safety net for themselves in favor of accumulating massive amounts of makeup.
As a veiwer of beauty channels it seems that we are often prompted to make an unauthorized purchase when so and so does a collaboration to show support. With so many people doing collaborations it would become expensive fast to purchase half of these collaborations. So, when I hear things reminiscent of 'get this pallet to show support' it rubs me the wrong way. Phases like this imploy coded messaged to encourage the unnecessary spending. Now I do want to be clear, I enjoy beauty channels and their ability to be entrepreneurs, however I need more of a reason than enjoying a channel to purchase something when I take into consideration everything you mentioned in the video.
What a great video idea, I cringe when I hear these things also and they are so so common. I think some of these started as a joke, like the idea of the website "shut up and take my money" but I think most of those things were so extreme that people didn't actually go out and buy them. Now I feel like people actually buy most of the things they want, which I don't understand how most people can afford. Long story coming, but you reminded me of something similar that totally broke my heart: In a comment on a UA-cam beauty video, someone said, "I am getting paid this week and I'm going to buy this for me and my daughters cause it sounds amazing" It just really hit me how important what UA-camrs say is. People are in different situations, but when you misrepresent like something will change your life it can be very dangerous for people. I respect that you didn't bring up specifics and names cause that isn't the point and could take over the narrative, but let's just say this wasn't an eyeshadow palette or anything. I even brought up this story in a Reddit thread once and people responded with "people can spend their money however they want, you don't know" which is all true, but it doesn't mean people don't have a responsibility to their audience and to not lead them astray. It suddenly felt very predatory in this particular case. Thanks for the video and giving voice to this, Hannah! Also, you are getting into their heads, the idea of overconsumption suddenly comes in a cute, friendly and well spoken little red headed package 😀
ugh, that story is heartbreaking. It's true that people can spend how they want, but there is a limit past which you are encouraging people to overspend money they can't afford on things they don't need, which is a problem. Thanks, Bianca
I love your intellectual approach to beauty community. I don't have much makeup, but I've been watching anti-hauls here and reading makeup rehab stuff on reddit and it acts in nice counterbalance for all review channels I watch. It also spreads further into the philosophy of my purchases. I've recently started a sewing school, so soon I know how to make my own clothes. I want to take more slower and minimalistic approach in all my consuming, and buy only things I really need. I almost bought an okay eyeshadow palette from Colourpop on cyber monday. But then I asked myself "Does this excite me?". you talk a lot about your feelings towards makeup and I like it a lot. I decided the palette didn't feel perfect for me and didn't excite me enough to justify the purchase. And do I NEED it? Definitely not. Thank you for your amazing channel!
Hope you have great success with you sewing school. Like I hope you can franchise and become ridiculously wealthy! Clothing manufacturing is becoming bare bones, quality wise. I grew up listening to my mom talk about how her mother made most if not all of her clothes. So I’m pretty ruined for cheap clothing. THEN I sold men’s suits for a while. Another long lesson in what is considered quality clothing manufacturing. Again, BEST OF LUCK!!
@@rebeccacarraway480 Thank you so much! I don't have any plans to become wealthy, but I hope we would go from fast fashion to made to order items and I could provide people with those :)
A subscriber of mine pointed me toward this video, and I'm so glad she did. Very interesting perspective, Hannah! I think that "influencers" of all sizes on all platforms need to be conscious of the impact our words have on our audience. That being said, saying "if you like the colors, I recommend buying it" or "if you can get your hands on it, I recommend buying it" is part of the natural review process. Part of what we do is recommend products. I agree that we need to be conscious of our words and make sure we really truly love something before recommending it, but a review without some recommendations, in my opinion, isn't really a review. The statements about colors and availability typically come with a lot of context, and in this situation, context definitely matters. I don't think any responsible reviewer would recommend buying something just because it has pretty colors or just because it happens to be available. I also see what you're saying with "It's worth the money." It's kind of like the way I feel about the word "affordable". What's worth it or affordable to me, may be very different from others. I've always felt, with that statement, "compared to similar products" was implied. But, I can't assume other people think the way that I do. I wasn't sure if I would agree with a lot of this video, but I did! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hi Jen! I'm honored that you watched my video! I agree about the context issue. I think when I've said "if you like these colors, I recommend buying it" what I've meant is that if you like the colors, then you can be assured that I (the reviewer) think that the product's other qualities (formula, etc) are good enough to merit a purchase. But in the future I'd like to challenge myself to be more thorough and actually SAY what I mean instead of saying a vague sentence that implies that it's normal to buy everything you like. I hope that makes sense! Thank you so much for commenting, I've watched you since long before I started my own channel. You are an icon :)
Aw jen! You're one of the few channels that says anything with actual meaning! I don't consider you or your channel saying any of these phrases meaninglessly. I know you put weeks, months, (sometimes even longer) into your reviews and recommendations! I think the BG who have used it literally TWO times or less and throw around these phrases aren't thinking of the impact they have. I watch your channel almost everyday and it keeps getting better ( I always miss your livestreams because I'm super west coast so they're always too early. Lol) ❤️
@@HannahLouisePoston I just saw this. Thank you, Hannah. Your respect means so much to me. Really and truly. Even though I just discovered you, I can see that you have very high standards of excellence, so I don't take the praise lightly. Thank you!
I recently heard Kathleen lights say that she had picked up SEVEN of her holy grail foundation when it got discontinued… She admitted some of them will probably be expired by the time she got to them all, But she laughed and said, but it’s OK!!! I literally almost unsubscribed lol. Another thing that drives me insane is when beauty people pretend that things don’t expire at all. They say things like I will never have to buy make up again!!! Hello… You’re not really supposed to keep powder over four years…
This drives me wild!!! I hate seeing these huge collections knowing most things will go bad untouched 😥 I work heavily towards using up my small collection so I know how long it takes, they do not need more than one backup realistically
Eva R. I Love watching project panners! It has made me so much more aware about how fast things go bad! I have a tiny little make up collection because I would feel too guilty spending money on stuff that will go bad! I have one eyeshadow palette and I am relishing in seeing the dips :-)
@@Eva_R966 me too! It's also like.... by the time you use up those 1 or 2 backups companies release such an excess of product anyways that you could probably go find another one that's similar! I also believe strongly in giving back to the world and giving to charity, saving for the future, spending money on experiences rather than things, etc. so watching people spend thousands of dollars a year at Sephora for makeup they can't even use drives me crazy
Watching your videos reminds me so much of the intelligent, thoughtful conversations I had in college getting my fine arts degree. I'm an art teacher now in a public school so I definitely don't get these conversations in my every day life, but listening to you does being back some good memories.
Consumerism is a way to keep the poor poor and make the rich richer it’s always been this way and that’s all most these youtubers live by!! They keep getting richer (on top of everything they are selling they get for free) while the consumer has no where near the bank account they do and they are the ones wasting money to buy buy buy !! I just don’t fall for it ...in fact it’s turned me off from even watching reviews all together because no matter what they say I’m not buying it unless I want it so even if it’s not as good as the 100 $ item if I like it I will try it myself you can’t trust people especially on the tube! Sorry rant over I’m just sick of seeing everyone zombies who feel they need to be told what to do
Amanda Stankowitz I am soooo with you! I realised years ago I’m being brainwashed at every angle and my makeup collection exploded into something abnormal for an ordinary ‘consumer’ .I’m filled with glee that I got off the crazy train which was heading towards serious CC debt. I don’t regret anything , it was all a learning curve but I do feel annoyed sometimes when I look at my 100+ MAC eyeshadows🤦🏻♀️ Even with a low buy over the last 5-6 years I’ve still only managed to hit pan on 2 eyeshadows😩
Hannah, I never comment on videos, ever, but at 12:12, when you started to talk about bye bye money and how some women need the money just to stay safe, it really struck a chord with me, to the point I had to stop what I was doing to get a pen and my journal and write down, verbatim, what you had said. It’s a chord I’m grateful to be able to hear throughout your body of work on UA-cam. My whole life I’ve been privileged enough to have parents and then also a boyfriend who I knew would provide me with a place to live rent free, a cushion to fall back on, or a loan to tide me over if I (I’m ashamed to say) overspent (usually on makeup or clothes). However over the last half of 2018, a shift in the way I started to see the politics around me (I live in the U.K.), followed by a sequence of unexpected and horrible shifts in my personal circumstances made me realise acutely just how vulnerable I am, especially as a young woman of colour, without my own rainy day fund and financial independence. What I’m trying to say is thank you and that I’m so glad I found your channel when I did, just when I most needed it and a new way of thinking about money. I’m now on the path to consciously unlearning some of what I now recognise as very unhealthy and unsustainable spending behaviours. Thank you for putting out the brave, intelligent, considered content you do, in the open and exquisitely eloquent way you have, and long may it continue! ❤️
Dee, this comment gave me chills and goosebumps! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. I don't always get positive feedback for talking about these kinds of things on UA-cam, so I really appreciate the support. You might enjoy this essay, along similar lines: www.thebillfold.com/2016/01/a-story-of-a-fuck-off-fund/ Sending a big hug to you from LA!
I get irrationally (or rationally) angry when I read/hear someone say “my wallet is crying.” I understand feeling a desire so strong that somewhere in all of that clouded lust for a product, you feel you MUST spend to satisfy those cravings. But “my wallet is crying” is so irksome to me, that I could never get myself to say it or type it.
❤️ “life changing” - “can’t live without it” - “must-have” - “where have you been all my life” ... I’ve said these things before but I will start to be aware of my own words. 🙌🏻
I feel like its so easy to get caught up in all this buying and I'm hoping people will start seeing that it is not good to keep buying all these things it is already becoming more popular with no buys and panning and i am hoping that i can change my makeup habits around too
A teeny thing that it seems like absolutely everyonnnnne does (not just in the beauty/fashion domain of youtube) is declare a sponsorship or affiliation by saying something like [company] has "kindly" reached out/sent me something/agreed to sponsor/etc. It's such a small thing and so common as to be basically a figure of speech now but like you said, language matters, and in this case it feeds into the idea that giant corporations are people with feelings motivated by goodwill toward their consumers. Even a more ethical company is not interacting with content creators on a human level; they are a means to sell a product. Friends may give you a gift out of "kindness," but companies do not do so unless they have calculated that the net benefit will be for them.
I’ve got a test tomorrow, but I’ve also given up on trying to discern between my professor’s overinflated bs and actual medical science, at least for a bit. So here I am.
I hate when they say its ok, not great, but good for the price. I want to buy something that is genuinly good ,not just good because is $5. Because then you are just waisting your money on mediocre products
This is something that my sister and mother do too... "it's nothing special, but it was 3€ etc." It angers me so much, both kn a monetary level, but even more on a ecological/sustainable level.
Collecting/over buying often is based in a type of anxiety. That being said..I really enjoy my collection and have very few regrets. I think it is also one of the ways I enjoy"girl time" and it's creative outlet for me. That being said..I am coming to a point of taking a time out and using up what I have. I can recreate almost any look with what I currently have. One other point..something that has me try new things.. is that eyeshadow/makeup really has improved over the last few years. I really enjoy the improvements in quality. What is turning me off is how many releases are pouring out all at once and how everyone is just coming out with "their own brand". The flooding of products really makes me feel like I.just don't care. There is so much constantly coming out..I feel like.."well I already have something just like that." I can't keep up any more. This is like on "I Love Lucy" ... when Lucy and Ethel were boxing up cakes that were coming out on a conveyer belt..at some point it came out so fast they couldn't keep up. Cakes just piled up everywhere. Yup..that's how I feel about makeup releases right now. ♡
I hate when people say something that is ridiculously expensive is "worth the price" This specifically for natasha denona eyeshadows. Even if they are the best formula to grace Gods green earth, spending 130$ on a makeup product will always be a waste of money in my eyes.
-"i am (literally) obsessed with it" and "i am a makeup fanatic/junkie"...being a junky and fanatic and being obsessed are really negative terms ouside the beauty community. they mean to be totally unreasonable, to be out of your mind, acting over the top or even mentally ill....since when it is cool to call youself that... -"what can i say i just love makeup" (after spending 300 dollar at sephora)...."loving" something is not synonymous to buying everything. i mean, i really like cake but i cant buy all the cakes of the world and eat them because it would makeu me sick. you can love something and enjoy it in small doses - "we all love ourselfs a neutral pink because its an everyday color, so thats a "no brainer" or "must have"... -the term "monthly favorite" or "holy grail" for something you used for like 2 months...if your favorites change monthly, then they arent true favorites but just the next best thing this month -"you can never have enough x"...especially used for said "eyeryday items" or very popular and trending products, like highlighter. well, i think you can have enough. even more than enough - "i think its adorable, who wouldnt?" or "how could you not adore this?" (kinda shames you for not being attracted to sth and have the urge to buy it) -"just buy it to support person x/ a charity/ the theme of the product to send a message out" -"its good for the price"...so that means, its not objectivly good. its just ok, under the preposition that i couldnt expect better because i wasnt willing to spend enough money for something actually good. jet, i should buy it anyway, because it isnt really really bad.
I love, love, *love* this video. I've become so desensitized to this type of language and you have really brought that to my attention. Thank you so much!
Thank you for making this. I just watched a video and this person was saying " Omg I love this thing so much (shows a product with significant use) and as you can see I need to order another one asap!" My first thought was "No, you don't. I know you have others but I understand that you really enjoy this particular one." I just got in to makeup about 2 years ago and my collection have gained weight for sure but I'm still able to distinguish between actual need vs. want. I was scrolling trough Sephora during the extended sale (btw why was it SO important for them to push that a week before Black Friday?) and I realised I was "looking for things to buy" so I immediately closed the page and thought "Huh...so that's what FOMO feels like....eew!" Skipped Sephora completely during this BF/CM sale. Words are indeed powerful for they lead to actions. Thank you again for speaking your thoughts. Hugs and pancakes.
the few times I've bought a backup before finishing something, I've HATED the feeling of having an extra lying around. I don't understand that compulsion at all!
I’ve always wondered why you watch superficial BGs like Jaclyn Hill. I feel you’re too smart for her, unless you’re watching her/channels like hers purely in an ironic sense or for the entertainment value because she’s an absurd person, a caricature. I personally can’t watch BG after they make it big because their pages turn into bad B-roll of the very language you speak of. I would rather have a few things that I love, than a lot of things I like, or worse, feel ambivalent about. Thank you for bringing this conversation to the table. I’ve shared your video in a few groups I’m in. It’s important we distinguish between wants and needs and knowing what toxic language to look for is imperative.
I think if JH posted all the time I wouldn't watch most of it. But she posts so infrequently and I'm so morbidly fascinated by her that I usually watch what she posts. I'm deeply wary of her recommendations, though!
I just want to say that the growth of your channel is so exciting to watch. YOUR VOICE is so important & powerful. I love that you’ve brought this kind of thought & conversation about the no buy year and more discerning consumerism.
I've definitely been thinking about this same topic a lot! I'm so glad you made this video articulating some thoughts that I haven't been able to put into words myself. Hope you're doing well 💕
This is so well thought out and articulated. Such an important topic and very timely given that we are in the middle of Thanksgiving sales and it's generally that time of the year when the consumer impulse is so strong. Overspending and makeup addiction take a real toll on many peoples lives, so I applaud you for having the courage to talk about how UA-cam might be contributing to this and for telling it like it is. xo
Not really a phrase, but.......I used to LOVE panning videos and empties videos (don't worry, I still love yours!!) But it made me wonder: is the person's almost obsessive need to pan diminishing their enjoyment of the product? Would they go through that product as quickly if they didn't have such a large collection they felt they needed to reduce? I don't know, it just has been stuck in my mind over the last few months. Side note, do you ever wonder if some big name beauty gurus show empties for things they didn't actually use up? Like, they just got rid of the product itself and kept the packaging as a "love" as some sort of pr move?
A lot of them show products with a little bit left in the bottle!! It really annoys me!! They use the excuse of they just want to talk about it or include it in the video
I hate seeing project pan, what's the point of using something just for the purpose of hitting pan? Like, they take the blush/eyeshadow and hit it in the same spot everytime just to hit pan; or they pick up way too much product on the brush then tap it off... If i buy something i want it to last me a long time... (sorry for my bad english :) )
sophia 😆 Apparently it’s for the satisfaction of seeing pan and trying to control spending habits by seeing how long it takes! But you make good points!! The ttapping off thingis kind of stupid Lol
You're always thorough when you explain your points. I'm a kind of person that have feelings or thoughts in mind, but often time can't find words to describe or express them, so I think I learned a lot by watching your videos. Really appreciate your good and hard works on preparing all the materials for your videos.
Aaah the “worth the money” thing!!!! This is one that really grinds my gears, especially because usually gurus and viewers are often socioeconomically different. I’m pretty privileged, but I just feel for the people living paycheck to paycheck, being told that they “need something” or that it’s “worth the money.” Relatively, having less money makes every dollar more precious/harder to part with. Every time I hear it I cringe. Amazing video Hannah!!
Language is persuasive.. look at the news.. it’s very deliberate, and very suspect on many levels. What we name things and how we refer to groups of people and situations can be very telling about the perceptions of the speaker. Listening is a deep art. Great content! It is imperative to find meaning in one’s own living, beyond things.. UA-cam Makeup channels are single handedly making the word ‘ANYWAYS’ a common term. Excuse me, it’s not a word. Geez. I do not appreciate the terms ‘wearable’, ‘must have’ and ‘affordable’.. different for each human.
I’d love to watch a video from you talking specifically about the urgency over false scarcity. The feeling of panic that we get, which causes us to buy, and sometimes because ‘they’ make us feel FOMO before something is even available for purchase
Whenever I’m talking about products on Instagram or wherever I try to be very cautious about the language that I use. It can be hard when I love a product and I’m enthusiastic about it but I don’t want to contribute to anyone’s over spending. I just want to give people perspective and enough information to figure out if that product would fit well into their collection or not.
Also, I find it so funny when Trendmood says “bye bye money.” Brands send her those products. She’s not saying bye to a single dollar in her bank account lol
Duuude thank you so much for this video! Toxic language regarding purchasing habits has become so common. I watch a lot of declutters, and so many times the youtuber says something along the lines of what's still made so that we (the audience) can still buy it. But a declutter is all about paring down your collection and analyzing what you really need!
Hannah you are really starting a movement! I’m glad I’ve been on your journey from the start! First let me say, I enjoy Trendmood’s instagram very much and this is nothing against her personally because I know her job is to help promote products. But when she says bye-bye money with the emoji of the money flying away, I always say to myself, whose money? Not yours. You’re not buying it, you already got it for free to promote it. Lol! I have a good job and I own a house and I pay bills. I don’t like the thought of my money flying away like that emoji! That makes me cringe!
Watching this in 2023 and it's still SO relevant! Just the other day another one of my favourite content creators (a wonderful, funny and competent person) posted about discounts. There was an "opportunity" to add discount to discount and potentially get some high end stuff very cheap. I kind of automatically went and added a bunch of stuff to my basket. But then I thought of you, Hannah, and your thoughtful comments about the beauty industry and influencers. And I realized... I already have enough eyeshadows and primers and face creams to last me more than a year from now! I need absolutely NOTHING! So I happily left the online store having orded zero stuff and went to my kitchen and delt with the dishes instead. Thank you for your wonderful, grounded thoughts on beauty reality! ❤
I recently found your channel and am going to do a no buy 2019. I’m ready for this change. I have had to unsubscribe from a lot of materialistic channels that are all about buy buy buy. I get annoyed when people say they need to go back and get it in other colors, and I’ve been guilty of this as well, but it has to stop!
I hate it when rich youtubers living in mansions joke about ''being broke'' and spending too much on make up. They are constantly promoting blind consumerism and a lifestyle that only 1% of people could ideally afford.
You are the most well-spoken, articulate UA-camr I have ever seen. I’m so grateful I found your channel to help me find new and smart ways of thinking about how I spend money on beauty (and other things) going into 2019.
Don't you think that by starting to accept PR next year will automatically affect all of this way of thinking that you've developed this past year and your whole life? Like it will be impossible for things to hold the same value that they once did once you start to receive free stuff? As much as "beauty gurus" try to keep in touch with reality, by saying things like "would I spend my own money on it?" It will never be the same as if they did have to spend their own money on it and if they weren't receiving all this free stuff along with what they are still purchasing. I'm not judging you, but I feel like it's impossible to lose touch! For example even with all of these gifts you've been given over the past few months, your collection has grown significantly when it otherwise wouldn't. And that's just with a few gifts! And even before you mentioned about having way more than you need, or could ever use, etc. And now you've significantly added to it. Just playing devil's advocate! I'm so curious how things will change for you next year! But also I must admit I'm a little worried that you will lose touch and this investment that I have in you sticking it to the man will fade :( haha I still love you though!
I also wonder about the effects of PR next year. Hannah, if you read this, perhaps you could consider some strategies and think through how you can deal with PR whilst still engaging in conscious consumption and holding on to the things you have learnt this year.
I do believe that if you count on receiving PR and think you need to maintain a good relationship with those companies, you can always find ways to think you're giving honest reviews by qualifying how you say things. This is my main reason I unsubscribe to youtubers when their channels start growing -- they started out saying useless products "suck" and are, in fact, "useless," and then they get stuff sent for free, and it becomes this giddy, gushing over adorable packaging and the way it smells "so amazing," with a bit of "oh, hmm, well, maybe...it may not be your favorite if you have sensitive or oily or dry skin, but you never know until you try it, so you might as well!"
I agree. I think that most people would have difficulty being 100% unbiased. Even by the fact that a product is chosen for them. Or even if they say bad things, they say feeer bad things than if they hadn’t purchased it themselves.
This is why I had to stop watching so much YT. I have a PhD in Communication and I was still falling for the “poisonous language” big and small YTs alike use to “review” aka sell products. I realize that without watching as much YT, I do not really wonder about or want anything. I think some of the smaller YTers are better at connecting with their audience so it actually feels like a friend is like “hey, try this mascara.” But, in truth, they aren’t friends and they don’t know my makeup “needs.” I think the use of “honest” discourse, while making “shopping videos is really problematic-not that you can’t be honest, but that honesty needs to be couched in whatever reality that YTer is living in. Thank you for speaking power to truth here!
Great points! Words do matter, and the delivery matters as well! most of us, like you, are watching/listening to UA-cam in the background while performing other tasks. This distracted state gives these phrases insidious power! an attentive listener could easily rebuke them as innocuous though false; those of us focused on picking out groceries or balancing our books internalize them over time, as they’re repeated like mantras, without considering their value. We unwittingly let Beautubers chant destructive habits into our everyday existence and consider it enjoyable girl-talk. It’s nuts 🥜
I've been more aware of this kind of languages on YT and IG, especially on IG when brands post memes that are supposedly funny but glorifies debt. It's awful and shameful. I get that's how advertisement works, but it's so blatant and downright toxic. On another note, I've been lusting the Huda Nude palette ever since it's announcement. It's the palette that I wished the Naked 3 was, and it is the palette I wish the Modern Renaissance was. I love the colours and textures in the palette, and I honestly don't have anything in that dusty mauve colour family. But even after decluttering half or my makeup, I still feel I have no room for it. I don't want it to just be another palette that I leave in the drawer. So until I make some significant progress on what I have, it will have to wait.
So refreshing to watch you. You are very articulate and I appreciate how you seem to be going against the current. In a world where the makeup community is flooding is with how much we NEED all these products and how new releases are constantly coming out, we need more content like yours! I subscribed 👍🏽
That phrase really grinds my gears. EZ pay is so horrible, and toxic to people who genuinely can not afford a product. I hate when beauty gurus mention this, because it encourages reckless spending.
That’s actually really funny. I was watching one of your earlier videos this morning and this following thing stood out to me: you were talking about that big Marc Jacobs palette you love so much and were swatching the colors and said something along the lines of “if these are your colors, it would be something I recommend” and it stood out so much. Clearly we all use this language. Also, thank you for your channel. I’ve been making my way through all your videos and they’ve been a great way for me to relax and unwind for the day and also reevaluate what’s important to me. With that said, your skincare made me realize that there’s things that I need/want to ADD to my repertoire. I’m learning a lot from you
AHHH I knew this would happen! I hope that what I meant was "it would be something I recommend...if you are in the market and you have the money etc etc etc" but I wasn't thorough enough! Thanks for the note :)
This video is AMAZING! Everything you said here is SO true, and it's not just reviews in the makeup world either. This language comes out in everything and even in everyday life...it's just part of our culture. It doesn't make it right, but it does make it hard for people to truly understand the difference between wants and needs.
I don't focus on the phrases actually. I'm listening to the adjectives (NOT BUTTTERY fml haha) YTers use when reviewing a product. This was a fantastic video, I hope more influencers watch this and realize how their language can misguide consumers. Also, LOVE the eye look 😍
Keep preaching it! Holiday shopping fever is upon us and we need to stand strong. More sales will be coming along, too. Aaaaah! Financial pressures and burdens are one the top causes of stress in a marriage.
Are you reading my mind?? I have been thinking over the past week about suggesting to you that you do a video about manipulative use of language on YT. My background and current work (which involves a lot of public writing) make me keenly aware of how powerful language can be -- especially in conveying unspoken meanings. Unlike you (;-), I'm constantly offended by how YTers use sales-y language in their chummy, chatty banter. I mean it starts right from: "*don't forget* to subscribe!" and keeps on going throughout the video where they pretend to be your bff (lol). Like you said, it starts from the industry which has made billions of dollars for its companies' owners by manipulating women's insecurities about their looks and and about aging, so we shouldn't be surprised when they use other trendy & duplicitous language to sell their products: "natural," "green," "clean beauty," "cruelty-free," etc. I think it's really good to draw attention to it, so thank you for making this video. (I can go on and on and on about this topic, so I'm going to stop here before I go off on tangents relating to politics, lol!)
oh my gosh this is THE single most infuriating thing in my opinion, especially "green" "natural" "clean" and "non-toxic"(!!!), I see the latter so often with sponsored videos particularly for skincare and I just think.... skincare can be irritating but not TOXIC, no matter how much these companies market it as such other products are not toxic, we have governmental agencies making sure of that!! it kills meee
fun fact is the "non-toxic" green cosmetic is the most prone to be irritiant because of their ingredients... I don't know, why no one is interested in basic knowledge of ingredients (formost the BGs should know)
LE doesn’t really do it for me either, but I feel a sting every time I see a YTer declutter something just because it’s LE. I wanna scream, “Just wear it if you still like it!” And I really hope they didn’t recommend it in the past just for that reason only to turn around and throw it out later 😕
I’m going to start a no buy 2019, I’m just going to watch this video whenever I feel like I want something. So you’re welcome for the future hundreds of views 😂
Loved this video as always. Words are so powerful and the phrase that sticks in my craw is “complete the collection”. As in, “I need to get ABH Sultry to complete the collection”. Or “If I don’t get that I won’t complete my collection.” I see it a lot in MUR and hear it on UA-cam and it almost makes me sad.
Yesss ! 👏 👏 👏 I stopped to hear all these hyperbole (I live for it, omg, so pigmented, It's so cute, sold out in 1 hour, I so want badly, ...) bla bla bla 😴😴😴. I am so done with all that.
excessive voracious consumerism is RAMPANT here on UA-cam....i stopped watching haul videos and youtubers who keep buying sooo much makeup and clothes....i mean how many dresses or eyeshadow does one person need??? this is a very unhealthy practice great thoughts you present here! thank you xo
The one that really bugs me is the “collection” mentality. I mean it’s nice to have options, but when it comes down to it, what’s really the difference between collecting and hoarding? My mom has a collection of dishes we don’t ever use. One for each season. They sit around and collect dust. And at least they don’t expire like Makeup does. But it seems dumb whenever she spends money or someone spends money getting a piece for her because she has to complete the “collection”-especially limited edition. Ugh stupid 🙄
this is such an interesting one. I think some people use "collection" to mean a highly curated group of carefully chosen things, and some people use it to mean a hoard that grows and grows and must be completed. I will definitely talk about this in the sequel.
Such a cool video idea. My additions: - I see this A TON with not too great reviews on products that are either limited edition or have really nice looking packaging that "well, if you're a collector / if you want it as a collector's piece / if you would like to present it in your room, it's worth it". So, an extra layer to the "worth it" sentiment... I saw Lucia Tepper's video on this and she made some really great points that what is the sense in collecting or keeping items for aesthetic purposes that go bad?... - "you need me time / pampering / self-care / a little splurge every once in a while", and only using these phrases in the contect or purchasing beauty items. It is making people believe that they can only relax if they buy face masks and candles and all that stuff. - the whole "it looks good on every single skintone", "universally flattering shade" - now I believe that these magic colors / products do not exist, and they make people purchase items that might not be the best match for them just because they start believing that it is a universally flattering shade. - it's not word by word, but when reviewers basically gush about a product just because of the scent / taste alone (not talking about perfumes here, but any other items which are not fragrance products) - "you guys KNOW that I would not partner with any brand / product which I did not LOVE and did not think was the best"... ummm... we only know you from the screen, we COULD NOT KNOW 100% if you are genuine or not - "this is the best mascara ever" - I don't think claims like this should be made when all of this is really personal, because everyone has different skin issues, allergies, preferences, tastes - "not necessarily interested in this product, but I am going to / might pick it up, because it is supporting a good cause / I want to support a... [vegan/ecofriendl/crueltyfree/indie/POC-owned etc.] brand" - "it is a staple/ holy grail / well deserves the hype / must-have / iconic piece" - "not necessarily really wearable, but you might want to grab this up for Halloween / Christmas for a seasonal look" - "I had to have this, after I found out Kim K / Kate Middleton / Ariana Grande etc. uses this" - "the glitters here do not perform well on their own, but if you use glitter glue, lay it down in 5 layers and chant tribal songs, it works quite well! - "I had to buy it for the name!"
The phrase that really gets to me is "I couldn't help myself". Every time I hear it I scream internally, "Please help yourself!!"
Yes! It kind of implies that since this person, with a massive collection with hundreds of mascaras, couldn't resist the thing, how possibly could I?! It normalizes and encourages others to not restrain their spending.
Yes precisely! It always makes me think that they're unaware that shopping addiction is a serious problem for some people. For me, that phrase writes it off as something frivolous and may prevent people from seeking help because of shame.
That one bothers me as well
Hahaha. I couldn't help myself but I can help you waste money
I agree. It encourages frivolous spending because we have no self control.
One of my favorite things about you is that you are comfortable inhabiting the space of wanting/liking, but understanding that you don't need to own everything just because it's beautiful.
thank you, Naomi! xo!
It's time to bring back the fine art of window shopping. I remember grabbing my friend in the 80s and we would walk to the stores and just browse and made a day of it. We had no money, we just tried stuff on and made mental notes of what we'd like to purchase one day. We had no purchases to show for it at the end of the day but we had a great time.
Whenever a guru says it's worth the money with luxury products they received in PR I roll my eyes. Anything is worth it if you received it (and most of your makeup collection) for free!
Exactly. But sometimes they do buy it themselves; but that still doesn't change how I feel because they CAN afford spending $150 on a foundation, I can't.
@@netajones2098 Well they have that extra $150 to spare bc they didn't buy most of the rest of their makeup anyway lol
Exactly, I wish Gurus would review a product they received in PR as if they spent their own money to buy it. There are very very very few who does that.
Abhirami Viswakumar I’m not even sure that they can. Without actually having spent the money they can’t really relate. Samantha ravendahl did a video about it and not receiving any more pr because she didn’t think that she was actually able to justify that she’d buy the thing when she got it for free.
YES YES YES!!! HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD GIRL!
Obsessed! I’m so obsessed with this new xyz! It’s the best I’m totally *obsessed*. It drives me insane, obsessed is such a strong, powerful, almost negative, word to me. I cannot recall a single time I have used it on an everyday basis. And I can confidently say I don’t consider myself “obsessed” with anything. Not in the way that it takes over my life entirely to where it is all I can think of, for days upon days. So when people throw this word around like it’s nothing, about the most minuscule things like lipstick, I am almost shocked. It always stands out to me and makes me question the person. I remember watching a video and it was, maybe 10 minutes long and I heard the word obsessed 6 times, minimum. It’s so commonly used, but it is something that still upsets me.
Yes. It's more like they're possessed! Possessed by a possession.
hi Wendy! Yes, this is such a good one. This is also one I find it hard not to say myself. I don't think I say it a lot on youtube, but I do in daily life, always in kind of a joking context, but still. I have to make a round 2 of this video!
I can understand if it’s a product that you have used continuously for a really long time at least a year.
But I HATE it when I see it in first impressions same for any of this kind of language. First impressions are fun for seeing what’s new and how certain products work. But I genuinely feel there are certain creators that try to pass them off as reviews.
@@xXPirate-KittyXx I totally agree! I can obsess over a TV show because I've spent multiple years with it like Game of Thrones ive been there since 2011, however being "obsessed" over an eyeshadow that youve used for like 3 minutes and it was sent to you by Burberry... doesnt really make any of us viewers feel better (especially our bank!)
"I love it so much, I already bought a backup" - as if you're going to use up that Omega Bronzer anytime this decade, Karen. When influencers don't take into account the fact that makeup expires, we are taught that we can accumulate things as if they will be worth anything in 10 years. The phrase irks me especially since it adds to the FOMO, because the thing might not be available if you wait, so hurry!!
This reminds me of something I heard once about the phenomenon of hyperconsumerism is countries like China, where people would buy stokes of products (like long-expiring food). It's crazy, and worse of all this mechanisms are now ingrained in our society and all of us are influenced by it.
Buying back-ups is so wasteful. I really don't believe these gurus with their massive collections hit pan on anything.
I am totally against backups
I am just starting to clear my head of the "OMG I need a backup!" mentality. I have been so susceptible to the scarcity mindset and it's really easy for a video (or my own wishful thinking) to scare me into stocking up on stuff because what if it goes out of stock/is discontinued, when odds are it'll expire before I need it OR I'll get bored of the product and want to try something new anyway! Hannah's videos are SO helpful for rooting out these little tricks that fear-based marketing teaches us to play on ourselves.
I bursted out laughing when I read "I love it so much .....anytime this decade, Karen." How true is that statement! Yes, our skin is the largest organ that makes up the human body, but we would have to apply ( whatever ) .from head to toe everyday for months on end to get through the mountain of (whatever) product we have amassed.
And, that's assuming we dont buy anything else. I am done throwing my money into the landfill because my products expired or went bad and I am done financing other peoples skin care and makeup because I have given away a mountain of products to friends and family, and I am tired of lining the pockets of sephora. I'drather line my own pockets. I have figured out that my skin/face doesn't need as much crap as the beauty industry wants me to think it needs and at my funeral nobody is going to stand up and give a speech reflecting on how glowy my complexion always was. I want to be remembered as someone who loved and was loved by family and close friends , not as someone who loved product.
This may be a little bit of an unpopular opinion, but the phrase I can't stand is "It's good... for the price." I like keeping a very curated collection, so I don't want to buy something just because it's inexpensive. If it's really only the expensive options that are great, I'd prefer to save up for one of those products I'll really treasure, rather than just buying more of the cheaper items I really won't love, because then I just end up buying another, and another trying to find one I like. However, I understand that some people want cheaper options, but I believe that there are many inexpensive products with incredible quality, so those are the products that should be recommended instead of the new ones that are "good for the price." I think that that phrase feeds into the mentality of makeup being about continually buying rather than utilizing actual quality products.
I agree! It rubs me the wrong way when people say that because:
1: it implies the product is somewhat sub-par (at least to me)
2: it implies that you should get it just to get it
3: it seems to be said on channels where buying stuff because it is cheap is a reason in and of itself..
I agree with this so much! I would rather spend 5 times the amount on a product I will cherish and love to use everyday than something sub par that I can’t wait to use up and have out of my collection.
@@Katiewadsworth I totally agree..
I do realize that makeup is makeup and that it should ved the makeup you pay for, but I have to say I do like sleek/pretty packaging that makes my makeup feel special..
I totally get not wanting to pay, say Pat McGrath prices, but the packages seem very well thought out and in tune with the colours them selves - and as a person who makes my own clothes and draw/paint on occasion I think some things are taken for granted in the name of "affordable"..
Cristina B I totally agree. Bc then I’m wondering is it really good? Or it’s good for 10$. There’s s big difference and I’ve been sucked right in to buying crap bc it was ‘good for the price!’
Cristina B, another person here who agrees with this :)
There are quite a few “poisonous phases” that seem to show up in some declutter videos. Things like “I don’t use this, but I love the packaging” or “I want to have the whole collection” or “I’m not using this now, but I might in the future” or “I need to have at least one colorful palette” or “this was limited edition, so I can’t get another” or “I don’t use this, but I like this one shade” It always bugs me because the point of those videos is to get rid of things. Not only are the products just going to waste in someone’s collection, but also it encourages other to hang on to things the don’t need and to in some ways promotes the idea that you have to have complete sets even if that means buying more thing you don’t really want. A product being limited edition is not a good reason to hold on to something that your not using. If you never use that colorful palette, you probably don’t need it. If you only like one shade, depot it and the pass one the rest. This type of language bugs me because i probably have I minor hoarding problem and I watch declutters to help me let go of things.
It also bugs me when YTers recommend things they got in PR without knowing the price. It’s always a red flag when someone says “I’m not sure what this costs”.
I actually love de clutter videos.. Makes me realize how much is wasted if I go overboard!!
Vanessa Sky I like them too, I watch them all the time. I just think that there are some justifications people use that are problematic. I think that because the beauty community is very commercialized that most videos have these issue, it’s just worth recognizing that this occurs even in videos promoting decreasing waste. I know I’ve used a lot of these same justifications to buy and hold onto makeup that I don’t need over the years which is why I recognize them as being slightly problematic.
Also with limited edition products, what really gets to me is "It's limited edition so I can't wear it on camera because you won't be able to get your hands on it." Like what? First you told your audience buy it because it is limited edition, now that it's not available anymore it's somehow unusable.
Katariina AJ Exactly! What about the people that did buy it and want to see looks with it?
interesting! Deluctters are seen as empowering for those of us trying to downsize, but I agree that they overall mindset is sometimes toxic.
“I bought it for traveling”
Riiiight?! Like where are these people going and how often? I'm guessing most of us travel a few times a year if that. The whole "perfect for travel" thing annoys me.
I haaaaate this, like how much do people travel lol :P
You hear this when its someone that travels occassionally. I travel 95% of my life and i just grab what I already have and go.
@@LCx829 EXACTLY!!!!!
@@AngelicaNyqvist 🤣😆
"You should stop what you are doing now and go and buy it" - I have heard this Soo many times !
Abhirami Viswakumar omg, I actually talk back when I hear this one! I’m like, oh I should huh? Yes, that is absolutely the most important thing I should be doing right now. 😂😂😂
@@MoreCoffeePlease. hahahahhaha.. Infact, i will definitely not buy it if someone says that.. . I mean, i get it - They are trying to emphasize how good the product is, but there are soo many adjectives in the dictionary to do this. like Hannah points out, language is powerful.
yes, very weird!!!
My pet peeve is a someone encouraging the use of payment plans by saying "I know it's expensive, but if you buy it from this company they have a great program where you can pay for it over 3 months." NO! Monthly payments are for your house, not makeup, which will probably be sitting in your drawer barely used and forgotten while your still seeing it show up on your credit card!
SUCH a good point!
Lauren M that’s so awful, I would IMMEDIATELY unsubscribe from a reviewer who said that. I’ve never heard that before.
This reminds me of discussions on the Makeup Rehab subreddit about the word "collection" for the makeup we own and how it can make people feel like they need to constantly add to it, want to save makeup and not use it up, need a wide variety of products, or actually own an entire product line, etc.
this is a great thought! I'd like to change my language - any better word anyone can think of?
@@zeyns1646 I use "makeup stash" because it feels more practical and the phrase "shop my stash" is very common. I'd love to hear other suggestions!
I've always thought it sounds pretentious and ridiculous when youtubers talk about "collections." They are trying to legitimize their hoarding addiction by making the stuff sound more precious than it is. Ugh, same with the whole trend of discussing color "stories" in eyeshadow palettes. They are trying to make it sound more intellectual, artistic and just "more" than what it really is: a bunch of colored powders arranged in a very pleasing way. As somebody who values books and actual, real stories and narratives, I want to point out how ludicrous it sounds to talk about "color stories" in palettes. Just say you like or don't like that bunch of colors! Lol
@@jcjccmz to be fair, I really like the thought of a color story - eyeshadow is a very relaxing and artistic thing for me and my 'zen' time daily, so I really love that phrase. I also feel like it encourages only keeping or buying ones that inspire you instead of ones that bore you but you feel you 'should' buy because of youtube
@@zeyns1646 Hi Zeyn, I am sorry I sound so cranky about this. I hope you understand what I mean if I say that what you just wrote actually kinda proves my point. I feel like you and others are giving a cooler name, a nicer name, to what is basically product design and giving it more credit than it deserves. I too LOVE the act and process of applying makeup and really appreciate the transformative act it can be. But I don't need to talk about an eyeshadow's "color story" to do this. It's already an amazing process without a fake and inaccurate name to go with a product involved. I probably also object to the use of the word "story" in this context because what people mean is "theme" or "scheme," and they are using the word "story" because it sounds cuter and more relatable.
My least favorite phrase is “You need this.” Nope, I don’t need it. People have enough trouble discerning the difference between a want and a need as it relates to makeup. Sometimes makeup is a necessity-for drag queens, actors, people with disfiguring flaws that help them to feel normal; but most of us don’t need it. Wanting something is not the same.
so true
I hate when beauty gurus are making video like “best palette of 2018” or “best foundation 2018” in... a... March?.. 🤷🏻♀️
great point!
Even the word ‘haul’, everyone in the beauty community knows what it means, but until I came here it was a negative word about moving a ton of stuff. It’s like they’ve given it a new meaning, for a while I used to love watching them, and now for me ‘haul’ represents excessive overspending in one category.
such a good point!
I feel like this is problem with youtube. You can't record videos with same educational content over and over, and sooner or later you would ran out of art or cosmetic theory.
So all your videos with helpful things are mostly viewed by first of your 100 followers, and by the time you gained enough traction you ran out of things to say, and had to relay on product reviews.
Gah I am feeling so personally attacked right now haha XD No but really, I do think I have said the phrase "if these are your colors...", but I think it's mainly about me trying to not step on anyones toes haha. This video is a great eye opener for any creator. I will have this in the back of my head
Angelica Nyqvist love your channel Angelica ❤️
I think there are some big YTers who have very good sales & marketing skills who also happen to be very good communicators/actresses, and a lot of other YTers tend to copy them, consciously or unconsciously. So there are some who are purposely engaging in sales tactics with this kind of language, and others are just kinda copying the big YTers they admire, without actually knowing they're using the same "poisonous" language.
Good for you! The facts that you are a content creator and can respect where Hannah is coming from is awesome. Mad props to you girl!
Haha I had to stop watching your videos for a while, Angelica, because you used to rave about buying everything that spoke to you. Which is of course fine for you, but that language can be triggering..
Just so you know, none of these were from you, Angelica! I think you tend to be pretty thorough, like "if these are your colors and you're in the market for something like this, I suggest it." I don't think I've ever heard you say "if you like this then you should buy it" or the equivalent. To me there's a big difference.
I always notice the “pick it up” euphemism for “buy.” It must be a requirement on YT because almost everyone I watch uses it. Also, referring to your makeup as a “collection.” A collection of items that will expire and become worthless makes no sense. Also “if you want to try it...” or “I love trying concealers” (or whatever). “Trying” is for a free sample, like a bite of Chick-fil-A on a toothpick. I don’t buy things to “try “them.
oooh this is such a good one.
This video and these comments are awesome for pointing out phrases I had never even noticed were having an effect on me! I'm suddenly realizing how well the "just pick it up" / "just grab one" euphemism works on me, whether it's coming from a video/ad or my own internal justification (I say this to myself a lot!). Now I'll be on the lookout for it in the future.
And also, trying new lipstick or liquids eyeshadow - “now I need all other shades!”
“It is a real game changer!” or “life changing product”
The life changing product always makes me laugh! If a makeup item can change your life so much, your life must be really sad and empty :/
Aimée Goudreau-Côté it is, thanks for noticing! my life got changed when i found the best black lipstick combo that lasts thru drinking and is actually black and by the fact that even together they’re still cheaper than a ”mid-end” black lipstick. it changed for worse tho’ since now i have like 6 black lipsticks and every time i hear about a new black lipstick i have to watch atleast 6 reviews before deciding on ’testing it myself’ and i can’t stop the thought that maybe there is a lipstick thats both combined....
I hate this one! Isn't a range of shades designed so that you can find the one you love?
I'm at a point in my life where if I hear someone tell me something is "life changing" I walk/click away as I've learned whatever they're selling it's likely at best overpriced trash and at worst potentially dangerous. When I was young, vulnerable and not in a great place with my mental and physical health I'm not proud to say this worked on me more than once, it's amazing what you'll buy into when you're sick and desperate. Sometimes it's innocent and something people just say but sometimes it's very deliberate predatory marketing that can really hurt people. I know I'm being a little dramatic but it actually makes my heart hurt a little when I hear it now.
"I need al the shades" is a killer
My least favourite comment comes with declutters, when someone with over 100 palettes or lipsticks etc... says “I never reach for it.” If you own 100 palettes, you CAN’T “reach” for any of them often. Even if you rotate through them, you’re looking at over 3 months before you circle back. At that point, you’re probably using the ones you adore only a handful of times a year. And if you do use anything regularly, that means 90% of what you own goes to waste or is barely touched so it’s time to re-evaluate. Figure out cost per use and it will look a whole lot different than cost per product.
it is weird logic!
Yes, I get very confused by this... sometimes I’m thinking, “does this person change her makeup 10 times per day? I don’t understand how else she is reaching for all of these palettes often”
Personally I really dislike the money with wings image also. Making light of overspending is not funny imo.
Same
I’ve noticed Sephora putting these FOMO and bye-bye money messages blatantly in marketing emails, etc. It definitely turns me off.
Oh god! Same here!
it's the worst
Ulta does the same thing. One of them was something like "wants vs needs- what's the difference again?" I felt like showing them the difference by not shopping there because I don't strictly NEED anything they sell.
HANNAH LOUISE POSTON THE GIRL SINGLE HANDEDLY CHANGING THE BEAUTY COMMUNITY AND CONSUMERISM!!!! I salute you!!! Absolutely needed to hear this today thank youuuuuu xoxo
Ditzy Princess took the words right out of my mouth lol!! I really hope this is the new wave!!
Yaaaaasss 👏👏👏👏👏👊
Vanessa Sky yeahhhhhhhhh. Me too. It is. I can feel it in my bones. Hannah making history. She started this movement and it's getting bigger and bigger. X
"I know I have these colours a million times over in my collection, but I bought this palette just for this shade right here" -- this one always gets to me.
I had a limited edition obsessed several years ago, but now I've realised that either 1. the quality isn't as good (it's all about cool packaging or an interesting concept or just putting someone's name on it) OR 2. it's going to be made permanent later or come back at some point in another form if it's THAT good because the company will want to capitalise on the hype and make all the money they can out of it.
Omg the "bye-bye money" thing. It used to be that when I saw that hashtag it would automatically make me feel like I should give in to my desires and go for it, but now it makes me feel more sad than anything. I remember watching a Pat McGrath swatch video once where the girl mentioned her car got repossessed but she was fine with it because "at least she had this highlighter" -- breaks my heart!
nooo the car! That is a heartbreaking story :(
I’m honestly shocked this was “all” the poisonous phrases you picked up on. UA-cam feels like a nonstop commercial ad for products now! Your videos are sanity in a sea of crazy!!
I'll have to make a second video!
The packaging is to die for !!! I have heard it so many times and my eyes go rolling automatically. Cant help
swe same!
ooh good one!
Yea that is a HUGE one I just don’t get-UA-camrs calling for better packaging. Uummm that adds to the COST of the item. First of all, who cares? You travel so much that your cosmetics need to be encased in Kevlar? Second, there’s so much waste by companies sending these RIDICULOUS PR boxes that are a 2’ x 2’ pizza box housing 3 lipsticks. WHAAAT?? I love that Samantha Ravendahl has taken herself off all PR lists. Good on you girl!!
The one that bugs me, as someone of Indian descent, is saying that a product is 'universally flattering' or 'would look good on anyone' or that a lipstick is 'the perfect nude'. A lot of the time those products would be way too light for me. It reinforces the idea that makeup is made for light skinned people and that darker skinned people aren't worth considering. I was also going to comment on people saying that a product is 'worth the money' and you covered it beautifully. Surely whether something is worth the money entirely depends on what the particular consumer already has, what they like, what they need, and what their financial priorities are? Also, I am wearing an antique gold-bronze eye look today, completely inspired by you, and I feel so so good about it.
This is SUCH a good one, I wish I had included it! I will have to film round 2 of this video. Thanks, Isheeka!
@@HannahLouisePoston I would love to see a round 2! And yes, I imagine the 'universally flattering' comment frustrates you as well as someone with very light skin.
I’m Indian too and feel the same way. Thanks to Hannah I stopped my play box subscription mostly because I kept giving away the “universal” color products. This year I came dangerously close to VIB rouge and I decided 2019 will be my no buy year.
I assume that you are referring to white/ light skinned women using the “universally flattering” line, if I am not mistaken. While the concept of a universally flattering colour is somewhat debatable and depends greatly on the individual’s complexion, please understand that watching videos of white women trying make up and then complaining that the products they recommend based on their own opinion are too light for one’s skin, comes off as having somewhat missed the point.
It is obvious that those women test products by using their own skin tone and rate them depending on how good they look on themselves, therefore it goes without saying that their recommendations resonate mostly with women of a similar skin tone. Similarly, there is no implication that darker skinned people are not worthy of wearing makeup whatsoever and it doesn’t reinforce any idea that makeup is made for light skinned people.
@@ClioMako The complaint is about the term 'universally flattering', which is almost never the case. It is also a marketing term from the PR write-ups that reviewers receive, so it does betray a manufacturer's bias if they claim it is universally flattering, but really is only flattering for a certain range of skin tones.
I really dislike when a grown woman put an expression of “ups! I did it again!” on the thumbnail of a haul video. I always think 👏🏼STOP 👏🏼ACTING 👏🏼LIKE A 👏🏼CHILD 👏🏼
The society already infantilizes us enough.
this makes me cringe too!
Preach it girl!!
But then you use that weird clapping thing that 15 year olds use to "accentuate" their phrase.
yes, the "oops" thing is a lot like "bye bye money." It's not funny!
I personally just never watch Haul video, I don't like the concept. I understand if you receive a package and you're excited but that's really not what those videos are about nowadays.
Mine are the holy grail items, the staple item, the product we all know by heart now. Hula bronzer, Better Than Sex mascara, the Modern Renaissance palette, Pillow Talk lipstick, Becca highlighters, etc. I have seen these items and determined I did not want them for myself (except the modern renaissance palette) so I didn't buy them. But then you see them over and over because they are great products but the beauty community kind of assumes as a given that you have it too. They start off my saying "And of course I will be using the ..." or "This is my holy grail item." After awhile I start to feel desire for something I had no real interest in before. I know that hula bronzer is too dark for me, I am not into powder highlighters, I think the pillow talk color is fine, I really don't like the Nars orgasm blush but I almost bought a mini of that with the Nars bronzer to try because they have been drilled in my head. I love it when gurus use the same products because I feel that when they use the same thing over and over again then that is the true test of if they actually do love a product, but it has that conflicting effect of me feeling that I need it as well.
Along the same lines, I hate when a UA-camr is reviewing a palette or product and say "This is just a basic eyeshadow palette and you probably already have these colors in your collection." My collection is tiny, I assume that a lot of people's collections are actually very small because makeup is just super expensive and even if you are a lover of makeup, it doesn't mean you will have the funds to have those colors in your collection. I hate when they assume that I already have something and then leave the review at that. I normally just have one item per category, sometimes two. I do have a lot of lipsticks (for me) but even still there is a good possibility that I can't dupe something. This in itself isn't the biggest problem with that statement. The larger problem is that triggers me to say to myself "I don't have this staple item, therefore I need to add this staple item to my collection." When a guru says "You probably already have this a million times over in your collection" and I don't have it, suddenly it is like permission for me to go get it because obviously it is common and everyone else has it as a basic makeup product. I almost convinced myself to buy a Naked palette because everyone beauty youtuber in the world has said that "You probably have this in your collection." I don't like the Naked palettes but I spent two hours debating if I should get Naked 3 or Naked Heat before reminding myself I don't actually want the palettes.
naked 3 made me look like booboo the fool since my over all coloring is so dark :( it doesn’t look that good with black/brown/very dark brown eyes.
Damn you put into words what I've been doing! The # of times I've considered buying the Nars orgasm blush is ridiculous even though I personally think it is too shimmery. I recently bought a Sephora favorites set and was happy that it included the benefit hoola bronzer..... even though it's too dark for my skin smh. Thank you for reminding me that I've been duped into thinking I need all those 'cult classic' products lol. ♥
I asked for naked heat for my birthday because of that. I actually went to the UD counter to go and swatch all these naked pallettes and decide for myself which one a) is wearable. I cant rock up at work wearing very bold colours. Or collect my son from nursery sporting colourful eyeshadow. B) easy to apply. Warm tones or neutrals would be better than a smoldering black grey pallette that takes a millenium to blend out and has the danger of making me look like a Panda. C) i would commit to using it.
I got naked heat and it is absolutely brilliant and i love it. I wouldnt say it was a basic or staple item because it is so special to me. I can create so many looks from it but the only issue is that the metallics need to be applied with a wet brush. The matte shades are soooo good though.
It goes to show that if you put a lot of thought into it and dont just collect stuff for the sake of collecting it, you will get so much more enjoyment from it 🙂
Holy grail/ride or die/faaaaavorite products kind of irk me. I perceive that label as going to something that was really above and beyond the other competing products. It sounds like the product was the magical ray of light at the end of a long and arduous journey of testing sooo many other items very thoroughly. And it often seems to get slapped on the current "it item" which hasnt even been tested that long.
But I may just be salty. The difference between an initial impression and a detailed review has become very apparent to me as I get more knowledgeable about the community. And being around panners has made me aware of what a deeply used item looks like. A holy grail item should show the wear from your testing, it shouldn't look spotless and new.
Insert_Something_Meaningful YES, there are tons of colors or types of products that are popular right now that I don't have, and usually that's because the product doesn't suit my colouring, taste, etc. But that blasé comment that "you already have these colours" makes me wonder if I should. It also normalizes having gigantic makeup stashes, because the BG is assuming that all viewers do. I actually see this language a lot in anti-hauls and it irks me, like "actually this argument is useless for me and is even giving me a bit of fomo".
As a former linguistics student AND someone who spends too much money on makeup, I loved this video! Some more phrases that rub me the wrong way are 'must-haves', and 'if you haven't tried X what are you doing with your life?' -- I'm sure I don't need to explain why! I also get really irked when I see people justify a purchase by saying 'these are the colours I wear regularly' because all I can think is: 'why are you buying more then?'
yessss "must-haves!" argh!
"It's perfect for an event..." how many events do you go to?!
"It looks beautiful on photo" ....How much of your life revolves around taking pictures of yourself?!
hahah so true!
Hahaha I think I have heard the "looks good on photos" mostly by youtubers that work as makeup artists in same capacity so then I get it 😁
THIS!
“You deserve it” is another one. Love your eye look and earrings, very festive
oooh, good one!
rachel turner yas! Being a good and kind person, doing your work in life or at your job, working on goals-these things don’t deserve rewards. They should just be things we do for their intrinsic value. I do believe in self-care. That means something different to different people. A pamper session, reading, time with friends... but just doing right in life doesn’t mean you earn presents along the way as carrots to keep you going.
Oh yes, and it's cousin phrase, "treat yourself!"
About the "if you can get your hands on it"
I have adopted the notion that if the store/site i want something from doesn't make it easy for me to get the product - WHY IN HEAVENS NAME WOULD I WORK TO GET SOMETHING I'M PAYING FOR???!?!?!?!!!!! - so I will not buy from that place...
Edit: why do er spend hours waiting in line to spend money? Especially at full price, horrible service etc😅
so true!
This video is perfect for you because you are also actually into writing and language...
I NEEDED THIS VIDEO. Specially with all the sales emails this last weekend ...one of my personal favs from Sephora is when they send me an email saying “because getting a package is fun” makes me wanna throat punch them 🤦🏽♀️
Thanks, Karen! xoxo!
Or the "you DESERVE this" subject lines. Like, um no, I deserve to pay my bills thnx.
😂😂😂
"If you are serious about makeup..."
"If you really love lipstick..."
"If quality is important to you..."
I feel like all of these statements go to identity and imply that if you aren't buying this item, then you must not be serious about makeup/love lipstick/value quality.
mmm this is a really good point.
You can just say it. If someone has a huge junk drawer of unopened products and they’re buying more of a category they have a lot of, it’s not a need. Period. I honestly don’t even see a collection when I look at most people’s hoards here on UA-cam. A collection is curated and shows the personality of the wearer; all LE, a specific kind of packaging, etc. Most are homogeneous piles of makeup that’s been released in the last three years. I’m bored.
it's definitely not a need!
When I was little, like 4yo, I learned to say "I need it" when asking my mom to buy me a candy bar or something else in the store. It didn't work on her, but it's interesting how early I started to pick up on the difference between the word "need" and "want".
so interesting!
The phrase I detest the most is "this is to die for." I also think it's weird that they refer to their makeup as a collection, as if it will appreciate in value. "I need to add this palette to my collection."
oof! good one.
In addition to the words, it's the energy and excitement put behind them by the person delivering the message. There's a reason that Jaclyn Hill's favorites videos always sell out of her recommendations... Her delivery is always injected with an extreme sense of purchase urgency, lol. 👀
GirlyPanache she’s such a great sales woman. She should go on QVC
Hi Courtney! Yes, very good point about the urgency and passion :)
Brilliant! I really liked this video! Another thing... First, they "sell" us the limited edition makeup and then... they declutter it after a little while! They say that they can't use it anymore on videos because we can't purchase it anymore and they forget that per their suggestion some people have bought that LE item and now what are they going to do about it? :/
yes! LE is not a good reason to buy OR a good reason to declutter!
thank you so much for making this video! I think one of the things that sticks out to me the most about consumerism especially when related to UA-cam culture is how “normal” it is to hoard makeup. Sometimes I find it hard not to have a little bit of judgement when it comes to people who have entire dressers of a particular item (especially something like eyeshadow palettes that take so long to use up), more than one person (or professional makeup artist!) could ever even dream of using in several lifetimes, even ignoring expiration dates. Then they do a declutter, and get rid of a bunch of stuff, but even in the video they talk about “now I have a bunch of room to fill up again!” It’s totally fine to have a diverse and beautiful collection, one that you truly make use of and appreciate, but most people don’t have the financial means to have a whole wardrobe full of makeup. I feel very fortunate to have been raised in a way where I’m wary of debt, considering I’ll probably end up dealing with student loans, but I know a lot of people just think massive amounts of credit card debt accumulated from shopping is normal. Beauty gurus who receive masses of PR obviously aren’t putting themselves in those financial situations, but I’m scared that the young girls watching them will forego saving and establishing a safety net for themselves in favor of accumulating massive amounts of makeup.
totally agreed!
As a veiwer of beauty channels it seems that we are often prompted to make an unauthorized purchase when so and so does a collaboration to show support. With so many people doing collaborations it would become expensive fast to purchase half of these collaborations. So, when I hear things reminiscent of 'get this pallet to show support' it rubs me the wrong way. Phases like this imploy coded messaged to encourage the unnecessary spending. Now I do want to be clear, I enjoy beauty channels and their ability to be entrepreneurs, however I need more of a reason than enjoying a channel to purchase something when I take into consideration everything you mentioned in the video.
such a good point!
“Good value “ usually used about sets of items. They are only a good value if you were already going to buy all the parts anyway 😄
definitely!
What a great video idea, I cringe when I hear these things also and they are so so common. I think some of these started as a joke, like the idea of the website "shut up and take my money" but I think most of those things were so extreme that people didn't actually go out and buy them. Now I feel like people actually buy most of the things they want, which I don't understand how most people can afford.
Long story coming, but you reminded me of something similar that totally broke my heart: In a comment on a UA-cam beauty video, someone said, "I am getting paid this week and I'm going to buy this for me and my daughters cause it sounds amazing" It just really hit me how important what UA-camrs say is. People are in different situations, but when you misrepresent like something will change your life it can be very dangerous for people. I respect that you didn't bring up specifics and names cause that isn't the point and could take over the narrative, but let's just say this wasn't an eyeshadow palette or anything. I even brought up this story in a Reddit thread once and people responded with "people can spend their money however they want, you don't know" which is all true, but it doesn't mean people don't have a responsibility to their audience and to not lead them astray. It suddenly felt very predatory in this particular case.
Thanks for the video and giving voice to this, Hannah! Also, you are getting into their heads, the idea of overconsumption suddenly comes in a cute, friendly and well spoken little red headed package 😀
ugh, that story is heartbreaking. It's true that people can spend how they want, but there is a limit past which you are encouraging people to overspend money they can't afford on things they don't need, which is a problem. Thanks, Bianca
I love your intellectual approach to beauty community. I don't have much makeup, but I've been watching anti-hauls here and reading makeup rehab stuff on reddit and it acts in nice counterbalance for all review channels I watch. It also spreads further into the philosophy of my purchases. I've recently started a sewing school, so soon I know how to make my own clothes. I want to take more slower and minimalistic approach in all my consuming, and buy only things I really need.
I almost bought an okay eyeshadow palette from Colourpop on cyber monday. But then I asked myself "Does this excite me?". you talk a lot about your feelings towards makeup and I like it a lot. I decided the palette didn't feel perfect for me and didn't excite me enough to justify the purchase. And do I NEED it? Definitely not.
Thank you for your amazing channel!
so glad you are enjoying my content! xoxo!
Hope you have great success with you sewing school. Like I hope you can franchise and become ridiculously wealthy! Clothing manufacturing is becoming bare bones, quality wise. I grew up listening to my mom talk about how her mother made most if not all of her clothes. So I’m pretty ruined for cheap clothing. THEN I sold men’s suits for a while. Another long lesson in what is considered quality clothing manufacturing. Again, BEST OF LUCK!!
@@rebeccacarraway480 Thank you so much! I don't have any plans to become wealthy, but I hope we would go from fast fashion to made to order items and I could provide people with those :)
A subscriber of mine pointed me toward this video, and I'm so glad she did. Very interesting perspective, Hannah! I think that "influencers" of all sizes on all platforms need to be conscious of the impact our words have on our audience. That being said, saying "if you like the colors, I recommend buying it" or "if you can get your hands on it, I recommend buying it" is part of the natural review process. Part of what we do is recommend products. I agree that we need to be conscious of our words and make sure we really truly love something before recommending it, but a review without some recommendations, in my opinion, isn't really a review. The statements about colors and availability typically come with a lot of context, and in this situation, context definitely matters. I don't think any responsible reviewer would recommend buying something just because it has pretty colors or just because it happens to be available.
I also see what you're saying with "It's worth the money." It's kind of like the way I feel about the word "affordable". What's worth it or affordable to me, may be very different from others. I've always felt, with that statement, "compared to similar products" was implied. But, I can't assume other people think the way that I do. I wasn't sure if I would agree with a lot of this video, but I did! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hi Jen! I'm honored that you watched my video! I agree about the context issue. I think when I've said "if you like these colors, I recommend buying it" what I've meant is that if you like the colors, then you can be assured that I (the reviewer) think that the product's other qualities (formula, etc) are good enough to merit a purchase. But in the future I'd like to challenge myself to be more thorough and actually SAY what I mean instead of saying a vague sentence that implies that it's normal to buy everything you like. I hope that makes sense! Thank you so much for commenting, I've watched you since long before I started my own channel. You are an icon :)
Aw jen! You're one of the few channels that says anything with actual meaning! I don't consider you or your channel saying any of these phrases meaninglessly. I know you put weeks, months, (sometimes even longer) into your reviews and recommendations! I think the BG who have used it literally TWO times or less and throw around these phrases aren't thinking of the impact they have.
I watch your channel almost everyday and it keeps getting better ( I always miss your livestreams because I'm super west coast so they're always too early. Lol)
❤️
@@HannahLouisePoston I just saw this. Thank you, Hannah. Your respect means so much to me. Really and truly. Even though I just discovered you, I can see that you have very high standards of excellence, so I don't take the praise lightly. Thank you!
I recently heard Kathleen lights say that she had picked up SEVEN of her holy grail foundation when it got discontinued… She admitted some of them will probably be expired by the time she got to them all, But she laughed and said, but it’s OK!!! I literally almost unsubscribed lol. Another thing that drives me insane is when beauty people pretend that things don’t expire at all. They say things like I will never have to buy make up again!!! Hello… You’re not really supposed to keep powder over four years…
This drives me wild!!! I hate seeing these huge collections knowing most things will go bad untouched 😥 I work heavily towards using up my small collection so I know how long it takes, they do not need more than one backup realistically
Eva R. I Love watching project panners! It has made me so much more aware about how fast things go bad! I have a tiny little make up collection because I would feel too guilty spending money on stuff that will go bad! I have one eyeshadow palette and I am relishing in seeing the dips :-)
@@Eva_R966 me too! It's also like.... by the time you use up those 1 or 2 backups companies release such an excess of product anyways that you could probably go find another one that's similar! I also believe strongly in giving back to the world and giving to charity, saving for the future, spending money on experiences rather than things, etc. so watching people spend thousands of dollars a year at Sephora for makeup they can't even use drives me crazy
Emma Wall or they are bored of the product by the time they get thru the first one! To add to your list, I think about all the waste!!
I unsubscribed from her for this reason and other reasons. She always says she's "obsessed" and promotes this consumerist culture.
Love the argument about the 'worth' of something.
exactly, how can someone definitively determine the worth when it's so subjective?
Watching your videos reminds me so much of the intelligent, thoughtful conversations I had in college getting my fine arts degree. I'm an art teacher now in a public school so I definitely don't get these conversations in my every day life, but listening to you does being back some good memories.
Consumerism is a way to keep the poor poor and make the rich richer it’s always been this way and that’s all most these youtubers live by!! They keep getting richer (on top of everything they are selling they get for free) while the consumer has no where near the bank account they do and they are the ones wasting money to buy buy buy !! I just don’t fall for it ...in fact it’s turned me off from even watching reviews all together because no matter what they say I’m not buying it unless I want it so even if it’s not as good as the 100 $ item if I like it I will try it myself you can’t trust people especially on the tube! Sorry rant over I’m just sick of seeing everyone zombies who feel they need to be told what to do
Amanda Stankowitz I am soooo with you! I realised years ago I’m being brainwashed at every angle and my makeup collection exploded into something abnormal for an ordinary ‘consumer’ .I’m filled with glee that I got off the crazy train which was heading towards serious CC debt. I don’t regret anything , it was all a learning curve but I do feel annoyed sometimes when I look at my 100+ MAC eyeshadows🤦🏻♀️ Even with a low buy over the last 5-6 years I’ve still only managed to hit pan on 2 eyeshadows😩
I do agree it's best to watch reviews with a grain of salt!
Hannah, I never comment on videos, ever, but at 12:12, when you started to talk about bye bye money and how some women need the money just to stay safe, it really struck a chord with me, to the point I had to stop what I was doing to get a pen and my journal and write down, verbatim, what you had said. It’s a chord I’m grateful to be able to hear throughout your body of work on UA-cam.
My whole life I’ve been privileged enough to have parents and then also a boyfriend who I knew would provide me with a place to live rent free, a cushion to fall back on, or a loan to tide me over if I (I’m ashamed to say) overspent (usually on makeup or clothes).
However over the last half of 2018, a shift in the way I started to see the politics around me (I live in the U.K.), followed by a sequence of unexpected and horrible shifts in my personal circumstances made me realise acutely just how vulnerable I am, especially as a young woman of colour, without my own rainy day fund and financial independence.
What I’m trying to say is thank you and that I’m so glad I found your channel when I did, just when I most needed it and a new way of thinking about money. I’m now on the path to consciously unlearning some of what I now recognise as very unhealthy and unsustainable spending behaviours.
Thank you for putting out the brave, intelligent, considered content you do, in the open and exquisitely eloquent way you have, and long may it continue! ❤️
Dee, this comment gave me chills and goosebumps! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. I don't always get positive feedback for talking about these kinds of things on UA-cam, so I really appreciate the support. You might enjoy this essay, along similar lines: www.thebillfold.com/2016/01/a-story-of-a-fuck-off-fund/ Sending a big hug to you from LA!
I get irrationally (or rationally) angry when I read/hear someone say “my wallet is crying.” I understand feeling a desire so strong that somewhere in all of that clouded lust for a product, you feel you MUST spend to satisfy those cravings. But “my wallet is crying” is so irksome to me, that I could never get myself to say it or type it.
agreed!
❤️ “life changing” - “can’t live without it” - “must-have” - “where have you been all my life” ... I’ve said these things before but I will start to be aware of my own words. 🙌🏻
It's hard! Phrases like this are catching, I think.
I feel like its so easy to get caught up in all this buying and I'm hoping people will start seeing that it is not good to keep buying all these things it is already becoming more popular with no buys and panning and i am hoping that i can change my makeup habits around too
me too!
A teeny thing that it seems like absolutely everyonnnnne does (not just in the beauty/fashion domain of youtube) is declare a sponsorship or affiliation by saying something like [company] has "kindly" reached out/sent me something/agreed to sponsor/etc. It's such a small thing and so common as to be basically a figure of speech now but like you said, language matters, and in this case it feeds into the idea that giant corporations are people with feelings motivated by goodwill toward their consumers. Even a more ethical company is not interacting with content creators on a human level; they are a means to sell a product. Friends may give you a gift out of "kindness," but companies do not do so unless they have calculated that the net benefit will be for them.
ah, this is such a good point
I’ve got a test tomorrow, but I’ve also given up on trying to discern between my professor’s overinflated bs and actual medical science, at least for a bit. So here I am.
good thing it's not one of my 50 minute videos, then! :) good luck on your test, I'm sure you will slay.
I hate when they say its ok, not great, but good for the price. I want to buy something that is genuinly good ,not just good because is $5. Because then you are just waisting your money on mediocre products
This is something that my sister and mother do too... "it's nothing special, but it was 3€ etc." It angers me so much, both kn a monetary level, but even more on a ecological/sustainable level.
agreed!
Love the comments on this video! My kind of people! Independent minded and strong 💪🏼
me too!
Collecting/over buying often is based in a type of anxiety. That being said..I really enjoy my collection and have very few regrets. I think it is also one of the ways I enjoy"girl time" and it's creative outlet for me. That being said..I am coming to a point of taking a time out and using up what I have. I can recreate almost any look with what I currently have. One other point..something that has me try new things.. is that eyeshadow/makeup really has improved over the last few years. I really enjoy the improvements in quality. What is turning me off is how many releases are pouring out all at once and how everyone is just coming out with "their own brand". The flooding of products really makes me feel like I.just don't care. There is so much constantly coming out..I feel like.."well I already have something just like that." I can't keep up any more. This is like on "I Love Lucy" ... when Lucy and Ethel were boxing up cakes that were coming out on a conveyer belt..at some point it came out so fast they couldn't keep up. Cakes just piled up everywhere. Yup..that's how I feel about makeup releases right now. ♡
LOL the cakes!
I hate when people say something that is ridiculously expensive is "worth the price"
This specifically for natasha denona eyeshadows. Even if they are the best formula to grace Gods green earth, spending 130$ on a makeup product will always be a waste of money in my eyes.
-"i am (literally) obsessed with it" and "i am a makeup fanatic/junkie"...being a junky and fanatic and being obsessed are really negative terms ouside the beauty community. they mean to be totally unreasonable, to be out of your mind, acting over the top or even mentally ill....since when it is cool to call youself that...
-"what can i say i just love makeup" (after spending 300 dollar at sephora)...."loving" something is not synonymous to buying everything. i mean, i really like cake but i cant buy all the cakes of the world and eat them because it would makeu me sick. you can love something and enjoy it in small doses
- "we all love ourselfs a neutral pink because its an everyday color, so thats a "no brainer" or "must have"...
-the term "monthly favorite" or "holy grail" for something you used for like 2 months...if your favorites change monthly, then they arent true favorites but just the next best thing this month
-"you can never have enough x"...especially used for said "eyeryday items" or very popular and trending products, like highlighter. well, i think you can have enough. even more than enough
- "i think its adorable, who wouldnt?" or "how could you not adore this?" (kinda shames you for not being attracted to sth and have the urge to buy it)
-"just buy it to support person x/ a charity/ the theme of the product to send a message out"
-"its good for the price"...so that means, its not objectivly good. its just ok, under the preposition that i couldnt expect better because i wasnt willing to spend enough money for something actually good. jet, i should buy it anyway, because it isnt really really bad.
Ugh, the term "no-brainer" really irks me! "You should turn your brain off and just give this company your money for this product." Yikes.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
You hit the nail on the head here. Awesome :)
SUCH good ones! yes!
BAM
I love, love, *love* this video. I've become so desensitized to this type of language and you have really brought that to my attention. Thank you so much!
thank you!
Thank you for making this. I just watched a video and this person was saying " Omg I love this thing so much (shows a product with significant use) and as you can see I need to order another one asap!" My first thought was "No, you don't. I know you have others but I understand that you really enjoy this particular one." I just got in to makeup about 2 years ago and my collection have gained weight for sure but I'm still able to distinguish between actual need vs. want. I was scrolling trough Sephora during the extended sale (btw why was it SO important for them to push that a week before Black Friday?) and I realised I was "looking for things to buy" so I immediately closed the page and thought "Huh...so that's what FOMO feels like....eew!" Skipped Sephora completely during this BF/CM sale. Words are indeed powerful for they lead to actions. Thank you again for speaking your thoughts. Hugs and pancakes.
the few times I've bought a backup before finishing something, I've HATED the feeling of having an extra lying around. I don't understand that compulsion at all!
I’ve always wondered why you watch superficial BGs like Jaclyn Hill. I feel you’re too smart for her, unless you’re watching her/channels like hers purely in an ironic sense or for the entertainment value because she’s an absurd person, a caricature. I personally can’t watch BG after they make it big because their pages turn into bad B-roll of the very language you speak of.
I would rather have a few things that I love, than a lot of things I like, or worse, feel ambivalent about. Thank you for bringing this conversation to the table. I’ve shared your video in a few groups I’m in. It’s important we distinguish between wants and needs and knowing what toxic language to look for is imperative.
I agree. Jaclyn Hill is as phony as a $3 bill.
I think if JH posted all the time I wouldn't watch most of it. But she posts so infrequently and I'm so morbidly fascinated by her that I usually watch what she posts. I'm deeply wary of her recommendations, though!
I just want to say that the growth of your channel is so exciting to watch. YOUR VOICE is so important & powerful. I love that you’ve brought this kind of thought & conversation about the no buy year and more discerning consumerism.
thank you, Sue!
I've definitely been thinking about this same topic a lot! I'm so glad you made this video articulating some thoughts that I haven't been able to put into words myself. Hope you're doing well 💕
thank you, Celina!
This is so well thought out and articulated. Such an important topic and very timely given that we are in the middle of Thanksgiving sales and it's generally that time of the year when the consumer impulse is so strong. Overspending and makeup addiction take a real toll on many peoples lives, so I applaud you for having the courage to talk about how UA-cam might be contributing to this and for telling it like it is. xo
thank you, Tanj!
Not really a phrase, but.......I used to LOVE panning videos and empties videos (don't worry, I still love yours!!) But it made me wonder: is the person's almost obsessive need to pan diminishing their enjoyment of the product? Would they go through that product as quickly if they didn't have such a large collection they felt they needed to reduce? I don't know, it just has been stuck in my mind over the last few months.
Side note, do you ever wonder if some big name beauty gurus show empties for things they didn't actually use up? Like, they just got rid of the product itself and kept the packaging as a "love" as some sort of pr move?
A lot of them show products with a little bit left in the bottle!! It really annoys me!! They use the excuse of they just want to talk about it or include it in the video
I've never been a panner, and this is why. I don't relish using up what I love. Interesting point about empties!
I hate seeing project pan, what's the point of using something just for the purpose of hitting pan?
Like, they take the blush/eyeshadow and hit it in the same spot everytime just to hit pan; or they pick up way too much product on the brush then tap it off...
If i buy something i want it to last me a long time... (sorry for my bad english :) )
sophia 😆 Apparently it’s for the satisfaction of seeing pan and trying to control spending habits by seeing how long it takes! But you make good points!! The ttapping off thingis kind of stupid Lol
I do the same. Show products that are nearly empty. I purchased them myself and want to actually use them before I review them.
You're always thorough when you explain your points. I'm a kind of person that have feelings or thoughts in mind, but often time can't find words to describe or express them, so I think I learned a lot by watching your videos. Really appreciate your good and hard works on preparing all the materials for your videos.
thank you, Queenie!
“ I only bought this for the packaging “
aaaarrgh
Aaah the “worth the money” thing!!!! This is one that really grinds my gears, especially because usually gurus and viewers are often socioeconomically different. I’m pretty privileged, but I just feel for the people living paycheck to paycheck, being told that they “need something” or that it’s “worth the money.” Relatively, having less money makes every dollar more precious/harder to part with. Every time I hear it I cringe. Amazing video Hannah!!
it's super weirds that nobody ever talks about the fact that economic circumstances vary!
Language is persuasive.. look at the news.. it’s very deliberate, and very suspect on many levels. What we name things and how we refer to groups of people and situations can be very telling about the perceptions of the speaker. Listening is a deep art. Great content! It is imperative to find meaning in one’s own living, beyond things..
UA-cam Makeup channels are single handedly making the word ‘ANYWAYS’ a common term. Excuse me, it’s not a word. Geez. I do not appreciate the terms ‘wearable’, ‘must have’ and ‘affordable’.. different for each human.
"Must have" is such a rough one :)
I’d love to watch a video from you talking specifically about the urgency over false scarcity. The feeling of panic that we get, which causes us to buy, and sometimes because ‘they’ make us feel FOMO before something is even available for purchase
Whenever I’m talking about products on Instagram or wherever I try to be very cautious about the language that I use. It can be hard when I love a product and I’m enthusiastic about it but I don’t want to contribute to anyone’s over spending. I just want to give people perspective and enough information to figure out if that product would fit well into their collection or not.
Also, I find it so funny when Trendmood says “bye bye money.” Brands send her those products. She’s not saying bye to a single dollar in her bank account lol
such a good point, and it makes it extra weirds that she writes it!
Duuude thank you so much for this video! Toxic language regarding purchasing habits has become so common. I watch a lot of declutters, and so many times the youtuber says something along the lines of what's still made so that we (the audience) can still buy it. But a declutter is all about paring down your collection and analyzing what you really need!
Hannah you are really starting a movement! I’m glad I’ve been on your journey from the start! First let me say, I enjoy Trendmood’s instagram very much and this is nothing against her personally because I know her job is to help promote products. But when she says bye-bye money with the emoji of the money flying away, I always say to myself, whose money? Not yours. You’re not buying it, you already got it for free to promote it. Lol! I have a good job and I own a house and I pay bills. I don’t like the thought of my money flying away like that emoji! That makes me cringe!
I agree, I enjoy Trendmood too! I think the key is being able to watch and enjoy but staying aware, as you describe.
Watching this in 2023 and it's still SO relevant! Just the other day another one of my favourite content creators (a wonderful, funny and competent person) posted about discounts. There was an "opportunity" to add discount to discount and potentially get some high end stuff very cheap. I kind of automatically went and added a bunch of stuff to my basket. But then I thought of you, Hannah, and your thoughtful comments about the beauty industry and influencers. And I realized... I already have enough eyeshadows and primers and face creams to last me more than a year from now! I need absolutely NOTHING! So I happily left the online store having orded zero stuff and went to my kitchen and delt with the dishes instead. Thank you for your wonderful, grounded thoughts on beauty reality! ❤
If you watch some declutter videos, you will hear many more phrases and justifications for excess.
yes, declutters are rife with them!
I recently found your channel and am going to do a no buy 2019. I’m ready for this change. I have had to unsubscribe from a lot of materialistic channels that are all about buy buy buy. I get annoyed when people say they need to go back and get it in other colors, and I’ve been guilty of this as well, but it has to stop!
I hate it when rich youtubers living in mansions joke about ''being broke'' and spending too much on make up. They are constantly promoting blind consumerism and a lifestyle that only 1% of people could ideally afford.
yes, it's like...it's not a joke
You are the most well-spoken, articulate UA-camr I have ever seen. I’m so grateful I found your channel to help me find new and smart ways of thinking about how I spend money on beauty (and other things) going into 2019.
thank you, Victoria!
Don't you think that by starting to accept PR next year will automatically affect all of this way of thinking that you've developed this past year and your whole life? Like it will be impossible for things to hold the same value that they once did once you start to receive free stuff? As much as "beauty gurus" try to keep in touch with reality, by saying things like "would I spend my own money on it?" It will never be the same as if they did have to spend their own money on it and if they weren't receiving all this free stuff along with what they are still purchasing. I'm not judging you, but I feel like it's impossible to lose touch! For example even with all of these gifts you've been given over the past few months, your collection has grown significantly when it otherwise wouldn't. And that's just with a few gifts! And even before you mentioned about having way more than you need, or could ever use, etc. And now you've significantly added to it. Just playing devil's advocate! I'm so curious how things will change for you next year! But also I must admit I'm a little worried that you will lose touch and this investment that I have in you sticking it to the man will fade :( haha I still love you though!
I also wonder about the effects of PR next year. Hannah, if you read this, perhaps you could consider some strategies and think through how you can deal with PR whilst still engaging in conscious consumption and holding on to the things you have learnt this year.
I do believe that if you count on receiving PR and think you need to maintain a good relationship with those companies, you can always find ways to think you're giving honest reviews by qualifying how you say things. This is my main reason I unsubscribe to youtubers when their channels start growing -- they started out saying useless products "suck" and are, in fact, "useless," and then they get stuff sent for free, and it becomes this giddy, gushing over adorable packaging and the way it smells "so amazing," with a bit of "oh, hmm, well, maybe...it may not be your favorite if you have sensitive or oily or dry skin, but you never know until you try it, so you might as well!"
I've been thinking about this a lot, and I have some plans!
I agree. I think that most people would have difficulty being 100% unbiased. Even by the fact that a product is chosen for them. Or even if they say bad things, they say feeer bad things than if they hadn’t purchased it themselves.
This is why I had to stop watching so much YT. I have a PhD in Communication and I was still falling for the “poisonous language” big and small YTs alike use to “review” aka sell products. I realize that without watching as much YT, I do not really wonder about or want anything. I think some of the smaller YTers are better at connecting with their audience so it actually feels like a friend is like “hey, try this mascara.” But, in truth, they aren’t friends and they don’t know my makeup “needs.” I think the use of “honest” discourse, while making “shopping videos is really problematic-not that you can’t be honest, but that honesty needs to be couched in whatever reality that YTer is living in. Thank you for speaking power to truth here!
thank you!
The word “need” is extremely overused in general.
totally
Great points! Words do matter, and the delivery matters as well! most of us, like you, are watching/listening to UA-cam in the background while performing other tasks. This distracted state gives these phrases insidious power! an attentive listener could easily rebuke them as innocuous though false; those of us focused on picking out groceries or balancing our books internalize them over time, as they’re repeated like mantras, without considering their value. We unwittingly let Beautubers chant destructive habits into our everyday existence and consider it enjoyable girl-talk. It’s nuts 🥜
oooh, I totally agree about the distracted state and how much more effective these words are in that state! Amazing point. They are like mantras.
I've been more aware of this kind of languages on YT and IG, especially on IG when brands post memes that are supposedly funny but glorifies debt. It's awful and shameful. I get that's how advertisement works, but it's so blatant and downright toxic.
On another note, I've been lusting the Huda Nude palette ever since it's announcement. It's the palette that I wished the Naked 3 was, and it is the palette I wish the Modern Renaissance was. I love the colours and textures in the palette, and I honestly don't have anything in that dusty mauve colour family. But even after decluttering half or my makeup, I still feel I have no room for it. I don't want it to just be another palette that I leave in the drawer. So until I make some significant progress on what I have, it will have to wait.
Yay, good work Jessie! I think it's permanent, right? You can wait six months or so and see how you feel, it will still be there!
So refreshing to watch you. You are very articulate and I appreciate how you seem to be going against the current. In a world where the makeup community is flooding is with how much we NEED all these products and how new releases are constantly coming out, we need more content like yours! I subscribed 👍🏽
“ look, the brand is offering ez pay”
That phrase really grinds my gears. EZ pay is so horrible, and toxic to people who genuinely can not afford a product. I hate when beauty gurus mention this, because it encourages reckless spending.
Or ebates % back as an excuse to buy
it seems like a direct encouragement to overspend!
That’s actually really funny. I was watching one of your earlier videos this morning and this following thing stood out to me: you were talking about that big Marc Jacobs palette you love so much and were swatching the colors and said something along the lines of “if these are your colors, it would be something I recommend” and it stood out so much. Clearly we all use this language. Also, thank you for your channel. I’ve been making my way through all your videos and they’ve been a great way for me to relax and unwind for the day and also reevaluate what’s important to me. With that said, your skincare made me realize that there’s things that I need/want to ADD to my repertoire. I’m learning a lot from you
AHHH I knew this would happen! I hope that what I meant was "it would be something I recommend...if you are in the market and you have the money etc etc etc" but I wasn't thorough enough! Thanks for the note :)
"I bought this for the packaging". Packaging, however beautiful or innovative, can't be the only justification of buying something.
SO true
This video is AMAZING! Everything you said here is SO true, and it's not just reviews in the makeup world either. This language comes out in everything and even in everyday life...it's just part of our culture. It doesn't make it right, but it does make it hard for people to truly understand the difference between wants and needs.
thank you, Rachael!
I don't focus on the phrases actually. I'm listening to the adjectives (NOT BUTTTERY fml haha) YTers use when reviewing a product.
This was a fantastic video, I hope more influencers watch this and realize how their language can misguide consumers.
Also, LOVE the eye look 😍
thanks, Lacy!
Keep preaching it! Holiday shopping fever is upon us and we need to stand strong. More sales will be coming along, too. Aaaaah! Financial pressures and burdens are one the top causes of stress in a marriage.
Are you reading my mind?? I have been thinking over the past week about suggesting to you that you do a video about manipulative use of language on YT. My background and current work (which involves a lot of public writing) make me keenly aware of how powerful language can be -- especially in conveying unspoken meanings. Unlike you (;-), I'm constantly offended by how YTers use sales-y language in their chummy, chatty banter. I mean it starts right from: "*don't forget* to subscribe!" and keeps on going throughout the video where they pretend to be your bff (lol). Like you said, it starts from the industry which has made billions of dollars for its companies' owners by manipulating women's insecurities about their looks and and about aging, so we shouldn't be surprised when they use other trendy & duplicitous language to sell their products: "natural," "green," "clean beauty," "cruelty-free," etc. I think it's really good to draw attention to it, so thank you for making this video. (I can go on and on and on about this topic, so I'm going to stop here before I go off on tangents relating to politics, lol!)
But if you do want to feel a little bit of outrage, here's a classic sample: ua-cam.com/video/AT2fsv7xt4E/v-deo.html
oh my gosh this is THE single most infuriating thing in my opinion, especially "green" "natural" "clean" and "non-toxic"(!!!), I see the latter so often with sponsored videos particularly for skincare and I just think.... skincare can be irritating but not TOXIC, no matter how much these companies market it as such other products are not toxic, we have governmental agencies making sure of that!! it kills meee
excellent point! I clicked through to the video...WOW
fun fact is the "non-toxic" green cosmetic is the most prone to be irritiant because of their ingredients... I don't know, why no one is interested in basic knowledge of ingredients (formost the BGs should know)
Oooh you’re so soothing to listen to. On top of that you’re logical and intelligent reasonability is refreshing
thank you!
LE doesn’t really do it for me either, but I feel a sting every time I see a YTer declutter something just because it’s LE. I wanna scream, “Just wear it if you still like it!” And I really hope they didn’t recommend it in the past just for that reason only to turn around and throw it out later 😕
Yes! I hate that, too!
yes, LE is not a good reason to buy something OR to declutter it!
As a linguistics student I LOVE THIS, thanks for creating this and giving me food for thought x
I’m going to start a no buy 2019, I’m just going to watch this video whenever I feel like I want something. So you’re welcome for the future hundreds of views 😂
haha, thank you!
Loved this video as always. Words are so powerful and the phrase that sticks in my craw is “complete the collection”. As in, “I need to get ABH Sultry to complete the collection”. Or “If I don’t get that I won’t complete my collection.” I see it a lot in MUR and hear it on UA-cam and it almost makes me sad.
Hello dear Cecile! Oof I've never understood that completionist attitude. I feel like if I have one I don't need the others.
Yesss ! 👏 👏 👏 I stopped to hear all these hyperbole (I live for it, omg, so pigmented, It's so cute, sold out in 1 hour, I so want badly, ...) bla bla bla 😴😴😴. I am so done with all that.
it's overwhelming!
also I love that "no buy" is in your username :)
excessive voracious consumerism is RAMPANT here on UA-cam....i stopped watching haul videos and youtubers who keep buying sooo much makeup and clothes....i mean how many dresses or eyeshadow does one person need??? this is a very unhealthy practice great thoughts you present here! thank you xo
The one that really bugs me is the “collection” mentality. I mean it’s nice to have options, but when it comes down to it, what’s really the difference between collecting and hoarding? My mom has a collection of dishes we don’t ever use. One for each season. They sit around and collect dust. And at least they don’t expire like Makeup does. But it seems dumb whenever she spends money or someone spends money getting a piece for her because she has to complete the “collection”-especially limited edition. Ugh stupid 🙄
this is such an interesting one. I think some people use "collection" to mean a highly curated group of carefully chosen things, and some people use it to mean a hoard that grows and grows and must be completed. I will definitely talk about this in the sequel.
Such a cool video idea.
My additions:
- I see this A TON with not too great reviews on products that are either limited edition or have really nice looking packaging that "well, if you're a collector / if you want it as a collector's piece / if you would like to present it in your room, it's worth it". So, an extra layer to the "worth it" sentiment... I saw Lucia Tepper's video on this and she made some really great points that what is the sense in collecting or keeping items for aesthetic purposes that go bad?...
- "you need me time / pampering / self-care / a little splurge every once in a while", and only using these phrases in the contect or purchasing beauty items. It is making people believe that they can only relax if they buy face masks and candles and all that stuff.
- the whole "it looks good on every single skintone", "universally flattering shade" - now I believe that these magic colors / products do not exist, and they make people purchase items that might not be the best match for them just because they start believing that it is a universally flattering shade.
- it's not word by word, but when reviewers basically gush about a product just because of the scent / taste alone (not talking about perfumes here, but any other items which are not fragrance products)
- "you guys KNOW that I would not partner with any brand / product which I did not LOVE and did not think was the best"... ummm... we only know you from the screen, we COULD NOT KNOW 100% if you are genuine or not
- "this is the best mascara ever" - I don't think claims like this should be made when all of this is really personal, because everyone has different skin issues, allergies, preferences, tastes
- "not necessarily interested in this product, but I am going to / might pick it up, because it is supporting a good cause / I want to support a... [vegan/ecofriendl/crueltyfree/indie/POC-owned etc.] brand"
- "it is a staple/ holy grail / well deserves the hype / must-have / iconic piece"
- "not necessarily really wearable, but you might want to grab this up for Halloween / Christmas for a seasonal look"
- "I had to have this, after I found out Kim K / Kate Middleton / Ariana Grande etc. uses this"
- "the glitters here do not perform well on their own, but if you use glitter glue, lay it down in 5 layers and chant tribal songs, it works quite well!
- "I had to buy it for the name!"
excellent additions! thank you!