Seeing a normal amount of bad reviews makes a company more relatable to me. So when they try to remove all the negative reviews, they miss out on giving potential customers that experience. It’s a human experience that has that sweetness factor to it and instead we’re left with the sterile “Oh my God! literally everyone loves this” outcome which is creepy and artificial.
I always filter out incentivized and unverified purchases on Sephora and it can be WILD how much it changes things. Products that have hundreds of reviews sometimes have none (none!!) once those filters are on. It's also annoying because I'll sometimes read non-five star reviews on Sephora that are extremely helpful, but aren't sucking up to the product/brand, and they'll have like one upvote and 12 downvotes. Meanwhile someone saying something like, "THE BEST, GET THIS NOW!!!!" has 17 upvotes. Like...wut?
@@deaditeera In the review section where you can apply filters, there should be one that says "Verified Purchases" (off by default, so click it on) and "Non-Incentivized Reviews Only" (off by default as well, so click it on) :)
I have reviewed multiple products on Influenster and always tried to test them for a while before giving my final and honest verdict (some not always positive). They make you review it within a specific deadline which doesn't always allow you to test it to the fullest. I had products coming in at a steady pace for a while until it came to a dead stop about a year and a half ago when I let them know a product they sent me wasn't my shade (it was a gradual tanning product for medium to deep skin tone...I'm super fair) so I couldn't review it properly. They said don't worry about reviewing it, yet magically nothing else ever came my way even when taking multiple interest surveys for many products after that. I asked them about the radical change in receiving products and crickets. I am honest in my reviews yet have difficulty trusting others when they receive it for free so I will click the non-incentive button to read actual reviews.
@@KellyGooch Adding on to what @katherinecampbell3392 said, I agree - Influenster sometimes doesn't allow enough time for testing certain things long enough. I've found that to be true especially with skin care products which usually take awhile of using before you can accurately form an opinion on. In those cases, I will explicitly say in my review that I wished I could have tested them longer and that my review is only based on xxx days of using, etc. Also worth noting - as much as Influenster often sends full-sized products to review, sometimes they will send a sample or deluxe size. This can be problematic - again, I'll use skin care products as an example - hair products too - because there just isn't enough product to use over time to make a good determination of their performance. For me, that's something I will mention in my review as well.
That’s true , there is no way you can test a skin care product on the time they want you to, which is annoying and I always say that. I tested this product for x amount of time.
I used to focus SO intently on star ratings (not just beauty - movies, books, food, etc.). While i still think they can be helpful, I think one benefit of getting older is learning what I actually like for myself! And finding people with similar tastes whose recommendations I trust. 💛
Probably one of my top lessons of the last 5 years. A product or book can be perfectly fine or critically acclaimed and still ✨️ not for me✨️ (too depressing, too pigmented, etc. - just not my style)
My conspiracy theory is the Colourpop website deletes any review that is less than 5 stars. I’ve never seen a review on the website that was not 5 stars. It’s also hard to post a review on the website- it never goes through.
Last year I wrote a mostly favorable review for their cleansing balm, but mentioned how small the container was and that Clean It Zero is a better deal. They literally reduced the price by $1 and didn't publish my review...I guess because my primary complaint was no longer "accurate" (but it actually still was!)
I’ve had that happen several times. One of them went so far as to send actual paper mail to my house! I freaked out that a random company even had access to that info. My item was shipped by Amazon. It was a straight up bribe offer for a five star review of their garbage leg waxing strips. I called to report it to Amazon, they said it wasn’t reportable (I tried several times) and the listing was still up as of a few months ago. The others I got were less scary, but just as dishonest: the seller sends you a message that there’s a problem & cannot complete the order. But instead of the eBay version where they ask me to pay outside the system, this scam just has explicit feedback manipulation & usually a bribe offer.
About 5 years ago, I was consistently doing influencer reviews but there was a few things that came in a row that I was pretty unimpressed with. So I reviewed honestly, giving them a 3 star, so not even that low. And I never received anything after that lol. It seemed pretty evident to me after that that they want you to give pretty much only high ratings.
This is why I listen to your videos, and Lauren Mae Beauty/Fragrance’s videos. I trust your reviews, and the swatches, more than hundreds of repetitive 5 star reviews that seem fake.
I've tried influenster and I always rate what I think. It does get harder sometimes because you have a limited number of days before you need to review
Being from Argentina , this video is really helpful since we can't get most of those brands you have in store. I usually buy from resellers and, of course, what is low cost for you it isn't low cost here! So I watch tons of reviews before buying something! Love your channel Kelly! Greetings😍😘
I was an “Influenster” for a short time, and my initial experience was positive, I loved the product, gave it an honest and glowing review, and was thankful to be part of something that I believed was beneficial. After that, on the rare occasions that I’d receive another opportunity, it would be something I had zero interest in. Then if there WAS something I was interested in, they’d require social media posting along with photos. Keep in mind that this happened DESPITE my stating very clearly that I wouldn’t do that - didn’t matter what I said. It always felt and seemed as though 1 person was running the whole thing, therefore couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to what I/we said. So…fare thee well, Influenster!
I have stayed away from Sunday Riley as soon as I heard this. I am so happy you told us about the turn off button. Dodging the incentivized reviews is tedious. I do like leaving reviews but I only comment if something is horrible or excellent. Thank you for clarifying so much of the technical details.
The powder, mattifying/blurring - So true!! It’s always funny to me when on like TikTok where people are kings/queens of “shock face” and hyping things up and they’ll have like their regular face on camera, where areas looks shiny, which is expected given they have a light on them and then they put a powder on one spot and they’re like - shock face! OMG! DID YOU SEE THAT?! Wow! - I’m like, what?! You could have put baking powder right there and it was going to happen. Get out of here! 😂
I've always tried things out for myself and take influencer opinions with a grain of salt. Products work and look different on everyone especially skincare and perfumes.
I've gotten things from influenster & I've given things glowing reviews & not glowing reviews. I just got 3 samples of a Tom Ford cologne for my hubby to try. I wrote the review based on his thoughts on it. Including that he was not willing to spend the money on the full size because to him it wasn't worth it. I write my reviews on a notepad & then c/p it into my reviews so I don't see those key words prompts lol. I just try to be honest because I don't want ppl to possibly waste their hard earned money. That's why I enjoy creators who give the positive & negative thoughts of products.
The lip filler comment is spot on. I had to catch myself wanting so many lip products because they looked too good online, but they did not look good on me, and it made me feel bad about my lips. But now I understand how lip filler affects how a lip product looks.
I've gotten a few products through influsenster, most of which I loved. My 3rd product was a high end moisturizer and serum, I had an allergic reaction to one of them and stated that. I never got another beauty product after my bad review. I ended up canceling because they were spamming me with food and other products that I told them I didn't want. I feel like it's harder to cancel with them than it is ipsy, and that's saying something!
And obviously trying things out myself before buying them helps. It seems like 75% of the time (or more) I am disappointed or dissatisfied if I don’t check reviews beforehand. The majority of products don’t work as advertised. Especially for hair care in my experience.
I had no idea you could filter out incentivized reviews! That's so interesting how drastically it might change the results. Thanks, Kelly! That's so I helpful to know. 👏🏻💜🌻
And this is why I try to support creators like yourself who I trust to be honest! I prefer long-form content anyway (young millennial here lol) but find that UA-cam is way more informative than tiktok or instagram when it comes to how products look, feel, and wear over time. Also, the green eyeshadow slays
I really liked the insight on how certain products can look different on camera vs real life! Its something I wouldn't ever find out myself, so I appreciate you sharing, Kelly :)
The dentist comment reminded me of my OBGYN office (who are a part of a large multi state health system). In the waiting room and each exam room they have signs that say “A review of 10/10 means we met your needs, 9/10 we met some of your needs, 8/10 means we did not meet any of your needs.” I guarantee too many 8/10 reviews will result in staff being reprimanded because the CEOs didn’t make their full bonuses
I was a server when the “tell us how we did & we’ll give you a coupon” thing got really big. In the kitchen, there was a breakdown of survey ratings & comments on the bulletin board. The brackets were percentage of 10s, 8-9s, and 7 or unders. A 1 and a 7 counted the same! I’m still haunted by a table that had their order messed up by the kitchen, but gushed about me (including speaking directly to the FoH manager on the day and leaving glowing comments on the survey!). I was scolded in pre-shift because over half of their scores for the visit fell into the 7 & under category.
I've received multiple emails over the years from a brand or store manager (personally!), asking me why I didn't give them the highest amount of stars in a review. My answer was always that unless something sets me on fire, I give it less than 5 or 10 stars. I'm glad they care about the customer experience, but the implication that Corporate is going to reprimand someone for not getting the absolute top score is rough! I don't write many reviews anymore, largely due to this experience.
@@gasparinhaI run a medium scale Etsy shop of handmade items and unless your average rating is at least 4.2 you get pushed way down in the Etsy search, below the drop shippers and scams. Please adjust your method of reviewing or like you said, don't review anymore where it affects low paid, highly scrutinized individuals. I understand it's stupid but you only hurt small fish by leaving off stars in these situations (UNLESS there was a real problem with the purchase)
I'm sure AI has some wonderful applications but I feel like so far all I'm hearing is how it's doing more harm than good. I laughed when you mentioned dentist reviews because one of the only reviews I've ever written was for a dentist. If you ever need a recommendation for a root canal dentist in NYC I've got one! 😉
Amazon won't let me review products because I am a super bargain shopper and use coupons 90% of the time. This is VERY frustrating because I enjoy sharing my experiences, I use a lot of products, and I find genuine reviews generally helpful.
Ulta routinely changes one and two star reviews to three and four. Its happened to me multiple times. I've literally Witten in the review "I'm giving this two stars" and I look after I post and wouldn't you know, it's been changed to four.
I've been reviewing with Influenster and others for years. I think that something people fall prey to is letting the excitement of a "free" product color their judgement about that product. If you didn't pay out of pocket for something, it's easier to forgive things that might otherwise aggravate you. And I don't think people do that on purpose. Also, I gave the IGK box hair color a horrendous review, and referred to IGK as "the conditioner miser," and I haven't received a hair product since 🤣
Honestly Kelly is really the only makeup influencer I watch anymore! I know I get honesty here and most products you suggest work for me (similar skin type). I also love that you are cruelty free too! Blows my mind we talk about ethics in beauty but ppl are still out here testing cosmetics on animals! Like what year are we in!
From personal experience, I have to say I nornally don't write reviews UNLESS the product is really REALLY bad. So I can see why companies use this type of services.
Hi Kelly! Great video and exactly something I've thought a lot about too. I do reviews for Influenster and I leave my honest opinion, positive or negative about the product. I haven't found doing that has negatively affected them sending me additional products to review. That said, even on Influenster I am often baffled by reviews from people who are reviewing the same product I am - at the same time. I'll be thinking.....wait - how could we have such wildly differing opinions on this? Your explanation makes sense as to why people would say only good things about something, thinking that if they don't, they won't be sent products anymore. I just haven't found that to be the case - and I've most definitely given some not-so-great reviews on products I've received from them! You're also correct about the AI generated prompts - Influenster does provide some of those when you're in the review writing stage (I don't use them) and I think it's just as you said - to give reviewers ideas on what points to touch on or to help a little for people having trouble coming up with words to describe a product. I agree, it's not for any nefarious purpose, but it is good to keep in mind when reading reviews for sure. I'm the same though - I do read reviews on literally *anything* I buy.....for better or worse, haha. I try to bear in mind all the things you mentioned and balance out what people have said in their reviews with what I know about the products from doing research in other ways (like coming here and seeing what you and my other trusted youtubers have to say!). Anyway, good vid that I'm sure has given a lot of people extra insight and a better perspective on reviews 💙
Really great video discussing reviews! I used to depend on reviews but now found a product I purchased that obviously was filled with fake reviews and the experience with the company has been terrible. It was a cat bed. Totally not what they advertised and all the reviews were amazing. Clearly fake! Very sad!
Thank you. When I first started my makeup journey I spent so much money on products that looked horrible on me. Now I know to wait and watch and wait some more before buying it
Thank you for pointing all of this out. It helps us to know to be more aware of what we are seeing. There are alot of top influencers that use filters over them. To me, it's scamming the viewers. It's so sad to take advantage of people like that yet, people are still watching them. 🤔😵💫
Thank you for mentioning the non incentivized filter on Sephora reviews because it has gotten so annoying shifting through them. I just turned it on for the Mizani leave in conditioner. Went from 2.1k reviews to 42!!
I get stuff from like Influenster so my reviews for those products will have “incentivized” near it. But I always give thorough reviews and give my honest opinion. I don’t care if I never get anything from Influenster again. It’s few and far between anyways so I’m not going to lie about it. And it always drives me nuts seeing the incentivized ones with like “love it” and no explanation or just like buzzwords (so beautiful, looks so smooth, Poreless, etc. etc. etc.) without giving any real details. To me, those are useless, whether they’re incentivized or not. I LOVE reading reviews before buying but for a while it has been both incentivized and even non incentivized ones, the reviews are horrible. They’re just “love it” or “hate it” or complaining about things the product was never supposed to be (like complaining it isn’t full coverage when it never said it was supposed to be) or complaining about exactly what it is (like complaining it’s light coverage when that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be), or asking for refunds. Like what? Why are you writing a review customers read asking for a refund?! 😂 it’s just wild to me. But I always read reviews before buying so when I purchase things, I always write reviews for things. I look for detailed ones where people give actual details and not just a bunch of buzzwords with no real info! As for getting products - I give my honest feelings. I’ve had things I absolutely HATED, some really expensive items, and I said that and why I hated it. And I still got boxes after that. I have had things I liked okay but didn’t think were anything special, especially given the price point. Again, I said exactly that with reasons why. Still got boxes after that. I’ve also loved things and said that. Still got boxes. I don’t get a ton of boxes. They’re here and there. So I can’t say whether I’d get more boxes if I 5 starred everything. Who knows. But, like I said, it’s not worth it to me to lie about it for the possibility of maybe getting a box later. I work hard for my money, I’ve also been a struggling single mom and know how spending money on yourself can be hard so I don’t want people wasting their money and hope my reviews (both purchased and Influenster ones) will help someone figure if it’s for them or not!
A lot of those early "testers" post pics of the product unopened which isn't helpful. Then you see these items posted on Mercari before launch marked above retail. This leads me to believe they're giving great reviews to get sent more product that they in turn, sell.
Hi Kelly! I love your channel, particularly these deep-dives where you discuss the beauty industry at large. Lately I have been thinking a lot about beauty reviews by legitimate, beauty-focused outlets (like Byrdie, Who What Wear, Allure, etc). I've noticed that they very rarely (if ever, TBH) leave a negative product review. That being said, they also don't review every single new product launch. So I have been wondering if their review model is: "only write review for the products we actually like". That way they are not lying, but they are also preserving their relationships with brands by simply NOT reviewing products that would have gotten a thumbs down. I don't know that this is deceptive necessarily...I just know that when I see a product review on one of these sites, before even reading it, I assume that it's going to be a positive review because it was written in the first place. If you have any thoughts/insights into this I'd really appreciate hearing them! Thanks for all that you do! xxx
I noticed this with the new Mane hair tools, the power bottom and three attachments. The reviews on Sephora were amazing but I noticed they were all incentivized so I filtered them out and the “real” reviews were trash. Needless to say I didn’t buy it
I receive free products for review from Influenster sometimes, but I am always very careful when reviewing the product because I know prices have gone up astronomically and I pretend as if I bought the product myself. I know some people do not, and just rate everything they get 5 stars, but I’m a lot more strict about my ratings. I rarely rate my free products 5, as most products aren’t that. Just making a general statement about myself. We cannot control other people’s reviews unfortunately
I never realized until this video the reason of why I have not received many boxes from influenster but the last few products I've received I didn't like at all and gave bad reviews and it all makes sense now since I was getting a few a month.
It has helped me to only follow content creators with my skin type. Even if I like others, it is not helpful b/c their rec’s don’t usually work for me.
I can always count on you doing amazing topics, Kelly! this was a good one and very revealing. Thank you for pointing out the shortcomings of reviews-I will be more careful in the future. I find that Amazon reviews are the worst for honesty IMO. Great to hear your thoughts on this topic.
I was getting Inflenster pretty regularly. Last product i review ed the last product negatively. I haven't received anything since.... and that was over a yr ago. That told me everything I need to know. I rather not get anything if i have to be dishonest about it. Thanks Kelly Klarissa
Kelly I thought of you the other day when I was applying my mascara. I was using my L'Oreal voluminous in burgundy. I know it's not brown but it makes brown eyes look so pretty. If u thinks it's a bit too intense u can just use on your bottom lashes but I think you would really enjoy it. I'd love to see it on u and hear your thoughts.
Your right I didn't think of that. That kinda baffles me, that a brand as big as L'Oreal isn't cruelty free. Thanks for the reminder, I need to be more diligent about that with drugstore brands.
When it comes to sunscreen, I always use the Missha (a K beauty brand) soft finish sunscreen (SPF 50). It's super affordable, never leaves a white cast, and very lightweight. Also it works really well.
I have received many products from influester and I'm honest in my reviews. However I have not received any make up in a long time. I try to be very detailed with my reviews bur some users just say, simple things like, looks good, works great etc, not accounting the full experience. The problem is I don't usually review the things I buy with my own money unless I'm incentivized lol, and I'm at the point where I should stop buying altogether
I’ve used influenster in the past, a few years ago now… but I was always HONEST. Even if it meant leaving a negative review. And I still continued to receive product to test on multiple occasions. I’d think Influenster would PREFER someone who is honest and not only giving 5 star reviews.
I get products from influenster and buzzagent fairly frequently and I try to be VERY honest and fair. The last product I got was the Monday shampoo and conditioner and it was awful so I did a "Pros" and "Cons" list as my review. Pros: smells nice. Cons: left my hair greasy AF and I couldn't read the bottles in the shower because there wasn't enough contrast on the label. I got my next product almost immediately. 🤣
Anyone that got a product for free shouldn’t be allowed to leave reviews. Most of the time they leave 5 stars regardless. And certain brands are notorious for this like huda beauty and lancome. If you click on non incentivized reviews on their most popular products the amount of reviews goes from like 7-8k to 1k….
i signed up for influenster and got one product. It was the ordinary barrier support serum and it was okay. I rated it 3 stars and said it was okay but not great. I am still signed up for influenster and have been for over a year and have not gotten ANYTHING and I'm fairly certain its because I didn't write a raving review. whenever I see any influenster reviews they're always 5 stars...
Whoa what an interesting topic. It kinda makes you think what else influences our purchasing trends in other areas of our lives. I’d be super interested in knowing more about influenster and its impacts honestly. It seems super enticing, but shady
I have reviewed for influenster multiple times before and my reviews weren’t always good or five star. After leaving 3 star reviews I still received free products afterwards. I like to be honest. If I can’t be honest I rather not review. I already have a pretty large collection of beauty products so I’m not desperate for free stuff although I’m grateful for getting them. Honesty is # 1 for me.
I've been reviewing for influenster for years now and i haven't felt like I've been penalized for leaving negative reviews, i would say most of the items i receive are just okay but a few have been awful or great. My theory is people who aren't used to Influenster are frightened into leaving reviews before they even get a chance to try their products because influenster sends VERY aggressive reminder emails threatening to cut you off if you don't leave your reviews WEEKS before the due date. I typically wait until last minute to review so i can use the items as long as possible but i bet the emails spook people into leaving fake reviews in fear of losing their accounts.
I don't get products on influenster, however, I get advanced reader copies of books for review. And knowing that authors rely on those reviews for their books (more than makeup), I am very choosy on what books I accept and what authors I'll read one for. Yes, the book is free, but because it is an ARC it is a lot more vetted by me than a purchased book would be. I take a lot less risks. But also, while I know that they hope for good reviews, if I hate the book and would have rated it low, I can opt out from reviewing even after reading. Which (as far as I know) other platforms like influenster don't allow
I just recently joined Influenster and the first product they sent me was the Cocergirl Outlast lip stain, which was not my favorite product, and I reviewed it as such being honest. I was then sent 2 more campaigns. So far so good with my experience with Influenster and I will continue to give my honest opinion.
Even the most reliable YT beauty and skincare influencers in my subscriptions I still can't fully rely on because I'm an allergy magnet. 😅 I'll take tips but my skin ALWAYS has the final say. That's why I never rely on ratings when it comes to skincare and makeup.
Going as far back to the original NARS orgasm blush reviews on YT, one of my biggest issues has been assessing how much glitter exist in face products. 😂
The filters. So many people don’t understand that the way a camera is set up - settings - and the lens can affect the overall quality SO MUCH!!! And you can’t put a “beautifying” filter on a camera. It’s a light filter. Not a blurring filter 🤷🏼♀️😂
I got caught by the lighting with a foundation which is described as a serum with a satin finish I have dry skin this product is matt on me I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known the creator who gave the review also has dry skin but is sitting with all the lighting on them so this subject is worth Notting before purchasing any products well done kelly on out lining this subject xx
I used to get some things from Influenster, some I liked and some I didn’t and I left honest reviews if I didnt like the product. After that I stopped receiving any free products 😂😂😂
That's weird that the Mineral Unseen Sunscreen left that white of a cast on you. Could be your skin tone. I know when I've put it on, it goes on white at first, but after really rubbing it into my skin, the white goes away. And then, by the time I sit down to do to my makeup, it's like it never happened. My makeup stays on really well too. I don't know, weird 🤷♀️
I look at reviews but I take it with a grain of salt. Everything you try is a gamble some things work and some don't. But I do believe some not all companies love only positive reviews to get you to buy more. Few times I left reviews only for it not to go thru. I barely trust influencers it's hard not to give a biased opinion on a product you received for free
Incentivised reviews shouldn't be counted in the star averaging
the fact that there's only NINE non-incentivized reviews out of 266?!
I don't like when brand deletes bad reviews or bad experiences
ikr...that should be illegal
same! So many can’t handle criticism
Seeing a normal amount of bad reviews makes a company more relatable to me. So when they try to remove all the negative reviews, they miss out on giving potential customers that experience. It’s a human experience that has that sweetness factor to it and instead we’re left with the sterile “Oh my God! literally everyone loves this” outcome which is creepy and artificial.
@@Bekindtopeople exactlyy...people have different skin...some people may like some may not
its impossible to get 100% positive result for anything.
I just don't see how leaving ChatGPT reviews or making employees leave a lot of false reviews wouldn't be false advertising
I always filter out incentivized and unverified purchases on Sephora and it can be WILD how much it changes things. Products that have hundreds of reviews sometimes have none (none!!) once those filters are on. It's also annoying because I'll sometimes read non-five star reviews on Sephora that are extremely helpful, but aren't sucking up to the product/brand, and they'll have like one upvote and 12 downvotes. Meanwhile someone saying something like, "THE BEST, GET THIS NOW!!!!" has 17 upvotes. Like...wut?
How do you filter those out??
@@deaditeera In the review section where you can apply filters, there should be one that says "Verified Purchases" (off by default, so click it on) and "Non-Incentivized Reviews Only" (off by default as well, so click it on) :)
I have reviewed multiple products on Influenster and always tried to test them for a while before giving my final and honest verdict (some not always positive). They make you review it within a specific deadline which doesn't always allow you to test it to the fullest. I had products coming in at a steady pace for a while until it came to a dead stop about a year and a half ago when I let them know a product they sent me wasn't my shade (it was a gradual tanning product for medium to deep skin tone...I'm super fair) so I couldn't review it properly. They said don't worry about reviewing it, yet magically nothing else ever came my way even when taking multiple interest surveys for many products after that. I asked them about the radical change in receiving products and crickets. I am honest in my reviews yet have difficulty trusting others when they receive it for free so I will click the non-incentive button to read actual reviews.
Oooh that’s super interesting!! Thank you for sharing your experience!
@@KellyGooch Adding on to what @katherinecampbell3392 said, I agree - Influenster sometimes doesn't allow enough time for testing certain things long enough. I've found that to be true especially with skin care products which usually take awhile of using before you can accurately form an opinion on. In those cases, I will explicitly say in my review that I wished I could have tested them longer and that my review is only based on xxx days of using, etc. Also worth noting - as much as Influenster often sends full-sized products to review, sometimes they will send a sample or deluxe size. This can be problematic - again, I'll use skin care products as an example - hair products too - because there just isn't enough product to use over time to make a good determination of their performance. For me, that's something I will mention in my review as well.
That’s true , there is no way you can test a skin care product on the time they want you to, which is annoying and I always say that. I tested this product for x amount of time.
I used to focus SO intently on star ratings (not just beauty - movies, books, food, etc.). While i still think they can be helpful, I think one benefit of getting older is learning what I actually like for myself! And finding people with similar tastes whose recommendations I trust. 💛
Probably one of my top lessons of the last 5 years. A product or book can be perfectly fine or critically acclaimed and still ✨️ not for me✨️ (too depressing, too pigmented, etc. - just not my style)
Yeah, I agree! I have some channels I follow solely for the personality & some that have similar taste, style, esthetic ect. for this reason
My conspiracy theory is the Colourpop website deletes any review that is less than 5 stars. I’ve never seen a review on the website that was not 5 stars. It’s also hard to post a review on the website- it never goes through.
Last year I wrote a mostly favorable review for their cleansing balm, but mentioned how small the container was and that Clean It Zero is a better deal. They literally reduced the price by $1 and didn't publish my review...I guess because my primary complaint was no longer "accurate" (but it actually still was!)
I had someone from Amazon, offer me a gift card, for a 5-star review, and their product sucked. I will never believe a review again.
I’ve had that happen before too!
It's happenend to me too
I’ve had that happen several times. One of them went so far as to send actual paper mail to my house! I freaked out that a random company even had access to that info. My item was shipped by Amazon. It was a straight up bribe offer for a five star review of their garbage leg waxing strips. I called to report it to Amazon, they said it wasn’t reportable (I tried several times) and the listing was still up as of a few months ago. The others I got were less scary, but just as dishonest: the seller sends you a message that there’s a problem & cannot complete the order. But instead of the eBay version where they ask me to pay outside the system, this scam just has explicit feedback manipulation & usually a bribe offer.
I literally only trust Reddit. That's it.
Even Reddit is getting overrun with clandestine marketers :( we’ll need a new Reddit soon
asian beauty reddit got infiltrated by brands like glow recipe sadly
Reddit will ban you for an opposite opinion let’s be real
@@kimmyymmik it wont lmao what??
About 5 years ago, I was consistently doing influencer reviews but there was a few things that came in a row that I was pretty unimpressed with. So I reviewed honestly, giving them a 3 star, so not even that low. And I never received anything after that lol. It seemed pretty evident to me after that that they want you to give pretty much only high ratings.
This is why I listen to your videos, and Lauren Mae Beauty/Fragrance’s videos. I trust your reviews, and the swatches, more than hundreds of repetitive 5 star reviews that seem fake.
Oh man I didn’t know you could turn those off!! Thank you so much for this cause I never read those reviews anyway 😂
It’s so handy!!
I am turning mine off now. I never read the incentivized reviews but they muck things up.
I only leave reviews when something is bad or amazing enough that I think others need to know.
I am on influenster and have received two products. I left a meh review for the second product bec it deserved it. I haven’t gotten a product since.
This is the 3rd comment I’ve seen just like yours. Wow! Unfortunate.
I've tried influenster and I always rate what I think. It does get harder sometimes because you have a limited number of days before you need to review
Thanks for sharing!
Being from Argentina , this video is really helpful since we can't get most of those brands you have in store. I usually buy from resellers and, of course, what is low cost for you it isn't low cost here! So I watch tons of reviews before buying something! Love your channel Kelly! Greetings😍😘
Reminds me of Yelp back in the day, after a point people only left scathing reviews, and now it’s so untrustworthy it’s basically imploded.
I was an “Influenster” for a short time, and my initial experience was positive, I loved the product, gave it an honest and glowing review, and was thankful to be part of something that I believed was beneficial. After that, on the rare occasions that I’d receive another opportunity, it would be something I had zero interest in. Then if there WAS something I was interested in, they’d require social media posting along with photos. Keep in mind that this happened DESPITE my stating very clearly that I wouldn’t do that - didn’t matter what I said. It always felt and seemed as though 1 person was running the whole thing, therefore couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to what I/we said. So…fare thee well, Influenster!
I have stayed away from Sunday Riley as soon as I heard this. I am so happy you told us about the turn off button. Dodging the incentivized reviews is tedious. I do like leaving reviews but I only comment if something is horrible or excellent. Thank you for clarifying so much of the technical details.
The powder, mattifying/blurring - So true!! It’s always funny to me when on like TikTok where people are kings/queens of “shock face” and hyping things up and they’ll have like their regular face on camera, where areas looks shiny, which is expected given they have a light on them and then they put a powder on one spot and they’re like - shock face! OMG! DID YOU SEE THAT?! Wow! - I’m like, what?! You could have put baking powder right there and it was going to happen. Get out of here! 😂
I've always tried things out for myself and take influencer opinions with a grain of salt. Products work and look different on everyone especially skincare and perfumes.
I've gotten things from influenster & I've given things glowing reviews & not glowing reviews. I just got 3 samples of a Tom Ford cologne for my hubby to try. I wrote the review based on his thoughts on it. Including that he was not willing to spend the money on the full size because to him it wasn't worth it. I write my reviews on a notepad & then c/p it into my reviews so I don't see those key words prompts lol. I just try to be honest because I don't want ppl to possibly waste their hard earned money. That's why I enjoy creators who give the positive & negative thoughts of products.
The lip filler comment is spot on. I had to catch myself wanting so many lip products because they looked too good online, but they did not look good on me, and it made me feel bad about my lips. But now I understand how lip filler affects how a lip product looks.
I've gotten a few products through influsenster, most of which I loved. My 3rd product was a high end moisturizer and serum, I had an allergic reaction to one of them and stated that. I never got another beauty product after my bad review. I ended up canceling because they were spamming me with food and other products that I told them I didn't want. I feel like it's harder to cancel with them than it is ipsy, and that's saying something!
Wowww! Thank you for sharing your experience!
And obviously trying things out myself before buying them helps. It seems like 75% of the time (or more) I am disappointed or dissatisfied if I don’t check reviews beforehand. The majority of products don’t work as advertised. Especially for hair care in my experience.
I had no idea you could filter out incentivized reviews! That's so interesting how drastically it might change the results. Thanks, Kelly! That's so I helpful to know. 👏🏻💜🌻
As an advertising major, I always really enjoy your videos about beauty companies and the industry! 💙
And this is why I try to support creators like yourself who I trust to be honest! I prefer long-form content anyway (young millennial here lol) but find that UA-cam is way more informative than tiktok or instagram when it comes to how products look, feel, and wear over time. Also, the green eyeshadow slays
I really liked the insight on how certain products can look different on camera vs real life! Its something I wouldn't ever find out myself, so I appreciate you sharing, Kelly :)
The dentist comment reminded me of my OBGYN office (who are a part of a large multi state health system). In the waiting room and each exam room they have signs that say “A review of 10/10 means we met your needs, 9/10 we met some of your needs, 8/10 means we did not meet any of your needs.” I guarantee too many 8/10 reviews will result in staff being reprimanded because the CEOs didn’t make their full bonuses
I was a server when the “tell us how we did & we’ll give you a coupon” thing got really big. In the kitchen, there was a breakdown of survey ratings & comments on the bulletin board. The brackets were percentage of 10s, 8-9s, and 7 or unders. A 1 and a 7 counted the same! I’m still haunted by a table that had their order messed up by the kitchen, but gushed about me (including speaking directly to the FoH manager on the day and leaving glowing comments on the survey!). I was scolded in pre-shift because over half of their scores for the visit fell into the 7 & under category.
I've received multiple emails over the years from a brand or store manager (personally!), asking me why I didn't give them the highest amount of stars in a review. My answer was always that unless something sets me on fire, I give it less than 5 or 10 stars. I'm glad they care about the customer experience, but the implication that Corporate is going to reprimand someone for not getting the absolute top score is rough! I don't write many reviews anymore, largely due to this experience.
@@gasparinhaI run a medium scale Etsy shop of handmade items and unless your average rating is at least 4.2 you get pushed way down in the Etsy search, below the drop shippers and scams. Please adjust your method of reviewing or like you said, don't review anymore where it affects low paid, highly scrutinized individuals. I understand it's stupid but you only hurt small fish by leaving off stars in these situations (UNLESS there was a real problem with the purchase)
I'm sure AI has some wonderful applications but I feel like so far all I'm hearing is how it's doing more harm than good. I laughed when you mentioned dentist reviews because one of the only reviews I've ever written was for a dentist. If you ever need a recommendation for a root canal dentist in NYC I've got one! 😉
Amazon won't let me review products because I am a super bargain shopper and use coupons 90% of the time. This is VERY frustrating because I enjoy sharing my experiences, I use a lot of products, and I find genuine reviews generally helpful.
Such a great video that many people don’t understand the concept of reviews and how they can be deceived. Thank you for this video!
Ulta routinely changes one and two star reviews to three and four. Its happened to me multiple times. I've literally Witten in the review "I'm giving this two stars" and I look after I post and wouldn't you know, it's been changed to four.
I've been reviewing with Influenster and others for years. I think that something people fall prey to is letting the excitement of a "free" product color their judgement about that product. If you didn't pay out of pocket for something, it's easier to forgive things that might otherwise aggravate you. And I don't think people do that on purpose.
Also, I gave the IGK box hair color a horrendous review, and referred to IGK as "the conditioner miser," and I haven't received a hair product since 🤣
Honestly Kelly is really the only makeup influencer I watch anymore! I know I get honesty here and most products you suggest work for me (similar skin type). I also love that you are cruelty free too! Blows my mind we talk about ethics in beauty but ppl are still out here testing cosmetics on animals! Like what year are we in!
From personal experience, I have to say I nornally don't write reviews UNLESS the product is really REALLY bad. So I can see why companies use this type of services.
I genuinely wish i could like this video multiple times. Thank you so much for your honesty! It is really appreciated!
Hi Kelly! Great video and exactly something I've thought a lot about too. I do reviews for Influenster and I leave my honest opinion, positive or negative about the product. I haven't found doing that has negatively affected them sending me additional products to review. That said, even on Influenster I am often baffled by reviews from people who are reviewing the same product I am - at the same time. I'll be thinking.....wait - how could we have such wildly differing opinions on this?
Your explanation makes sense as to why people would say only good things about something, thinking that if they don't, they won't be sent products anymore. I just haven't found that to be the case - and I've most definitely given some not-so-great reviews on products I've received from them! You're also correct about the AI generated prompts - Influenster does provide some of those when you're in the review writing stage (I don't use them) and I think it's just as you said - to give reviewers ideas on what points to touch on or to help a little for people having trouble coming up with words to describe a product. I agree, it's not for any nefarious purpose, but it is good to keep in mind when reading reviews for sure.
I'm the same though - I do read reviews on literally *anything* I buy.....for better or worse, haha. I try to bear in mind all the things you mentioned and balance out what people have said in their reviews with what I know about the products from doing research in other ways (like coming here and seeing what you and my other trusted youtubers have to say!). Anyway, good vid that I'm sure has given a lot of people extra insight and a better perspective on reviews 💙
Really great video discussing reviews! I used to depend on reviews but now found a product I purchased that obviously was filled with fake reviews and the experience with the company has been terrible. It was a cat bed. Totally not what they advertised and all the reviews were amazing. Clearly fake! Very sad!
Thank you. When I first started my makeup journey I spent so much money on products that looked horrible on me. Now I know to wait and watch and wait some more before buying it
the only reviews i check are the worst ones!
WOW, this is so helpful as a consumer. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. You are so talented-I love your videos! ❤
I’m so happy it was helpful!
Thank you for pointing all of this out. It helps us to know to be more aware of what we are seeing. There are alot of top influencers that use filters over them. To me, it's scamming the viewers. It's so sad to take advantage of people like that yet, people are still watching them. 🤔😵💫
Thank you for mentioning the non incentivized filter on Sephora reviews because it has gotten so annoying shifting through them. I just turned it on for the Mizani leave in conditioner. Went from 2.1k reviews to 42!!
It's really bad when things have reviews when they have not been released yet! And I love the green on you!💚
I get stuff from like Influenster so my reviews for those products will have “incentivized” near it. But I always give thorough reviews and give my honest opinion. I don’t care if I never get anything from Influenster again. It’s few and far between anyways so I’m not going to lie about it. And it always drives me nuts seeing the incentivized ones with like “love it” and no explanation or just like buzzwords (so beautiful, looks so smooth, Poreless, etc. etc. etc.) without giving any real details. To me, those are useless, whether they’re incentivized or not. I LOVE reading reviews before buying but for a while it has been both incentivized and even non incentivized ones, the reviews are horrible. They’re just “love it” or “hate it” or complaining about things the product was never supposed to be (like complaining it isn’t full coverage when it never said it was supposed to be) or complaining about exactly what it is (like complaining it’s light coverage when that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be), or asking for refunds. Like what? Why are you writing a review customers read asking for a refund?! 😂 it’s just wild to me. But I always read reviews before buying so when I purchase things, I always write reviews for things. I look for detailed ones where people give actual details and not just a bunch of buzzwords with no real info!
As for getting products - I give my honest feelings. I’ve had things I absolutely HATED, some really expensive items, and I said that and why I hated it. And I still got boxes after that. I have had things I liked okay but didn’t think were anything special, especially given the price point. Again, I said exactly that with reasons why. Still got boxes after that. I’ve also loved things and said that. Still got boxes. I don’t get a ton of boxes. They’re here and there. So I can’t say whether I’d get more boxes if I 5 starred everything. Who knows. But, like I said, it’s not worth it to me to lie about it for the possibility of maybe getting a box later. I work hard for my money, I’ve also been a struggling single mom and know how spending money on yourself can be hard so I don’t want people wasting their money and hope my reviews (both purchased and Influenster ones) will help someone figure if it’s for them or not!
A lot of those early "testers" post pics of the product unopened which isn't helpful. Then you see these items posted on Mercari before launch marked above retail. This leads me to believe they're giving great reviews to get sent more product that they in turn, sell.
Hi Kelly! I love your channel, particularly these deep-dives where you discuss the beauty industry at large. Lately I have been thinking a lot about beauty reviews by legitimate, beauty-focused outlets (like Byrdie, Who What Wear, Allure, etc). I've noticed that they very rarely (if ever, TBH) leave a negative product review. That being said, they also don't review every single new product launch. So I have been wondering if their review model is: "only write review for the products we actually like". That way they are not lying, but they are also preserving their relationships with brands by simply NOT reviewing products that would have gotten a thumbs down. I don't know that this is deceptive necessarily...I just know that when I see a product review on one of these sites, before even reading it, I assume that it's going to be a positive review because it was written in the first place. If you have any thoughts/insights into this I'd really appreciate hearing them! Thanks for all that you do! xxx
I have left negative reviews on Amazon and it doesn’t always get posted
I love the Super Goop Matte Screen. It’s a mineral sunscreen but it’s tinted so no white cast and the texture is great
Good to know! I’ll have to check it out!
Thank you for this info and transparency.
I noticed this with the new Mane hair tools, the power bottom and three attachments. The reviews on Sephora were amazing but I noticed they were all incentivized so I filtered them out and the “real” reviews were trash. Needless to say I didn’t buy it
I receive free products for review from Influenster sometimes, but I am always very careful when reviewing the product because I know prices have gone up astronomically and I pretend as if I bought the product myself. I know some people do not, and just rate everything they get 5 stars, but I’m a lot more strict about my ratings. I rarely rate my free products 5, as most products aren’t that. Just making a general statement about myself. We cannot control other people’s reviews unfortunately
I never realized until this video the reason of why I have not received many boxes from influenster but the last few products I've received I didn't like at all and gave bad reviews and it all makes sense now since I was getting a few a month.
This makes me want to go online and leave positive reviews for my favorite products to fight the misinformation 😂
It has helped me to only follow content creators with my skin type. Even if I like others, it is not helpful b/c their rec’s don’t usually work for me.
I had no idea incentivized reviews existed, but I’m glad to know they can be filtered out!
I can always count on you doing amazing topics, Kelly! this was a good one and very revealing. Thank you for pointing out the shortcomings of reviews-I will be more careful in the future. I find that Amazon reviews are the worst for honesty IMO. Great to hear your thoughts on this topic.
I always filter to verified purchases only. I also find the negative reviews more helpful so I'll specifically look at 1 &2 star reviews.
Kelly you are the best! I think you are about the only honest person on the internet.
I was getting Inflenster pretty regularly. Last product i review ed the last product negatively. I haven't received anything since.... and that was over a yr ago. That told me everything I need to know. I rather not get anything if i have to be dishonest about it. Thanks Kelly
Klarissa
Kelly I thought of you the other day when I was applying my mascara. I was using my L'Oreal voluminous in burgundy. I know it's not brown but it makes brown eyes look so pretty. If u thinks it's a bit too intense u can just use on your bottom lashes but I think you would really enjoy it. I'd love to see it on u and hear your thoughts.
Not cruelty free, so I doubt it will be in Kelly's rotation (or mine)
Your right I didn't think of that. That kinda baffles me, that a brand as big as L'Oreal isn't cruelty free. Thanks for the reminder, I need to be more diligent about that with drugstore brands.
Interesting topic I love the way your makeup looks. Very natural.👍✔️💗❗
The amount of research it takes to find one (1) article with an unpaid review is so wild
When it comes to sunscreen, I always use the Missha (a K beauty brand) soft finish sunscreen (SPF 50). It's super affordable, never leaves a white cast, and very lightweight. Also it works really well.
Ooo you should make a TikTok with various qualities of powder. That would be awesome. To show how consistent the effect is on camera
I have received many products from influester and I'm honest in my reviews. However I have not received any make up in a long time. I try to be very detailed with my reviews bur some users just say, simple things like, looks good, works great etc, not accounting the full experience. The problem is I don't usually review the things I buy with my own money unless I'm incentivized lol, and I'm at the point where I should stop buying altogether
That eyeshadow is gorgeous!
I’ve used influenster in the past, a few years ago now… but I was always HONEST. Even if it meant leaving a negative review. And I still continued to receive product to test on multiple occasions. I’d think Influenster would PREFER someone who is honest and not only giving 5 star reviews.
I get products from influenster and buzzagent fairly frequently and I try to be VERY honest and fair. The last product I got was the Monday shampoo and conditioner and it was awful so I did a "Pros" and "Cons" list as my review. Pros: smells nice. Cons: left my hair greasy AF and I couldn't read the bottles in the shower because there wasn't enough contrast on the label. I got my next product almost immediately. 🤣
Kelly I just love you! Your videos are so great and original always interesting and entertaining ❤❤
Anyone that got a product for free shouldn’t be allowed to leave reviews. Most of the time they leave 5 stars regardless. And certain brands are notorious for this like huda beauty and lancome. If you click on non incentivized reviews on their most popular products the amount of reviews goes from like 7-8k to 1k….
The only time I truly take heed of online reviews is when I’m making a purchase for my home. 🤷♀️
i signed up for influenster and got one product. It was the ordinary barrier support serum and it was okay. I rated it 3 stars and said it was okay but not great. I am still signed up for influenster and have been for over a year and have not gotten ANYTHING and I'm fairly certain its because I didn't write a raving review. whenever I see any influenster reviews they're always 5 stars...
Whoa what an interesting topic. It kinda makes you think what else influences our purchasing trends in other areas of our lives. I’d be super interested in knowing more about influenster and its impacts honestly. It seems super enticing, but shady
I have reviewed for influenster multiple times before and my reviews weren’t always good or five star. After leaving 3 star reviews I still received free products afterwards. I like to be honest. If I can’t be honest I rather not review. I already have a pretty large collection of beauty products so I’m not desperate for free stuff although I’m grateful for getting them. Honesty is # 1 for me.
I've been reviewing for influenster for years now and i haven't felt like I've been penalized for leaving negative reviews, i would say most of the items i receive are just okay but a few have been awful or great. My theory is people who aren't used to Influenster are frightened into leaving reviews before they even get a chance to try their products because influenster sends VERY aggressive reminder emails threatening to cut you off if you don't leave your reviews WEEKS before the due date. I typically wait until last minute to review so i can use the items as long as possible but i bet the emails spook people into leaving fake reviews in fear of losing their accounts.
I don't get products on influenster, however, I get advanced reader copies of books for review. And knowing that authors rely on those reviews for their books (more than makeup), I am very choosy on what books I accept and what authors I'll read one for. Yes, the book is free, but because it is an ARC it is a lot more vetted by me than a purchased book would be. I take a lot less risks.
But also, while I know that they hope for good reviews, if I hate the book and would have rated it low, I can opt out from reviewing even after reading. Which (as far as I know) other platforms like influenster don't allow
I just recently joined Influenster and the first product they sent me was the Cocergirl Outlast lip stain, which was not my favorite product, and I reviewed it as such being honest. I was then sent 2 more campaigns. So far so good with my experience with Influenster and I will continue to give my honest opinion.
Even the most reliable YT beauty and skincare influencers in my subscriptions I still can't fully rely on because I'm an allergy magnet. 😅 I'll take tips but my skin ALWAYS has the final say. That's why I never rely on ratings when it comes to skincare and makeup.
Programm that send product to noninfluencer are worse for fake review. They do see your answer and it is taken into consideration for futur compaing
Wonderful video!!! So thought provoking.
not to mention i don’t shop at sephora anymore bc they’re problematic af
Powder on camera looks so nice. Powder on my face in person looks crusty 😅
Unexpected Sat morning coffee time with Kelly ✨yay!
I use Influenster and have given things low stars before and still receive plenty. Don’t be afraid to be honest if you don’t like something.
Going as far back to the original NARS orgasm blush reviews on YT, one of my biggest issues has been assessing how much glitter exist in face products. 😂
The filters. So many people don’t understand that the way a camera is set up - settings - and the lens can affect the overall quality SO MUCH!!! And you can’t put a “beautifying” filter on a camera. It’s a light filter. Not a blurring filter 🤷🏼♀️😂
So who/what can I trust!? 😭
I’m no makeup expert 😭
I got caught by the lighting with a foundation which is described as a serum with a satin finish I have dry skin this product is matt on me I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known the creator who gave the review also has dry skin but is sitting with all the lighting on them so this subject is worth Notting before purchasing any products well done kelly on out lining this subject xx
I used to get some things from Influenster, some I liked and some I didn’t and I left honest reviews if I didnt like the product. After that I stopped receiving any free products 😂😂😂
That's weird that the Mineral Unseen Sunscreen left that white of a cast on you. Could be your skin tone. I know when I've put it on, it goes on white at first, but after really rubbing it into my skin, the white goes away. And then, by the time I sit down to do to my makeup, it's like it never happened. My makeup stays on really well too. I don't know, weird 🤷♀️
Very good information, thank you for this.
Never believed reviews maybe its my age as my daughter swears by them lol
Noooo, I literally just ordered the hair gloss 😭🤣
I look at reviews but I take it with a grain of salt. Everything you try is a gamble some things work and some don't. But I do believe some not all companies love only positive reviews to get you to buy more. Few times I left reviews only for it not to go thru. I barely trust influencers it's hard not to give a biased opinion on a product you received for free
How do you filter out insentivised reviews?
Why don’t brands just create better products? That way they don’t have to make fake reviews 💀