Saturday, August 31, 2019

✮✮✮THINGS YOUTUBERS SAY/DO/DON'T DO THAT ANNOY ME✮✮✮PART TWO



USING THE WORD "O.G."

Borrowed from www.dailydot.com Website

In case you didn't know: "According to Urban Dictionary’s most popular definition, OG is a simple abbreviation that “used to mean Original Gangster.” It has since been further co-opted to mean simply “original.” "Rapper Ice-T definitely didn’t invent the terminology for OG, but he might be the first person you reference."

"In mainstream culture, calling something or someone OG or O.G. dates back to the early ’90s. Ice-T released his fourth studio album, O.G. Original Gangster in 1991. The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and is Ice-T’s most successful record to date." The acronym O.G. also denotes a relationship to the O.G. Kush strain. 

So, either you need to stop using the word because it perpetuates the gangster lifestyle and/or demonstrates the acceptance of using Marijuana and further idealizes drug culture or you find another adjective to describe a product. May I suggest, Old School. Words have meaning. Be aware of what you are saying and what ideals and values you are exemplifying by using certain phrases and words.

USING THE PHRASE "RIDE OR DIE"

Borrowed from www.joinonelove.com Website

"Most of us are familiar with the term “ride or die,” but have no idea where the term comes from or how it gained mainstream appeal."


"Inspired by the Bonnie and Clyde mythologies, the term “ride or die” was popularized in hip-hop music during the 90s and early 2000s with songs like “Ryde or Die Chick” by the Lox featuring, Drag-On and Eve, “Down A** Chick” by Ja-Rule featuring Charlie Baltimore and “Bonnie and Clyde” by Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé. Ride or die is a term used to describe a person (usually a woman) that is willing to do anything for their partner, friend, or family, even in the face of danger. A ride or die is often praised for their fierce loyalty and commitment to their partner but ride or die relationships are all too often code for unhealthy relationships."

Again, these YouTubers are on a platform which millions of impressionable minds tune into. It might be wise to know what the hell you are saying means and the deeper value in your words.

USING THE PHRASE "HOLY GRAIL"

Borrowed from www.merriam-webster.com Website

(in medieval legend) the cup or platter used by Jesus at the Last Supper, and in which Joseph of Arimathea received Christ's blood at the Cross. Quests for it undertaken by medieval knights are described in versions of the Arthurian legends written from the early 13th century onward.

Maybe I am being a little overly conservative, but I find it a little backward to refer to a makeup item as a "holy grail" item as it seems as though you are comparing your favorite foundation to the cup used by Jesus at the iconic Last Supper. Seems a little bit of a misalignment in comparison.

DOING GIVEAWAYS WITH PRODUCTS THEY DON'T WANT!!

Hi, I am a YouTuber who receives PR and when I don't want a product because it sucks, I do a giveaway. What the hell is that about? I don't want your leftovers. I don't want the products that you hate. I want the products you recommend and love. Giveaways are supposed to be a way of showing appreciation for your viewers, it's not a way to dump the products you decided were not worthy of a spot in your collection.

OVERUSING THE WORD OBSESSED

I am going to hand out a Thesaurus to the YouTube community. I know for a fact that there are only so many words you can you use to describe eyeshadow palettes for example. There's a bit of difficulty finding creative words other than pigmented and swatches and color story, but I also know for a fact there's a crap ton of synonyms for the word "obsessed". Find another word. Be original.

WHAT DOES INSPIRED MEAN TO YOU?

You know what's inspiring? The miracle of a man walking with artificial limbs or the story of how a young woman beat breast cancer. THAT is inspiring. Stop taking meaningful words and applying it to makeup. It's insulting.

FEELING ASHAMED FOR HAVING UNUSED PRODUCTS/RECEIVING PR/BEING A COLLECTOR

I get there is a trend to work towards minimalism. I am not necessarily against the concept. I don't think minimalism is unhealthy or bad. I do think that shaming someone for how they choose to spend the money that they earn on what they what and how they utilize their collection is none of anyone's damn business. Since when does someone have a say in how I manage my collection. I don't shame you for your ideas and concepts on spending, so why don't you stay in your lane and mind your business.

GUESSING AT THE PRICE OF PRODUCTS

If YouTube is your JOB, then you should take it seriously. If you are talking about a product, certain things that are important, like price and availability should be something you know!!! If YouTube is your career, then treat it as such and provide accurate information. Know what you are talking about and have your information and facts straight. If you want to be a reliable source of information and earn the respect of your audience and peers, then stop half-assing your "job" and treat this "career" as though you have deadlines to keep and product information to share that must be accurate.

MAKING RIDICULOUS EXCUSES ABOUT THE PURCHASE AND USE OF L.E. PRODUCTS

What the hell is the big deal about Limited Edition products? I completely appreciate a channel that buys L.E. products and isn't always thinking about views and access. Maybe your viewers could dupe an L.E product by using something they already have in their collection. Why not make a comparison and show viewers how to get the same look with something that is a permanent item?

ONLY MENTIONING SECONDARY MARKETS WHEN SELLING THEIR MAKEUP

"You can't get this anymore, because it's discontinued." Bull....Ever heard of Mercari or Poshmark or Facebook Groups....You sure have because they only time you mention secondary markets is when YOU are SELLING your own makeup. SHADY.

ASKING FOR COMMENTS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT

A lot of subscribers aren't hip to how YouTubers increase engagement. You know how at the end of a video, a YouTuber will say, "Leave a comment with your favorite ...." That's a way of increasing engagement. You can tell who actually cares about what their subs have to say because they actually REPLY to comment instead of just liking them or completely ignoring comments. I'm onto you guys. You should just stop....

PROMOTING PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT BEAUTY RELATED

If you are a beauty channel, then why the hell am I watching a promo for a food delivery service. I do not see the correlation. I am here for the makeup, not this ancillary bullshit. I find it especially irritating when you don't mention that the video is sponsored until halfway through your spiel. 

WHEN VIDEOS BECOME OVERLY EDITED OR LOOK TOO PROFESSIONAL

For example, Jaclyn Hill. Part of these appeal of YouTube is that the audience finds the creator relatable. Over editing and commercial like videos sets a standard of separation between the audience and the creator making the creator seem unreachable and somewhat better than the viewer. 

USING ANTI CONSUMERISM TO SHAME PEOPLE WITH LARGE COLLECTIONS

I've made our super clear that I myself am not a minimalist.  I don't take issue with those who choose to live their life in that manner as long ad the approach is healthy and the knowledge base is informed. However,  I have a huge problem with shaming others who approach their spending habits with a capitalist concept. No one should have authority over someone else's life as long as it does not negatively impact the person or others in a way that causes dysfunction or significant unhealthy behaviors.

USING WORDS LIKE "WASTEFUL", "EXCESSIVE", "UNNECESSARY"

A further extension of shaming another`s spending habits is using the words highlighted above. If though use these words you should.... see below. 

NOT USING "I" STATEMENTS WHEN REFERRING TO ABOVE WORDS

If you choose to use the above words or phrase, make sure you'd address using I statements. 

PROMOTING "CANCEL CULTURE"

Promoting cancel culture indicates that a person/company cannot change and is not inherently good within and is capable of reflection, and self inventory.  I personally don't allow companies or their backwards thinking owners to dictate my purchase habits. I have e all of Jeffree Star's palettes and I find him particularly foul & distasteful.

APOLOGIZING FOR?

Stop apologizing for being human. Having bad nails, being sick, not uploading on time, wearing mismatched clothes, having messy hair. 

ASKING PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE & LIKE BEFORE WATCHING THE VIDEO

Wait a minute...you want to to SUBSCRIBE & LIKE the video before you even do anything? Um, no! You have to do something worthy of winding up in my subscription feed, ok? I don't owe you anything.

REFERRING TO VIDEOS THAT YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE TOPIC WAS 

Please stop referring to videos you may/may have not done and providing inaccurate information. You honestly cannot remember if you review a product? Or if you tried it? Or if you liked it? How am I supposed to rely on you for reputable information if you cannot even remember your experience with a product.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

✬✬REVIEW & RATE & WEEKLY PRODUCT PICKS✬✬

This is the last week of #30palettesin30days. Let's see what I thought about last week's picks and what I am using this week.






✬✬Face Products✬✬





Palettes

Blush Tribe The Hasina 2

Too Faced Pretty Mess

Jeffree Star Blood Sugar

OPV Oshun Palette

Sephora Pro New Nudes

Urban Decay Naked Cherry

Saturday, August 24, 2019

✬✬PRODUCT REVIEW✬✬KALEIDOS COSMETICS✬✬DEEPSEA LUSTER PALETTE✬✬

Rating System:

Rating is out 10 out of 10, with a full point given for each of the ten sections listed above. Points per section may be issued in the following denominations: 0, .0 .25, .50, 1.0. For further clarification, the sections listed are worth a total of 1.0 point and are:
1.     Company Profile & Personality: (available information about the company, cruelty-free status information, philanthropic efforts, unnecessary controversy, indie company vs mainstream)
2.     Price: (product cost, availability of product, shipping cost, available coupons)
3.     Purchase Process: (order time vs receipt of product turn around, availability of product, email notifications including shipping & tracking number, email notification for delivery)
4.     Packaging: (was the item securely package, decorative packaging efforts including information card about the product, upcoming sales, or the company itself)
5.     Pigmentation: (via swatches)
6.     Color Payoff: (via application to the area applicable)
7.     Product Application: (ease of application of the product, for example for eyeshadow, is there fall out, creasing, etc.
8.     Performance: (longevity of wear)
9.     Product Value: (price to product amount ratio, i.e. price per gram + product quality + consumer response (popularity of the product and consumer response) + repurchase option)
10. Overall Product Presentation: shade variation (if eyeshadow), women of color friendly, pale people friendly, universally applicable to many skin tones, desire for repeated use, would you repurchase the item again, is this product associated with a particular trend or is does it market the companies individuality, does the product set a new & innovative trend, is the product effective (does it do what it’s designed to do), does the product have potential multiple application opportunities (i.e. can the product be used as a blush & lipstick), is the product limited edition or a permanent product, is the product part of a collection, is the product consistent (from shade to shade, if an eyeshadow palette) from color to color in a part of a collection and does it function and operate the same each time applied.

Product Information, Purchase Process, Price

I purchased this beautiful, and I mean, beautiful, eyeshadow palette directly from the brand, which was an international purchase. It took a normal amount of time to arrive and I actually was introduced to the brand from a small YouTuber/Creator. Once the brand caught wind amongst the smaller YouTuber/Creator community, the demand for this palette rose swiftly along with the desire to see even more creative and innovative palettes from the brand, and they delivered without hesitation. The brand now features, along with the DeepSea Luster Palette, 5 new palettes, which are being met with intrigue, curiosity, and mass interest. 

The palette, which is in fact, limited edition is still available on the brand's website for $42 and you can also check out their latest palettes from The Futurism Collection with the full set available for $59 dollars. When the palette arrived it reminded me of how Beautylish packages their items, but on a grander and more whimsical scale. The package arrived in a very attractive outer box, and inside the palette was wrapped in an ornate cardboard box, adorned with glitter and a beautiful purple box to keep the palette contained. The best presentation of a product I have personally ever experience. Just outstanding!!




Pigmentation & Pay Off, Product Performance:


First of all, this palette is beautiful. It's very attractive to the eye and aesthetically pleasing to the consumer. The shade selection is outrageously beautiful and equally important is the performance of the shadows themselves. I haven't encountered such a well-thought-out, diverse, ingenious selection of shadows in months. This palette does not only have a high aesthetic value, but the quality is unsurpassable and like nothing, I have seen in quite some time. 



Overall Rating: 10/10

✭✭✭✭BOUGIE BRIE✭✭✭✭BOUGIE GURU TAG✭✭✭✭


✬✬✬MAC HIGHLIGHTER COLLECTION✬✬✬


✬✬✬LAURA GELLER FACE PRODUCTS✬✬✬


Tuesday, August 20, 2019

✬✬✬SMALL SEPHORA HAUL✬✬✬






✬✬✬P.O.T.M.✬✬✬REVIEW ROUND UP✬✬✬JULY✬✬✬

✬✬✬P.O.T.M.✬✬✬PINKY ROSE COSMETICS✬✬✬SPONJAC COSMETICS✬✬✬





How often did I reach for this/these palette(s)? Why or Why not?

My issue with most of my palettes is that because of the sheer size of my overall collection, I don't get the opportunity to truly identify what are my favorite palettes, which palettes, are good, great, exceptional, & outstanding. I reached for all four palettes quite a decent amount of times, with all things considered. I think I reach for the palette above, The Transition Sunflower Palette, the most.




Did I enjoy using this/these palette(s)? Why or Why not?

I really did enjoy using all these palettes. I like doing this series because I always pick palettes that I haven't spent any time with. I get to discover "hidden gems" within my own palette collection and weed out those that don't serve a purpose.




Did I rediscover a fondness for this/these palette(s) or did I discover that I was fonder of this/these palette(s) than I realize?

I didn't realize what outstanding quality existed in the Sponjac eyeshadow palettes. I really enjoyed them the most and I was introduced to them through a former friend.




If I lost this/these palette(s), would I repurchase?

I would repurchase them all

With this experience and knowledge regarding the use of this/these palette(s), what would I do differently (regarding this/these purchases, future purchases of similar products, trends?

Just through this little series, I am discovering that I have a heavy leaning towards berry tones, and grungy tones eyeshadow palettes, which is not the aesthetic that envisioned for myself a couple of years ago.

Keep, Declutter, or Probation?

Keep All!

Monday, August 19, 2019

✬✬✬✬PALETTE YOU HATE, BUT I LOVE✬✬✬✬


✬✬✬NABLA POISON GARDEN✬✬✬PRODUCT REVIEW✬✬✬INDIE SPOTLIGHT✬✬✬

Rating is out 10 out of 10, with a full point given for each of the ten sections listed above. Points per section may be issued in the following denominations: 0,.0 .25, .50, 1.0. For further clarification, the sections listed are worth a total of 1.0 point and are:
  1. Company Profile & Personality: (available information about the company, cruelty-free status information, philanthropic efforts, unnecessary controversy, indie company vs mainstream)
  2. Price: (product cost, availability of product, shipping cost, available coupons)
  3. Purchase Process: (order time vs receipt of product turn around, availability of product, email notifications including shipping & tracking number, email notification for delivery)
  4. Packaging: (was the item securely package, decorative packaging efforts including information card about the product, upcoming sales, or the company itself)
  5. Pigmentation: (via swatches)
  6. Color Payoff: (via application to the area applicable)
  7. Product Application: (ease of application of the product, for example for eyeshadow, is there fall out, creasing, etc.
  8. Performance: (longevity of wear)
  9. Product Value: (price to product amount ratio, i.e. price per gram + product quality + consumer response (popularity of the product and consumer response) + repurchase option)
  10. Overall Product Presentation: shade variation (if eyeshadow), women of color friendly, pale people friendly, universally applicable to many skin tones, desire for repeated use, would you repurchase the item again, is this product associated with a particular trend or is does it market the companies individuality, does the product set a new & innovative trend, is the product effective (does it do what it’s designed to do), does the product have potential multiple application opportunities (i.e. can the product be used as a blush & lipstick), is the product limited edition or a permanent product, is the product part of a collection, is the product consistent (from shade to shade, if an eyeshadow palette) from color to color in a part of a collection and does it function and operate the same each time applied.
Product Information, Purchase Process, & Presentation:

According to the brand's website, "NABLA is an Italian indie brand born to be sincere to its clients, going well beyond the normal market conventions and to provide high quality makeup products, highly efficient and totally safe to use." The company has mostly been catapulted into the beauty industry Indie Spotlight through their social media presence and the relentless and thorough review of smaller YouTubers who have fallen in love with the brand's mission, personal aesthetic, and overall high-quality products.

In terms of eyeshadow palettes, the brand currently offers 6 eyeshadow palettes - (2) 6 pan palettes, and (4) 12 pan palettes. The one featured in this review is the Poison Garden Eyeshadow Palette which I purchased through Beauty Bay and a reduced cost. The packaged arrived along with other items from other brands and was well packaged and in pristine condition. 


Product Payoff, Pigmentation, & Aesthetic Presentation

The packaging of the palette itself is quite innovative and creative. Personally, I am a huge fan of palettes that are slim that come in sleeves. It's just easier to maintain the palette, cuts down on waste, and it still gives the company the ability to feature a different image on the sleeve and one on the palette itself. It's just a personal thing that I particularly enjoy. It seems that most European brands are hip to this type of packaging technique, but some other U.S. Indie brands are picking up on the idea as well. 

The palette features 12 shadows, 5 shimmers and 7 mattes, which is an ideal ration for me. If you keep up with me, you know that I am a shimmer/metallic gal all the way, but of course, most believe that mattes are essential to create an eye look, but I digress.... The palette leans warm with some beautiful neutrals and a pop or two of cooler toned shades. Upon initial swatches, I found the palette's shimmer shades good, but not spectacular, however, I found the mattes outstanding. I have seen reviews were some didn't think the shimmers were that good, but once I started playing with the palette, I quickly disagreed. When applying a shimmer/metallic shade, I always wet my brush as standard practice. I found the shimmers quite stunning. I did have to apply the shade I was using more than once to build up the pigment and bring about an outstanding sheen, but once I did, my eye look came together and I was very, very pleased. Again, the mattes played together well and blended so well that I was a bit shocked. I tested this palette for two weeks, and I was not once disappointed with the looks that I created. Each one was unique, beautifully put together, and was the focus of several conversations from friends and co-workers.



Rating: 9.25/10

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

✬✬✬PRODUCT REVIEW✬BLUSH TRIBE✬PAULINA PALETTE✬


Rating System:

Rating is out 10 out of 10, with a full point given for each of the ten sections listed above. Points per section may be issued in the following denominations: 0, .0 .25, .50, 1.0. For further clarification, the sections listed are worth a total of 1.0 point and are:
1.     Company Profile & Personality: (available information about the company, cruelty-free status information, philanthropic efforts, unnecessary controversy, indie company vs mainstream)
2.     Price: (product cost, availability of product, shipping cost, available coupons)
3.     Purchase Process: (order time vs receipt of product turn around, availability of product, email notifications including shipping & tracking number, email notification for delivery)
4.     Packaging: (was the item securely package, decorative packaging efforts including information card about the product, upcoming sales, or the company itself)
5.     Pigmentation: (via swatches)
6.     Color Payoff: (via application to the area applicable)
7.     Product Application: (ease of application of the product, for example for eyeshadow, is there fall out, creasing, etc.
8.     Performance: (longevity of wear)
9.     Product Value: (price to product amount ratio, i.e. price per gram + product quality + consumer response (popularity of the product and consumer response) + repurchase option)
10. Overall Product Presentation: shade variation (if eyeshadow), women of color friendly, pale people friendly, universally applicable to many skin tones, desire for repeated use, would you repurchase the item again, is this product associated with a particular trend or is does it market the companies individuality, does the product set a new & innovative trend, is the product effective (does it do what it’s designed to do), does the product have potential multiple application opportunities (i.e. can the product be used as a blush & lipstick), is the product limited edition or a permanent product, is the product part of a collection, is the product consistent (from shade to shade, if an eyeshadow palette) from color to color in a part of a collection and does it function and operate the same each time applied.

Product Information, Purchase Process, Price

The "Paulina Palette" comes from a U.K Indie Brand called Blush Tribe, who has made a firm impression in the Beauty Indie Market with minority friendly empowerment, bold, fresh, interesting color stories, and making connections with smaller influencers who are taking the beauty community by storm with their frank, honest, thoroughly convincing reviews on new releases. 

The palette takes its name from a Swedish Beauty YouTuber named Paulina, who is a relatively small influencer but is known for her bold eye looks and her equally bold voice that echoes the sentiments of many makeup enthusiasts. Paulina understands that the consumer has grown tired of traditional neutral looks, which at one point and time were very popular, but now the consumer is looking for something innovative and different and Paulina represents such notions. Paulina collaborator with an upcoming Indie Brand that marketed a demographic her subscribership represented and so a joint venture seemed like a natural and smart move for both the brand and the influencer.

Purchasing this palette from Blush Tribe proved a little taxing with the price conversion and the high cost of shipping, which I believe now the company has lowered, as well as the wait for the shipment to make it across the great pond. However, I did receive my palette, along with a couple of other things I ordered from the brand, in excellent condition and I was pleased. 







Pigmentation & Pay Off, Product Performance:

Most people cannot appreciate the ingenuity of the color selection for the palette, but the colors work together incredibly well and the myriad of looks one can produce is endless. If you follow my YouTube Channel or my blog, you might be aware that I am an eyeshadow palette connoisseur with well over 750 eyeshadow palettes from a wide selection of brands, including a bustling Indie Brand selection. I would dare to say that Paulina's palette is definitely in my top 10, maybe even my top 5. The pigmentation is consistent with extraordinary payoff, and each shade performs equally well. There is no one "dud" shade in the whole palette. The ability to mixed different shades, textures, and create distinct eye looks is quite remarkable. I am thinking about buying a backup - so what does that tell up you!







Overall Rating: 10/10
One of the best palettes of the year!


REVIEW & RATE & WEEKLY PRODUCT SELECTIONS

✬✬✬KALEIDOS MAKEUP FUTURISM SET✬✬✬