Comments on: ALU and the FTC Regulations

By: Stephanie Pastel

Stephanie Pastel — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:55:34 +0000

This post, and the comments, sure made for an interesting read. Keep following your passion and forget all the haters!

I found your blog in a web search for a Chanel Jade alternative, and I like it a lot. Thanks for the swatches, and for answering comments, that’s awesome. Stay positive, and you will go far

Regarding the FTC regulations vs print not having those rules… There are certain subjects they just don’t teach us in school:

1) proper grammar and spelling, 2) how not to be an (pardon the expletive) asshole, 3) critical thinking 4) to question everything, and finally 5) stop talking and start listening.

Those blog rules are there, simply to keep society from having to learn points 3, 4, and 5—maybe even a little bit of 3 as well haha—ourselves. “They” don’t want us to think for ourselves, try for ourselves.

I’m obsessed with OPI right now. If I’m skeptical about a polish you review, not sure if the color will match my skin tone, I’ll test it out at my next manicure appointment. My salon carries OPI and the painting is included in the price!

Sorry for the tangent, I’m quite indignant eep! All the best.

By: BunnyMasseuse

BunnyMasseuse — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:16:09 +0000

As only a reader (and a blogger with a blog page that's as pale white and empty as my soul I hear…) I look for things that I'm interested in. I'm looking for facts, comments, opinions and I weigh them just as they are… opinions. If you don't review something I'm interested in, I go elsewhere for it and don't fault you because you didn't review EVERYTHING out there. And I don't read just one blog… but many… and look for a consensus of the blogs I'm reading for an overall idea of whether what I'm interested in buying is worth the $$ or not… nothing against you but I figure I'll make sure I do my own homework for things I'm interested in… I'm hardly a blindly following reader.. but I do appreciate what you bring to the table.

(pardon for the long winded sentences out of my norm…)

By: pammy

pammy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:40:36 +0000

I'm with Alix. I don't understand the negativity and anger.
If Michelle chooses to not review a product, that's completely her decision. I visit the site for her lovely pictures and opinions, but I will often compare many other reviews as well. I really appreciate that she takes the time to put up these reviews, which can take hours and hours out of a week. I don't have to love what she loves. I also don't expect her to have the time to mention every single polish she doesn't like.
- Michelle, thanks for doing what you do! =D

By: CandyPaint

CandyPaint — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:55:39 +0000

The previously posted comment was not a paid advertisement. I LOVE ALL LACQUERED UP!!!

By: CandyPaint

CandyPaint — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:49:59 +0000

Michelle, thank for your honesty, I read on your page you received samples prior to this post (I think in the FAQ's). Regardless of how you obtain the products I LOVE YOUR BLOG. I read other blogs as well and I can tell you aren't interested in certain products because while everyone is blogging away your "on to the next one" (Jay-z influenced that line). Keep up the GREAT work!!!

By: Alix

Alix — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:01:28 +0000

What's with all the anger? Michelle describes her blog as a "go to" site because she's trying to share a braod range of knowledge, expertise and reviews. Fact is, none of us is paying for her opinion, we have no contract (legal, social or otherwise) with her that obliges her to disclose anything she doesn't want to. This is a personal web site, containing her personal opinions. If those opinions are influenced by free swag (and clearly they don't seem to be), then take her reviews with a big fat grain of salt and move on. At the end of the day, yes, we all still have to think for ourselves, instead of accepting wholesale the opinions of others to spare ourselves the brain activity. Michelle, if I were you I'd tell the FTC to eff off but clearly you're nicer than I am…

By: All Lacquered Up

All Lacquered Up — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:08:10 +0000

Anon #7 - I agree, paid posts/reviews that aren't disclosed are just straight up shady. I've received offers to do them in the past but it's been for products that are so unrelated, I can't even understand why they'd want to pay money to be on my site. Contact lenses and jewerly? How would that make sense?

folavril - Why are you so angry? It's just nail polish. You have the right to your opinion and if you want to make incorrect assumptions, that's your choice but it's not that serious.

I'm not going to defend myself to someone who wants to see the negative and believe there is some blogger/brand conspiracy going on. If you don't like my site, you don't have to read it. If you're so unhappy with the way I run my blog, then start your own and do it your way. Best of luck to you!

By: folavril

folavril — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:57:18 +0000

The problem is your blog states that the site is "the go-to resource for everything nail related". What you're saying in this post is contradictory - this is an "only what you're interested in, only what you like & only when you can be bothered" blog.

A go to resource needs to include both negative & positive data & you are absolutely withholding negative data from your readership. Those Essies you didn't like - did you buy them or did they come from Essie? What about the meh Espanas? Who paid for those?

I'm looking forward to seeing you trash a significant number of products that you disclose have been provided to you by someone like OPI, or China Glaze or Essie for free under the FTC rules. And until then I think its a perfectly reasonable that assumption that if you haven't reviewed something its because you don't like it & you don't want to piss off your sources. You've given me no reason to believe otherwise.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:37:11 +0000

ALU,
Not you specifically, but I follow about 25 blogs, and it seems like all of them are on one product wave.

Building "lemmings" on colors and brands that just aren't that fabulous when you get it home and on the nail.

I have no problem with making money on "what you love". What totally sucks, is not disclosing that you are making money or getting piles of free items.

That is why disclosure is important.

A company paying you to endorse their product is a far cry from a real review.

A whole lot of people in the blogosphere audience may not understand the difference.

By: All Lacquered Up

All Lacquered Up — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:23:47 +0000

Trisha – I've participated in live swaps before and I give a lot away to friends and family. I gave quite a bit of polish to a charity and plan to hold a charity beauty garage sale soon. Unfortunately it's just too time consuming for me to do that sort of thing online.