Heavy influencer led brands

[papertiger]

Adding:

House of Sillage - the only only time I ever see it these OTT products is as blinged-out gifts for influencers. Someone has to pay for those lavish and expensive presents, the costs are added on to those that actually pay for them.

Wayne Goss (who is an influencer himself). Launches are a very incestuous, love-in affair with other influencers. Although I have his Artist brushes and I love them, use them every day (I paid for mine ).

Natasha Denona

Beautylish

Trinny London (although she is an TV presenter/influencer herself) she pushes her makeup line into every vid and under the heading of every topic. Now coming to US influencers near you!

Sonia G. Brushes A lot of these brands work with Beautylish, I'm sure they're fine.

Lisa Eldridge Another pro makeup artist that's brought out her own line (and of course she has her rings). Every influencer has these too.

Hi Mirror Do NOT buy this, all your info is sold on.

My bugbear is that these companies/PR often send to all, all at once (same launch). There's no discernment. I can't help it, it puts me off more than encourages me to buy. And I don't care what they say, influencers change once they start to work with these companies, judgement often goes out the window.

 

[Kookiliz]

This is a good idea!!
Just to give an opinion on a couple of brands mentioned - Smeg is a brilliant appliance brand, love my Smeg dishwasher (not bought because of current influencers, I’ve wanted Smeg appliances since they launched their retro fridge style a million years ago)
Charlotte Tilbury and Kerastase also brilliant brands, Kerastase is so good for your hair

 

[idlehen]

Yes... I’ve just found that the silk is really thin with the items I have ordered and it’s expensive to have to pay for return shipping when things don’t work out. I bought a dress that I’ve worn once and it’s delicate. I can tell that it could easily rip at the seams. It is not poorly constructed, but again the silk is just thin. Cuyana uses better quality silk (heavier)but their prices are higher and the have less variety in terms of styles.

Senreve— their smaller size bags may be better..Im happy to hear that your experience has been positive as it seems more genuine than an influencer’s opinion.

Thanks for your reply! I think I will pass on Lilysilk for now then. I don't want to pay that much if the material ends up being thin.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

Not heavy influencer led branding, but thought I’d mention.
First time I’ve seen Tiffany do YouTube sponsorship on Lydia’s channel.
Not sure how others feel, but I suddenly see brands as slightly “tacky” when collaborating with influencers even though I know it’s now a marketing direction that everyone is going towards.

I have quite a few of Tiffany’s affordable pieces, must admit the Atlas range is beautiful, but the collab has confirmed I won’t be buying from there anymore (unless something really grabs my attention).

 

[eunaddict]

I would like to add

Lilysilk
Analuisa jewelry
Senreve

Offft. I know one influencer who HEAVILY advertises for these brands. I like her enough to watch her videos and support her content. Not enough to have blindly bought anything from those brands. Especially Senreve. I've only ever seen influencers using their bags. I've seen none IRL and no one outside of tpf and influencer spheres have really heard of them either. I'm boycotting silk for ethical reasons so Lilysilk (and most other silk companies) are out for me.

Super wary.

 

[Greenredapple]

Not sure how others feel, but I suddenly see brands as slightly “tacky” when collaborating with influencers even though I know it’s now a marketing direction that everyone is going towards.

I feel the same way. I guess it wouldn't be as terrible if there are actually proper, thought out content that revolves around styling the product in different ways. I mean there are always room for creativiness. Unfortunaly with the gifted items it's just the unboxing via youtube videos. If we are lucky there will be one or two instagram shots. After that the gifts will likely be discarded. I hate it when influencers resell their gifts for profit.

Funnily enough Lydia Elise Millen has gotten into trouble with ASA in the past. Now every video of hers start with the ad disclaimer.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

I feel the same way. I guess it wouldn't be as terrible if there are actually proper, thought out content that revolves around styling the product in different ways. I mean there are always room for creativiness. Unfortunaly with the gifted items it's just the unboxing via youtube videos. If we are lucky there will be one or two instagram shots. After that the gifts will likely be discarded. I hate it when influencers resell their gifts for profit.

Funnily enough Lydia Elise Millen has gotten into trouble with ASA in the past. Now every video of hers start with the ad disclaimer.

Yes aware. I actually think they need to get more strict influencer ad advertising and now need to disclose all items. The problem is these influencers mention it in the video once or twice that it is an advert / paid partnership. Then those items may be worn or mentioned in another video such as gift ideas, etc. and then there’s no mention so unless the user watches every video they don’t know the item was gifted or paid for.

 

[papertiger]

I feel the same way. I guess it wouldn't be as terrible if there are actually proper, thought out content that revolves around styling the product in different ways. I mean there are always room for creativiness. Unfortunaly with the gifted items it's just the unboxing via youtube videos. If we are lucky there will be one or two instagram shots. After that the gifts will likely be discarded. I hate it when influencers resell their gifts for profit.

Funnily enough Lydia Elise Millen has gotten into trouble with ASA in the past. Now every video of hers start with the ad disclaimer.

Her and GHD - FFS

 

[papertiger]

Yes aware. I actually think they need to get more strict influencer ad advertising and now need to disclose all items. The problem is these influencers mention it in the video once or twice that it is an advert / paid partnership. Then those items may be worn or mentioned in another video such as gift ideas, etc. and then there’s no mention so unless the user watches every video they don’t know the item was gifted or paid for.

ITA.

I know many of these PR gifts are no more than beauty/fashion editors get, but everyone knows there is a difference between how one feels when paying full-whack for a product and being gifted it. The whole 'I'm now in with this mega-cool-brand' thing is also a problem for me.

There are 3 influencers I no longer watch at all because what I used to watch them for (an honest opinion) has GONE.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

Her and GHD - FFS

That reminds me brands to add
GHD
Dyson hair wrap (sorry not sure the exact name, both the hair wrap thing and the hair straightener)

Lydia has done both. Whilst not exactly the same items, I’d wish she and others would do a comparison video. People can’t all afford both. Then again she probably wants both sponsorships.

I have GHDs, brought way back when they could only be brought from hair salons and before they got popular outside of the UK. Mine lasted a really long time (10+ years) before I repurchased. I recommend (although I would just buy the basic version).

Kathleenlights has done a comparison on Dyson and Revlon - I got the Revlon which I love. Tempted by Dyson hair straighteners, but may wait for second version before jumping.

 

[giligy]

Offft. I know one influencer who HEAVILY advertises for these brands. I like her enough to watch her videos and support her content. Not enough to have blindly bought anything from those brands. Especially Senreve. I've only ever seen influencers using their bags. I've seen none IRL and no one outside of tpf and influencer spheres have really heard of them either. I'm boycotting silk for ethical reasons so Lilysilk (and most other silk companies) are out for me.

Super wary.

My friend has a Senreve bag/backpack and she says that she really likes it. She's aware of all the heavy influencer marketing but she truly likes it for what it is. So I do know someone IRL who has one!

 

[Gimmethebag]

Definitely Senreve, Bottega Veneta (no hate, I’d be excited to be gifted a $3K bag), Alo Yoga, Le Fleur (those weird roses that last a year), and Nordstrom!

To be honest, once Nordstrom started giving influencers lines at Nordstrom, it really turned me off. I think of Nordstrom like Target now. I don’t shop as much as I used to but if I go to a department store, I go to Neiman’s.

 

[Gabs007]

ITA.

I know many of these PR gifts are no more than beauty/fashion editors get, but everyone knows there is a difference between how one feels when paying full-whack for a product and being gifted it. The whole 'I'm now in with this mega-cool-brand' thing is also a problem for me.

There are 3 influencers I no longer watch at all because what I used to watch them for (an honest opinion) has GONE.

The difference with PR gifts to editorial staff was, there were never strings attached, the companies still paid for advertising and it was more that the companies seemed to be proud of their products, I never worked with the makeup and skin care department, if I would have mentioned a product in an interview or entertainment article, I think that would have been the last time I worked, but on occasion would actually get a product because the PR person had noticed something about my skin and they had a new product. The beauty and fashion editors would seriously try the products and review them and compare them to other products on the market. With influencers I often feel like watching an infomercial, the review versus the advertising that pretends to be a review.

edited to add: On occasion the people from the beauty department would ask people from other departments to test skin care products and report back, because they wanted the unbiased opinion and how it works with different skin types, which I think is a pretty good way of doing it and the brands usually launch around the same time so you have a ton of products for a variety of skin type, you want to test a product for oily skin on a person with oily skin...

 

[classybags4ever]

Senreve bags are SO UGLY!!!! I mean it is insane that they are all over social media. Its obvious influencers are pretending to like it. I think normal people are falling for it too! They've probably convinced themselves they have a great bag, when it's really all advertising! It's so hideous. I saw one at work and was reminded of how hideous it is.

I am VERY careful about any purchase of something seen on social media. I'll get the occasional sweater or cardigan if I like it, but usually only if it's on sale.

 

[OogleAtLuxury]

I would like to add

Lilysilk
Analuisa jewelry
Senreve

Not a brand per say but an app - shoptagr. Heavily promoted. I personally hate it. It does what it claims, but in addition you get tons of unrelated and randoms ads all the time. My email was filled with "alerts".

Speaking of retailers such Mytheresa, Matchesfashion, Luisaviaroma, Farfetch, and NAP. They often work with influencers and it's fine by me. But the problem is that influencers often receive major discounts or vouchers to shop for free from above mentioned retailers. I don't think purchases are disclosed properly and many influencers would rather give their audience the impression that they bought their hauls with their own money, which is misleading in my opinion. Came across this voucher thingy first in Lizzy Hadfield's video and then Geek is chic's video.

OMG yes the Shoptagr ads. They're so annoying, too, because none of them are disclosed in the title, so I click on a 15 minute unboxing video only to watch a 10 minute Shoptagr ad!