March 10, 2011

the Muse’s Mail Bag: Who Sponsors Musings of a Muse?

I’m going through e-mail today GASP! Whoa! My mail box is a mess but I was trying to answer some e-mails today. If you haven’t gotten a reply from me please realize it does take me a while to get back since I get alot of messages daily. Lord knows I’m away behind on comments never mind e-mails!

Normally I reply in private e-mails but sometimes I like doing mail bag posts that I feel would be helpful to everyone. Last month and this month seemed to have a popular theme as I got at least five e-mails asking if I’m sponsored.

Let’s take a look!

I won’t post each e-mail here but the popular topic at hand is “Hi, is your site sponsored?”

Sadly, no. Damn straight I wish it was sponsored! Ha maybe I’d save money. This site and most everything you find on it is paid by me with my own personal money.

I have to pay a monthly server charge to keep this site up and running plus money I put out for products for review.

So no, no brand sponsors me, pays me, or gives me money of any kind.

I am part of an ad network but they do not sponsor me either. I simply run three ads on the site to make money to pay for the server bill to run the site plus products you see me review.

On occasion I am offered samples for review but I don’t consider this payment as it’s my personal choice if I choose to feature these products or not on Musings of a Muse and any review I give the product is based on my own opinion of the item be it good or bad.

Occasionally I post affiliate links but it’s really rare because I find it’s a hassle to bother with them. I know alot of blogs who include affiliate links in ever post they do and I can’t even begin to wrap my head around dealing with doing that, just seems to much work. Affiliate links are basically a commission based link that allows a reader to click and purchase the product featured on a blog and the blogger who posted the link gets 8% to 10% (sometimes more) off the sale of the product. If I do use an affiliate link I always disclose it so you know what is happening should you click the link embedded in the post but 99.9% of the time any links I include to a product are just for your personal use and I do not make a commission off them, I simply like to point you in the right direction where you can buy the product and I am not making money if you do use the link and buy the product.

As for compensated or paid posts I try to avoid this as well as it’s alot of drama and time which gets sucked away from doing posts that I really want to do. I did this once with a fragrance launch. It was my first time doing one and probably will be my last because of the time it takes to actually promote the posts, write about the product, etc…..

I hope this helps and answers your questions.

You can read my Disclaimer/Disclosure by visiting this link and you can also learn more about the review process and FTC regulations about product reviews by clicking this link.

If you have any other questions regarding Musings of a Muse please feel free to post them! I’m always happy to discuss the behind the scenes aspects of the site as no one really asks much about it and it’s kinda fun to discuss it on occasion as alot of work goes into bringing you what you see here daily.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Anonymous

    Definitely the work you put into your blog shows in the quality of your posts. It sucks that there isn’t an easier way you can get paid for some of your work. All those products must sure add up! I’m so thankful that you review products, it sure makes shopping easier for the rest of us and highlights cool stuff we would have otherwise missed. I specially love your review of Asian products.

    • the Muse

      aw thanks anonymous I don’t mind in the least ;-D I don’t need to be paid, your readership is payment to me ;D! thank you so much!

  • Jillybean

    thanks for everything you do for us muse! love reading your posts during “breaks” at work 😉

    • the Muse

      aw shucks Jilly no thanks needed, I need to THANK YOU for reading all my dribble ;-D haha are there alot of “breaks” at work 😀

  • winni

    I love reading your blog during my frequent thesis-writing “breaks”. As is obvious by my incessant commenting. Speaking of, do you know how I can comment with my picture instead of the lipstick default? Do I need to add a website or something?

  • Lulee

    i love your site and this post reinforces why. i think you are one of the VERY few remaining beauty bloggers/vloggers doing this for the love of it. thanks for honest reviews always muse!

    • the Muse

      jeez lulee don’t make me cry girl! 😀 I wish more people felt the same as you b/c that’s exactly why I do this blog! I freaking love makeup and what I love even more than makeup is sharing it with really great people like YOU! *hugs*

  • Aimee Pan

    Thank you! You’ve been so honest and forthcoming about all that goes on at this blog. 🙂

  • Pati

    It’s great to confirm what I thought: you’re honest and you love what you do 🙂 Thank you!

  • zang

    aw, muse! thank you so much! i so appreciate all your time, energy, and money to purchase all the products and review them! your blog is the FIRST one on my bookmarks tab~for real, no kidding.

    T-H-A-N-K——Y-O-U!!!!!!!!

  • LINDARRAGNAR

    thanks for writing this muse ! this is the reason why I love your blog so much you’re so honest!! 🙂

    I hate when I got to temptalias website and (almost 99.8%) every single link is a commision link and almost (99.8%) of all her products are given to her LOL (can you sense the jealousy lol)

    • the Muse

      Aw thanks Linda. HUGS!

      Christina really works hard on that site and she pays out alot of money each month to maintain it. I don’t think alot of folks realize how much she is sinking into it as she runs the site on dual servers because of her huge readership. so she def has to make some $$ with affiliate links/ads and such to make money for that rather large server bill ;-D plus it’s always nice to be compensated for all the hard work of taking pictures, swatches, etc…it’s like a full time job sometimes, I can speak from experience with Musings. Between my main job, my life, and Musings, it’s hard to keep up sometimes. Also it’s good she gets so many samples as you know she’s always giving you the truth behind how the product works, I’ve never seen anyone on the internet who does so much when it comes to sitting down and trying out products and really testing them down to the nitty gritty. ;-D! Christine is really dedicated to bringing readers ALL the details.

      LOL but I understand don’t we all want free products to rain down on us? That includes Christine I bet as she’s as much a beauty junkie as we are!

      • LINDARRAGNAR

        oh wow I never thought about it that way!! 😉 she does take great pictures and very through reviews that I really enjoy!!

        LOL thanks for making me remember to be less judge full!!

        • the Muse

          you aren’t judgmental Linda ;-D I just think if you never blogged before that you don’t realize what goes on behind the scenes ;-D! You’re a good person, I talk to you all the time, can totally see that so def not judging ;D!

    • winni

      Christine works super hard. I actually thought that was her full-time job. I can’t imagine swatching and photographing and uploading, writing and, and, and….. Whew! Plus I’ve always felt that she give her most honest reviews and I truly appreciate it. I check with Muse and Temptalia before I buy most of my beauty stuff! But I’m jealous too! haha! 🙂

      • the Muse

        winni def. I dunno how she does it. She boggles my mind with her hard work ;-D aw thanks! xoxoxo! haha no worries I will speak to PR and start having them drop ship items on our heads with little parachutes so they land safely at our feet!

        • Melissa

          me too me too drop products on me. I have been asked to start a blog about a bazillion times for allergy sufferers. (People always are asking me about product sensitiveness’s because I have extreme allergies and need to live in a bubble LOL) Anyways, because I can only estimate the immense work that you and others go through I haven’t even attempted it. One day…

          • the Muse

            hells yes Melissa! ;-D hehe I’d read it!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 go for it!

    • the Muse

      hank you jenniet and nice to see you pretty girl ;-D love your avatar ;-D it’s good to see who I’m talking to all this time ;D!

  • Teresa

    I’ve been reading your reviews for awhile now and love your feedback on the products. Many times before I buy, I check here to see what you think of them, so your thoughts mean a lot! Thanks so much for keeping up your website!

    • the Muse

      Thank You so much Teresa! You’ve no idea how flattering it is to hear that!

  • Lauren S.

    Thanks so much for doing all you do for us! I check your blog as part of my daily decompressing from work routine. I love all your posts and its such a great comfort to me. I like to live in a pretend world of pretty makeup and bath and body products after a rough day at work 🙂

    Keep up the awesome job!

  • Colleen

    HI Muse. I echo all of the sentiments above – Thank you for your dedication, your passion, your honesty, & your sense of humor. Love your blog:) It seem like a tremendous amount of work – thank you for doing it.

  • Liz!

    Muse, I love your blog and your honesty! I personally wouldn’t mind if you got send some free products because I can only imagine how much work you put into your blog and how much money you spend on products. I definitely envy your beauty budget girl! Lol. I know I (and I’m sure the rest of your readers) really trust and value your opinion because you always put the good and the bad completely out there about the products you review. Thanks so much for providing an amazing resource for all us beauty junkies out there!

    • the Muse

      aw thanks Liz! I really appreciate reader’s like you! haha! I try to keep my beauty budget as organized as possible but sometimes I cheat ;-D thank YOU for reading my babbling here ;D

  • Ryan

    I love this place, and this post makes me love it so much more. You work so hard just to share with us. Nothing like the internet to make you feel like the world is a good place. Love ya Muse.

  • Jasmine

    You don’t get enough praise for your dedication! Thank you for all the lovely things 🙂

  • Polly

    Thank you for this post, it is interesting to hear! I love your site because I always think your reviews are very honest, and you review the products you want to, not the ones you are paid to! Keep up the good work Muse, I hope you enjoy writing as much as I enjoy reading! 🙂

    • the Muse

      aw thank you Polly! I love writing because of great reader’s like you Polly ;D! xoxoxo!

  • tierra

    I hardly ever comment but read you every single day. I depend on the Muse to give me the skinny on what’s what in the land of MU! I have sent several others your way as well.
    You rock!!! 🙂
    Thanks so much for all you do.

    • the Muse

      aw tierra thanks girl! I really appreciate your readership and thanks for spreading the cheer, that means so much to me! HUGS!

  • tini

    I appreciate all the muses work *nods*

    I love your blog because your just a regular makeup addicted girl like us, your not a snobby makeup artist and you show a wide variety of products from drugstore to high end to niche brands.

  • Lisa

    I love your blog! The honest reviews, nerdy humor, and effort put into it keeps me coming back. Plus, in a a way, it’s like a guilty pleasure. I can’t afford to buy as much make up lately as I used to, so I am kinda living through you and drooling over the make up I wish I could get.
    Keep it going Muse!

    • the Muse

      aw thanks Lisa ;-D Hugs!!!!!! I appreciate your kind words hun ;D!

  • Eva

    Sorry, I know this is a really old post but I just wanted to say, if you put up a “donate” thingy, I’d totally do it! Not that I think you ever would, but you know.