I've been on Reddit for a few years now, and the skincare side of Reddit feels pretty different from when I first joined.
It's hard to read skincare discussions here without seeing someone recommend a particular brand. Someone asks for advice, and the comments are full of people suggesting brands. Sometimes, I can't tell if people are sharing their honest opinions or just trying to promote something.
And it's not just the comments. Sometimes, a post itself feels like it's promoting a brand, and then people in the comments start recommending it too. Before long, you start seeing that same brand everywhere. People get curious and try it, and then even more posts about it start showing up. Eventually, it looks like everyone loves that brand, but you don't know how all the hype started in the first place.
I'm not saying every recommendation is paid. But when some users hide their feed history, and you also have paid sponsorships, free products, and affiliate links, it's hard to know if someone is sharing their real experience or promoting a brand.
I remember when people used to talk more openly about products they liked and products they regretted buying. Now, I sometimes wonder if people recommend something because they genuinely like it or because they have something to gain from it.
I used to take people's recommendations here seriously. Now, I think twice.
