Things That I Miss

The other day when I was sorting through the files on my computer, I stumbled upon thousands of pictures that I had taken at events, and of products, for Lola's Secret Beauty Blog. In many ways it was a bit melancholic since it marked a very different time– not just because of the pandemic disruption, but also because many of the brands and retailers no longer exist. Since that time, most of my favorite beauty blogs no longer exist.

The things that I really miss the most:

1) Barneys New York: I loved Barneys so much, and very early in the life of Lola's Secret Beauty Blog (established in 2011) the company reached out to me to establish a longterm relationship. I covered all of the LOVE YOURSELF beauty bag events, and would routinely receive updates from them, as well as texts telling me to rush down to the store to cover events. I met many of the owners of the brands, had swatch-vests with new collections, and forged very meaningful friendships that outlasted the company. While Saks Fifth Avenue bought the licensing rights to BNY, it isn't the same as the good old days.

2) Space NK: Like Barneys New York, I worked closely with Space NK and covered their events regularly. They even offered special purchases exclusively for Lola's Secret Beauty Blog readers. I had lots of friends who worked there, and I was likewise distraught when this wonderful UK company left the US. Like Barneys, I loved going there, and often helped them work their big events. In July 2025, Ulta announced that it acquired Space NK, and I am wondering whether that means that physical stores will return to the US, or whether it will be something akin to what Saks did with BNY.

3) The serious camaraderie between bloggers, and bloggers and their readers: There used to be such a wonderful sense of community that no longer exists in the way that it once did. People are busy, but also many of the longstanding beauty bloggers quit blogging, and therefore the landscape has profoundly changed.

4) So many brands no longer exist: No doubt many beauty brands didn't survive the pandemic, and others couldn't survive an oversaturated market flooded with so many brands. However, a few that I really miss are: Rodin Olio Lusso, Ren, Clarisonic, Bite Beauty, Aubrey Organics, Lilah b., Marc Jacobs Beauty and Vapour Beauty. Many more went out of business, but those are the ones that I miss the most.

What do you miss?

All views expressed are categorically my own. Copyright © 2025 www.lolassecretbeautyblog All Rights Reserved.