We all know actresses, singers, and models get airbrushed to death in ads and magazines, even in supposedly candid shots. But sometimes, looking at women who seem so perfectly flawless that they make any normal looking girl feel like a troll, it can be hard to remember that many of the pictures we’re comparing ourselves to are so airbrushed that they’re basically cartoon-looking. A cosmetics advertisement featuring Julia Roberts has been banned in the U.K. by officials after a politician complained about the amount of airbrushing used on the image in a campaign for Teint Miracle foundation by Lancome, which is owned by L’Oreal.
Liberal Democrat MP (Member of Parliament) Jo Swinson complained the commercial gave a “false impression of beauty” due to the amount of airbrushing used to complete the look. Now, the ads have been pulled in Britain after being branded ‘misleading.’
Per Daily Mail:
She [Swinson] claims the results put pressure on women and young girls who compare themselves unfavourably to the unrealistic images. L’Oreal admitted that certain ‘post production’ techniques had been used on the image of the actress. But it insisted the picture was an accurate representation of her ‘naturally healthy and glowing skin’.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) agreed the pictures breach its code on misleading and exaggeration. The advertisement promised to be the “first foundation that recreates the aura of perfect skin.” Lancome said the flawless skin in the image was in part due to Roberts’ naturally healthy and glowing skin, and it supplied pictures of her on the red carpet to support that claim. L’Oreal refused to supply the original image of Roberts, but admitted that the final image was attained by using “a soft focus and lower resolution” and was intended to be an image of “aspiration.”
Roberts herself has condemned Hollywood’s obsession with youthful beauty before, calling it “shallow.” Now that TV and movies are in high-def, we are familiar with every pore, line, and freckle on these actors’ faces, no matter how much make-up they wear or how good the lighting is. (Isn’t that what Julia’s fans love about her? How “natural” she is?) So the make-up companies can no longer trick us into believing that this is their natural look. Sorry, we’re not that stupid.
Is this simply a case of ‘who cares?’ or is it something America should be more stringent on? Sound off below in the comments section!
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Images Via: WENN, Daily Mail
