How much do you trust advertising?
Creams, Lotions, Hair care products and make-up usually scream promises at consumers.
- Wipe off 3 years in 3 days!!!!
- Eyelashes that go all the way to heaven!!!!
- Get rid of wrinkles!!!!
- Visible Cellulite reduction in 4 weeks!!!!
I have to admit that some years ago, I was one of the gullible ones and would gulp these tales of fiction down desperately especially if they were accompanied by a picture of a model that had before and after effects photographed. Can someone spell G-U-L-L-I-B-L-E?
These days, I have made my peace with the fact that there are indeed no miracle cosmetics out there. This is not to say that nothing works. I just won’t pick up a tub of cream thinking that by the time I am done, all my trouble spots will be wiped away as though with a magic wand. I have learned to overlook the hype and make a decision based on the actual ingredients in the product.
I came across a story some time ago which highlights the extent that cosmetic companies will go to get people to buy their products. To summarize, it is about a model who is suing Estee Lauder for using her photo for a product that is tailored for older women. Her photo was aged (career death for a model) so that she would fit their target audience of 45-60 year olds. You can read the full story here.
Some important things to note from this case are:
- The model had never used the product prior to shooting this photo so any “before and after” effects were purely photo shopped.
- The law actually permits this. Estee Lauder will not be prosecuted for misleading people. It is all put down to “marketing”.
In my next post, I will be discussing what I look out for in product ingredient lists.