Top Five Cosmetic Advertising Pet Peeves

Cosmetic advertising both in print & media have coerced me into purchasing what is now a HUGE Trash can full of useless products that did not live up to their claims.

• IF GEORGE CLOONEY WORE EYE SHADOW?

Okay. He’d still be hot. But would thousands of women be flocking to the mall to buy the exact same thing? He’d only have to wear it for about 2 hours, do the photo shoot and never touch the stuff again. It really wouldn’t be any different than what Jessica Alba does for L’Oreal. Not like these celebrities actually use the products they endorse 99.99% of the time. But hey, why not, I’m going to Macys. Be back soon.

• SEX, MONEY & POWER ALL FROM YOUR LIP GLOSS.

Have you ever seen a Fragrance commercial where in the end a woman gets out of a Ferrari because some fabulously handsome man opened her door? Get the idea…Buy our Fragrance and it is likely you will have a life changing experience. Everyone knows better, but the funny thing about marketing is they stick with what works. On some subconscious level we actually buy into it.

• WHAT’S THE BREAST MAKE UP?

I wasn’t aware there were cosmetics products for your breasts. Okay maybe some glitter if you really wanna jazz things up. But come on! Will wearing that new lip liner really increase your bust size? Perhaps I have this whole thing backwards. Maybe these ads which display more boobs than the makeup, jewelry or accessory they are supposed to be selling are targeted to a different demographic. Perhaps they stimulate some primal instinct for the men in our life to go out and buy me those new hoop earrings…

• YOUNG MODELS TOUTING ANTI AGING PRODUCTS.

The benefits of anti-wrinkle cream for a twenties something baby are simply miraculous! Are you serious? I will put myself out on a limb here by sharing what I know to be true: She doesn’t even know what dry skin looks like much less care. They might as well spotlight her in an ad for Provera.

• IN HOUSE TESTING FOR INDEPENDENTS

You decide 2008!There is more truth in politics than the claims of major cosmetics companies. 8 out of 10 women experienced better results with INDEPENTLY lab tested cosmetics than an in house subterfuge. Lets invite 50 women to the corporate headquarters, put them in a room, and ask: “If by using our product have you experienced increased hydration”. Or “do you believe you have fewer fine lines and wrinkles”. Perhaps these companies could learn a thing or two from my 5^th grader’s curriculum on the “Scientific Method”. Variable, Control Group, Placebo – Any of these buzz words ring a bell?

Let us know by leaving a comment. What gets under your skin?

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