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Keeping it Real
We all know that television commercials and glossy magazine ads are a form of creative marketing. By that I mean they embellish the truth - a lot. Commercials that promise long, lush, natural looking lashes are particularly amusing to 
me. You too can have the lashes of the stars if you purchase several pairs of mink false eyelashes, but realistically you're not going to turn average eyelashes into doe-eyes with mascara alone. Magazine ads that show models with flawless complexions and perfect bodies touting any number of products or services and eluding that you will get the same results are just a tad exaggerated. Actually not even the beautiful people are as perfect as they are portrayed with the wonders of photo and film editing creating unattainable perfection.
Now, admit it, you are compelled by some of these ads to try the products. I know I am and I'm thrilled when something does some of what it was advertised to do. Mostly I'm disappointed but I am also realistic. I know full well that I will never look like a 20 year old model telling me that if I use (insert product name) that I can have wrinkle-free, pore-less skin like hers. I didn't have skin like hers when I was twenty!
In partial defense for this mummery, selling products in a glutted market and hard financial times has to be very creative in order to first get our attention and second prompt us to buy. It's highly doubtful than anyone is going to use "real" women in ads to promote beauty products. I suppose it's just the nature of the beast. We want to be beautiful so they show us what our culture considers the epitome of beauty and encourage us to strive for that unrealistic portrayal.
In my humble opinion we are all beautiful in our own way. I think the old cliche about inner beauty being the most important is for the most part true. For without grace and beauty of the heart and soul of a person outward beauty is only a window dressing and nothing more.
me. You too can have the lashes of the stars if you purchase several pairs of mink false eyelashes, but realistically you're not going to turn average eyelashes into doe-eyes with mascara alone. Magazine ads that show models with flawless complexions and perfect bodies touting any number of products or services and eluding that you will get the same results are just a tad exaggerated. Actually not even the beautiful people are as perfect as they are portrayed with the wonders of photo and film editing creating unattainable perfection.Now, admit it, you are compelled by some of these ads to try the products. I know I am and I'm thrilled when something does some of what it was advertised to do. Mostly I'm disappointed but I am also realistic. I know full well that I will never look like a 20 year old model telling me that if I use (insert product name) that I can have wrinkle-free, pore-less skin like hers. I didn't have skin like hers when I was twenty!
In partial defense for this mummery, selling products in a glutted market and hard financial times has to be very creative in order to first get our attention and second prompt us to buy. It's highly doubtful than anyone is going to use "real" women in ads to promote beauty products. I suppose it's just the nature of the beast. We want to be beautiful so they show us what our culture considers the epitome of beauty and encourage us to strive for that unrealistic portrayal.
In my humble opinion we are all beautiful in our own way. I think the old cliche about inner beauty being the most important is for the most part true. For without grace and beauty of the heart and soul of a person outward beauty is only a window dressing and nothing more.
Comment
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Comment by Jill Jones on September 16, 2009 at 9:14am -
Kelly, I can relate to what you're saying. Image is critically important to our industry, that's for sure! I think we should all strive to be the best we can be, I just don't like the fact that the "standard" of what is "best" is ultimately out of reach because it actually doesn't exist in reality. I would like to see a broader view of what is "beautiful" in marketing personal care and cosmetic products, but I seriously doubt that will ever happen.
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Comment by Southern Soapers on September 16, 2009 at 9:06am -
Ha ha.. If they saw my frumpy self all messy from making soap and playing with colorants or fragrance, they would RUN (away) when I suggested they use my bath and body products, lol!
I had my sales rep come by the studio/warehouse last week. I made SURE I had a 'professional' set of clothes in my bathroom to QUICK switch into before she was due to come .. I just did not think she would take me seriously if she saw the "real Kelly" chuckle.
Since she is a salesperson, I wanted her to only see the glossy end of the product line, not my business (messy bessy, frazzled hair, magdelena hagdelena me when working) end of the line, lol!~ I did not want that 'image' in her mind when promoting the products. It is all about image, :)
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Comment by Lisa Whittingham on September 16, 2009 at 8:02am -
Amen, beauty does come from within. We have a very strong opinion about what the US beauty industry is doing to our girls with the ridiculous images especially in relation to body size and unrealistic weight. We almost lost our beautiful daughter to anorexia last year she dropped to 83 pounds (she is 5 foot seven). This opened my eyes to how we are bombarded daily with lose weight, change this, etc. I do believe we need to fight back and constantly teach real beauty, confidence, knowing who you are! The documentary America the Beautiful interiewed little girls, 9 and 10 and MANY said they did not like what they looked like and held up ads of how they needed to look. Crazy>
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Comment by maggie hanus on September 16, 2009 at 7:23am -
I'm usually not compelled to buy any of that stuff because all the stuff in the world can't make you truly beautiful. It comes from within.
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Comment by Funlayo Alabi-Shea Radiance on September 15, 2009 at 2:11pm -
I have found this to be true over the years. The knowledge that true beauty lies within gives courage and confidence that accentuates true beauty.
Bramble Berry
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