Why can't I look like them?

Why JuliaRoberts’ L’Oréal Ads Have Been Banned in the UK

I think it’s great that governments are now getting involved in the misleading beauty advertising. Most ads of beautiful women or sexy men make you feel inadequate just by looking at the pictures. When a product is advertised we instantly think that maybe that product will help us look like the picture, less wrinkles, pimples, aging spots or just simply smoother looking skin. Well here is the secret behind MOST beauty ads.

L’Oréal just learned the hard way. The UK government recently released guidelines limiting the use of misleading ad alterations, and the American Medical Association recommended similar guidelines here in the US. The UK is definitely putting its money where its mouth is, and just banned a series of ads featuring Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington.

The Daily Mail reports that the cosmetics giant, who owns Lancôme and Maybelline, had to ‘fess up about the post-production techniques used in recent ads featuring the 40-something celebs. Julia Roberts’ Lancôme Teint Miracle foundation ad features the actress looking radiant, but the company admitted that post-production techniques were used. The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the ad “didn’t accurately reflect what the product could achieve” and subsequently pulled the ads.

The Christy Turlington ads for Maybelline’s new Eraser foundation sticks were even more false. While a disclaimer in small print on the bottom of the ad states the image is an “illustrated effect,” the company admitted that they used digital re-imaging to “lighten the skin, clean up make-up, reduce dark shadows and shading around the eyes, smooth the lips and darken the eyebrows,” according to the Daily Mail.

If cosmetics companies are going to hire a non-20-year-old to advertise their products, they need to let the lady’s 40 and up be natural like all the rest of us. Otherwise, why bother?

I’m sure we all knew this but can this but can now expect stricter beauty advertising guidelines. Just a fashion addict's findings and thoughts. www.fashiontrends4u.com

When I look in the mirror..

No matter how hard you pretend not to see the truth, the circumstances that shape your life will always be revealed in your reflection. Others may not see it, but you will, and some of what you see will be pleasant and some will not. We all deal with different scenarios and it depends on you as to what you make of it.

Today I see the confidence in my lifted shoulders and head held high, confidence that comes with time, knowing that I have done the best that I can, making my way past the little stumbling blocks in the road of life. Learning to pick myself up when I fall, to dust myself off and move on.

I look in the mirror and I am happy with what I see.I see a woman that has learned life lessons, that has grown from experience, a woman that has continued to live by the morals she was taught as a child. I smile before turning away from the mirror, satisfied with being me.