In a recent interview, Jean-Paul Agon, the CEO of L'Oréal and chairman of Maybelline, Garnier and Lancôme said people would need to buy more make-up to counter the effects of pollution. He then went a step further to say that women need to wear more make-up to match their filtered social media.
Wow. What a guy...
Does anyone else feel like this is f*****g ridiculous?
How can you want to profit from people's insecurities?! From pollution, from peer pressure and from those lacking in self worth?! It really pains me that such a high profile figure can make these statements. That a company can target vulnerable people with unrealistic beauty standards to drive sales.
The amount of pressure on today's young people to look perfect is huge. It almost makes me feel grateful that I grew up in the generation of MSN messenger, dream matte mousse and hair 'streaks' (strong look). Gone are the days of comparing yourself to glossy magazines... Now you compare yourself to your filtered self. Your filtered self with blemish free skin, contoured cheeks and big glossy eyes. It breaks my heart to see young girls having fillers and botox to try and mimic their digital self. Now that's not to say I'm anti enhancement and make-up. Everyone deserves to feel good in their own skin, their body is their own and they can do whatever makes them happy... But people need to disassociate happiness with physical appearance. Businesses should help societies issues instead of profit from them.
As a female, the world's f*****g tough sometimes. We're all so hard on ourselves. Stupid statements like Jean-Paul Agon's make me feel guilty for buying into their brands. I love a bit of skincare or a new lipstick as a little pick me up but should I stop because that's what they're trying to convince me to do? Or am I allowed to have little treats to make myself feel better? Is it self-care? It's a tough question.
While you're all mulling that over, I thought I'd share something I do know. My little bit of #wednesdaywisdom; you have value and worth regardless of your appearance.
Do what makes you happy. Find something small that makes you feel good and repeat it often. Take time for yourself. Focus on your strength. Don't strive for perfection. Empower each other. Build each other up. Compliment people's thoughts, their sense of humour or their laughter. Self love is hard but we're all stronger than we think.
Stop fixing bodies, start fixing the world.
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