Mums slam “humorous” makeup counter sign over effect on youngsters

Thursday 19 July 2018

A “1950s” beauty counter sign advising that wearing make-up is a “courtesy to others” has been slammed by mums who fear the effect it will have on young people.

A recent campaign at department store Voisins saw signs with quirky quotes posted all around the shop.

But one next to the MAC beauty counter has been particularly stirring up a storm, having recently been branded “dreadful”, disgusting” and attracting comparisons with attitudes prevalent over 60 years ago and now described as sexist. 

Appearing in pink and black capital letters within a cartoon mirror, the sign read: “Wearing make-up is not vanity, it’s a courtesy to others.”

Pictured: One of the other "humorous" signs posted around Voisins as part of their campaign.  

Having seen the sign, a “fuming” islander, who wished to remain anonymous, took to Facebook to vent her frustration. Posted alongside a photo of the quote, she said: “…What on earth is this image? Has anyone actually thought about the impact this will have on young women? According to them women need to cover their faces in make up as they are so horrific without it. Absolutely dreadful.” 

“Best get myself home before my makeup free face causes someone, presumably a male I should be trying to please, to collapse with the horror,” she later quipped.

Dozens of islanders – many of whom mothers – also piled in.

“Has this been dusted off from their archives circa 1950?!” one questioned. 

Another wrote: “Whoa! Obviously trying to be tongue in cheek… But so inappropriate."

Pictured: The post on Facebook.

The poster’s own mother added: “It's shocking that, at my age, I've only just been informed that I've been rude, discourteous and upsetting others all my life. Don't think I'm going to change now so perhaps I should apologise now!!!!!”

Her sentiment was shared by another commenter, who joked: “I also am usually makeup-less so therefore maybe I should go out with a paper bag on my head!!”

But the main focus was on the impact such a message might have on impressionable young people, with one islander querying: “What sort of message does this send to young girls (and boys)?”

The islander said that she had taken her criticism to Voisins, who declined to remove the sign.

Part of a series of tongue-in-cheek quotes, including one from Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw, a spokesperson told Express that it was “disappointing that this humour has been misinterpreted and that our freedom of speech has been challenged."

Pictured: The store said that it was "disappointing" the sign, which was one of many, had been "misinterpreted".

“We are aware that there have been a couple of negative comments about this visual, which is a shame as it was not intended to be offensive in any way, but a humorous quote which is attributed to LaNetta Mayfield,” they said.

But the Facebook poster who originally raised the issue was not convinced by the department store's explanation. She told Express: "At a time when we know body image is having a huge detrimental impact upon the mental health of people, especially young people, this image is a subtle but clear message they are not good enough. If I need to be told a quote is humorous it clearly isn’t, as humour is always subjective… The ‘Be Real Campaign’ recently said ‘Our research shows that one in ten young people who are bullied about their looks had suicidal thoughts and 9% self-harmed as a result.’”

She added that a recent report had shown that 47% of girls feel the pressure to look attractive is a disadvantage to being a girl. This figure rises to 76% for 15 and 16-year-olds.

Voisins said that further discussion on the graphic was “welcome”. Their spokesperson added: “As always, we are very pleased to receive feedback from our customers and we look forward to further debate on this visual which will help us to decide whether to keep it on display or not.”