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US Watchdog Bans Photoshop Use In Cosmetics Ads

MrSeb writes "In an interesting move that should finally bring the United States' fast-and-loose advertising rules and regulations into line with the UK and EU, the National Advertising Division (NAD) — the advertising industry's self-regulating watchdog — has moved to ban the misleading use of photoshopping and enhanced post-production in cosmetics adverts. The ban stems from a Procter & Gamble (P&G) CoverGirl ad that photoshopped a model's eyelashes to exaggerate the effects of a mascara. There was a footnote in the ad's spiel about the photo being manipulated, but according to the director of the NAD, that simply isn't enough: 'You can't use a photograph to demonstrate how a cosmetic will look after it is applied to a woman's face and then — in the mice type — have a disclosure that says "okay, not really."' The NAD ruled that the ad was unacceptable, and P&G has since discontinued it. The ruling goes one step further, though, and points out that 'professional styling, make-up, photography and the product's inherent covering and smoothing nature' should be enough, without adding Photoshop to the mix. The cosmetics industry is obviously a good starting point — but what if the ban leaks over to product photography (I'm looking at you, Burger King), video gameplay demos, or a photographer's own works?"

4 of 383 comments (clear)

  1. I think we should ban cosmetics completely by SharkLaser · · Score: -1, Troll

    Women's use of cosmetics bordens with pure fraud. They're faking themselves better looks than they really have to fraud men and thus try to gain money, power or anything else for their own advantage. It just isn't defined as fraud because the scheme has been going on for so long, but in reality it's the same. They're advertising something which they don't have and take advantage of men.

    1. Re:I think we should ban cosmetics completely by xero314 · · Score: -1, Troll

      Then day I'm out of mod points I see this post modded as Troll. This post is completely on topic, and full of factual information (with the possible exception that cosmetics are used to fraud more than just men).

  2. Re:Young women don't need makeup.... by roc97007 · · Score: -1, Troll

    There's a gal on slashdot?

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  3. Re:They're not protecting you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Guys who wear makeup aren't called "men".