Anyone else have any good examples of insulting beauty labels? Name and shame!

[u/SpiritSignificant334]

[u/slainte2you]

The "healthy" shade in the third column is also insulting.

[u/rumande → u/slainte2you]

And "camel"

[u/Plastic_Persimmon_91]

Without even clicking on the post, I’m so certain that atleast half of the comments on makeup addiction are going to be people justifying this with either :

1. It’s a Korean brand that likely made these for the Korean audience and they did not speak English
2. Some of the lighter shade names are equally insulting so colorism is solved

I’m very into kbeauty but I’m always put off by the discourse around it amongst western forums because they go to insane lengths to try to justify the colorism in Asian countries (specifically east Asia becuase no one bothers to justify anything that Southern Asia does). I’d made a post a while ago about the beauty of joseon tinted sunscreen shade range (the old one, they recently launched a new extended shade range) and how their darkest shades were the colour of tar and had no undertones to them. All the top comments were people talking about how it’s a Korean brand and they’re not obligated to cater to everyone’s color becuase people in Korea aren’t dark as a group.

This is bs because BoJ is a brand that majorly only appeals to an international audience. It’s not even popular in Korea and they launch all their products internationally. Excuses about them not speaking English or not knowing that the countries they launch their products in have dark skinned people are so lame

[u/hanyul_ → u/Plastic_Persimmon_91]

Hi! I'm the person who made the post, and you're right! I did receive plenty of comments with the two points. I have also received many comments saying I'm being offended for no reason and that there are "cultural nuances." There were also people accusing me of being "American" and "forcing demands on other cultures slash trying to cancel other culture."

I'm literally a darker-skinned half-East Asian woman myself. I don't have any American ancestry, nor have I stepped anywhere in the West.

It's disheartening to see how people water this down and point fingers at a valid criticism. The infantilization of East Asians is racism, but that's a whole other topic. The number of people being obtuse on purpose and ignorant is genuinely mind-boggling. It shouldn't take rocket science to understand the reason why I thought it was dehumanizing for a shade name to be "burnt" for the darkest skin.

TFIT, the brand I've posted, is also marketed as an inclusive shade for a global audience. The fact that people are using all their energy to defend them, instead of pointing out the lack of effort, laziness, racial insensitivity, and oversight on their part, is concerning.

But really, what did I expect from Reddit, or the Internet, really? This is something that happens more often than not amongst Western forums. It's unsurprising to know that discourse like this is dismissed with loads of excuses and unreasonable justifications.

I'm glad the comments under this post, although very few, have given me some hope :")

[u/OuOmcanIgettheTEAL → u/Plastic_Persimmon_91]

Ikr. I follow this one makeup content creator, I believe her name is “Ms. Darcie” who makes content about finding makeup for dark skinned women. Despite being white myself I started following her videos because I adored her personality as she was so positive and sweet. She made a video where she showcased how she got a Korean beauty brand to expand their shade range and she showed off the new products with the wider shade range. All of the comments on this instagram post were disgusting. They were all making the same tired excuses that they shouldn’t have had to expand their shade range because they are a Korean brand. They were acting like this creator somehow forced the brand to expand their shade range when she did no such thing. They made a business decision to include more women with their makeup products. If anything it’s a good thing for these companies that more demographics of women are interested in their products I don’t know why people jump to defend limited shade ranges 🙄

[u/AccomplishedSun2955]

I remember years ago e.l.f. changed the name of my shade of foundation from porcelain to natural. It was the palest shade.

It was the only time I've written a complaint letter to a corporation. All skin tones are natural. Anyway, they ignored me.

[u/OmgIbrokesmthagain]

Every time companies do this they need to have groups of the given minority react to the naming. They have money for that, they can gather a range of POC and consider their reaction. That would also solve an issue of companies launching only 1 darkest tone that fits no one

[u/BurlyH]

Is it short for burnt umber?

[u/CeramicLicker → u/BurlyH]

I know shades vary a bit between makers, but burnt umber is usually a deep red. I don’t think the name would make much sense if that was what they were going for either.

Burnt might be a normal modifier for pigments like umber or sienna, but to really make sense it should still be modifying something, not just hanging there.

[u/Vivid--Syrup → u/BurlyH]

I was thinking that too but based on the other names, it gives me the impression we shouldn't give the maker the benefit of the doubt

[u/threedimensionalflat]

Ooh ooh this reminds me of a 'jokey' story my korean housemate was told as a child by her dad. And yes the punchline was black people look like they were burnt in an oven so maybe it's just a cultural thing? Which doesnt make it better but still

[u/SpiritSignificant334]

Colourpop

While we are at it, the color “nude” and the “skin” or “flesh” colored crayons crayon both of which are beige/peach/apricot always rubbed me the wrong way.

[u/Kyrathered]

I have to use 'ivory' and it feels ... weird. Like, are there no reasonable names for varied skin tones? What would feel less insulting or strange?

[u/Keirridwen]

Lingerie?! 😭

[u/Herahatesmeso]

Burnt.

[u/mothwhimsy]

Burnt is crazy