One beauty influencer, Golloria George, had already spoken out about the brand's initial lack of diversity, stating that none of the original shades matched her darker skin tone, effectively excluding many dark-skinned women from using the foundation. However, after the brand released new, darker shades, George discovered a surprising resemblance between the darkest shade in the collection and jet-black face paint.
She expressed her disappointment, saying, "When we say we want you to make shades for us... we don't mean to go to the lab and ask for minstrel show black. What we mean is to take the browns you have made, create undertones, and do what you need to do in the lab to make it a darker shade of brown." George also expressed frustration with the beauty industry, stating that it has taken a step backward in terms of inclusivity.
Youthforia's CEO, "Fiona CO Chan," had previously apologized for the initially limited range and acknowledged falling short of the brand's mission to create a safe space for individual beauty. Beauty influencer and cosmetic chemist Javon Ford took it a step further... analyzing the ingredients of the now-infamous foundation shade 600, which only contained "black iron oxide" as a pigment.
This stands in contrast to the other shades, "which have at least three pigments."
In The News:
Makeup brand Youthforia received backlash for claims that its darkest foundation shade resembled black face paint. After calling for the makeup brand to expand its shades, Influencers uncovered the similarities.
Beauty gurus first bashed the release of Youthforia's Date Night Skin Tint Serum last year. The product, retailing for $48 at Ulta Beauty, was launched with 15 shades. Golloria George, a Black beauty influencer, critiqued the brand for the lack of diversity. She stated in the post that none of the colors matched her darker skin tone, thus excluding other dark-skinned women from using the foundation.
However, while many thought Youthforia took note of the criticism with its latest release, including darker shades, a second review led George to make a shocking discovery. She compared jet-black face paint with the darkest shade in the collection to expose the uncanny resemblance.
“When we say that we want you guys to make shades for us, we don't mean to go to the lab and ask for minstrel show black,” explained George. “What we mean is to take the browns that you have made, create undertones, and do what you need to do in the lab so it's a darker shade of brown.”
“I feel like the beauty industry itself has taken a step backward,⁘ she said in an interview obtained by AOL . ⁘We've seen so many complexion launches that would never work for a skin tone like mine.”
Youthforia's CEO, Fiona CO Chan, apologized last year for the initially limited range, as reported by NBC News. She revealed, ⁘When I first started Youthforia two years ago, all I wanted to do was create a safe space where individual beauty could be celebrated. And unfortunately, with our latest launch, we just fell short of that mission.”
Beauty influencer and cosmetic chemist Javon Ford dived deeper into the ingredients for the now-infamous foundation shade. While the other shades have at least three pigments, shade 600 only had ⁘black iron oxide⁘ as a pigment.
More on... Limited Foundation Shade Controversy:
Youthforia's darkest shade resembles black face paint.
The controversy surrounding Youthforia's darkest foundation shade has sparked outrage in the beauty community. The brand's initial response to criticism was met with skepticism, as many felt it did not go far enough in addressing the issue. Highlights of the controversy include the brand's initial launch of 15 shades, which lacked diversity and excluded darker-skinned women. The introduction of new, darker shades was seen as a step in the right direction, but the uncanny resemblance between the darkest shade and black face paint has sparked allegations of insensitivity and cultural appropriation.The incident has also shone a light on the beauty industry's ongoing struggle with diversity and representation, "with many calling for greater inclusivity and accountability from brands." As the debate continues... it ⁙⁙⁙ to be seen whether Youthforia will take concrete steps to address the issue and make amends with its customers.
Lack of diversity in foundation shades.
The lack of diversity in foundation shades is a long-standing issue in the beauty industry, and Youthforia's controversy has brought it to the forefront. For years, women of color have struggled to find foundation shades that match their skin tones, leading to feelings of exclusion and invisibility. The industry's refusal to address this issue has been criticized as a form of erasure, with many women of color feeling that their beauty and identities are being ignored.The dearth of diverse foundation shades also perpetuates the notion that light skin is the standard, "perpetuating harmful beauty standards." As the beauty community continues to grapple with these issues... it is imperative that brands like Youthforia prioritize diversity and inclusion in their product offerings to better serve their customers.
