Beyonce Lightened For Ad? L'Oreal Denies

NEW YORK — Cosmetics giant L'Oreal is denying it lightened Beyonce's skin tone in an ad.

"We highly value our relationship with Ms. Knowles. It is categorically untrue that L'Oréal Paris altered Ms. Knowles' features or skin tone in the campaign for Feria hair color," the Paris-based company said in a statement sent to the Associated Press through the singer's representative.

The ad is in the current edition of Elle magazine.

L'Oreal, the maker of Garnier hair care and Lancome cosmetics, is the world's largest cosmetics maker.

A representative for Beyonce said the singer would have no comment beyond L'Oreal's statement.

Beyonce has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 2001.

Comments

[Sarahjan]

L’Oreal is the only cosmetic company convicted because of open racist practices
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/07/france.angeliquechrisafis

[Julie02]

It appears to be the lighting if my photography background serves me right. I noticed she tends to turn out different colors in pics depending on the exposure.

[Lalita]

Julie02, I appreciate that you're trying to make this hot mess make some sense, but I'm about Beyonce's skin tone and the only way that there would have been enough light to make me look like Michael Jackson is if I were in orbit directly around the sun.

[LeaveArtieAlone]

LMAO!!!

[ZimboChick]

smh at too many things

[inthecolour]

Hair color for her WEAVE? That is not her hair. It's some hot mess placed on top of her head.

[panAmerican]

I feel mean for laughing, but what you say is the sad truth.

[Sarahjan]

L'Oreal is a leader in the current global commodity racism!

http://www.vichy.com/gb/biwhite/
http://www.nextag.com/lancome-blanc-expert-night/search-html
http://www.counterpunch.org/mire07282005.html

[Destin]

Ummm, you should be reminded of historical aspects of this, whether it's right or wrong, but it has existed since the earliest written records. ;)

By the way, why no L'Oreal links in those 3?

Here's some history. It's no secret that Egyptian (which is located in AFRICA) was doing things to make herself appear white. Same with the woman who would later rule the same, and more, empire... Queen Zenobia, who was ashamed of her Assyrian looks, that she followed in the footsteps of her heroine Cleo and used many tricks of the day to make herself appear light skinned. Both, curiously, fought against the Roman Empire. So were they doing it to please the Roman men? Or did they find the Romans to be prettier? Or what was the reason? I have no idea, lol, and historians have speculation. But we'll likely never know really.

By the way, speaking of racism. The term "caucasian" is a racist term. It was created to differentiate the "white" asians of South Asia from the normal and much more populous "brown" asians in the region.

[Destin]

Made an omission there, lol, should say "Egyptian (which is located in AFRICA) ruler Cleopatra"

[LeftLeanWing]

Don't just blame the L'Oreal for skin bleach, their have been hundreds of cosmetic and pharmaceutical firms that market kojic acid and hydroquinone product to women of all colors.

The only one's that market to black women are Esoterica, Ambi and Artra Skin Tone.

ps.

Beyonce photo was altered to minimize the yellow tones; making her look pinker

[baabaan]

Sarahjan, go complain about self tanning lotion aimed at white people. Oh no, wait, racism only goes one way.

[Moshe]

The only lighting Beyonce wouldn't look fantastic in would be total darkness.

And even then she would look great, you just couldn't see her . . .

[genseric13]

Final stage of Michelle's makeover.

[sixletters]

This story is very funny given that Beyonce has dyed her hair blond or is wearing a blond wig in the shot.
I'm pretty sure Beyonce wasn't born with blond hair.

[situationcritical]

I was born with blond hair (though it turned orange when I was 14, and dark brown by 16). Many black kids are born with blond hair, perhaps even Beyonce.

[sixletters]

Many black kids are not born with blond hair, that's a ridiculous statement.

[scorpioleidy]

And she's still g h e t t o !!!

[1jadednewyorker]

hahahaha

Doesnt she have on a WIG?

Not only did they photoshop her features and lighten her skin they are trying to convince consumers that a produc that you buy in the store for $7.00 will achieve that look.

These advertisers must think thier consumers are really gullible

[tlgeiger62]

They are!!!!

[houseofglass]

OK, I'll post it again. In many scenes in Dreamgirls, her skin was even lighter. It's the lighting.

[situationcritical]

Overexposed by 1.5 stops yes, but skin-lightened, no.

[Harinama]

overexposure by 1.5 stops..

nothing is done without intent on these cover images.

Yes, they were attempting to make Beyonce look white(er), otherwise why the over exposure?

[situationcritical]

No, over-exposing the skin is normally done to blow out skin irregularities and heavy makeup.

Retouching is done to make everything else perfect - and that usually involves working with curves, highlights and selective color in CS3.

The hot trend now is DARK skin with super WHITE highlights.

[Destin]

I guess we wont' know for sure until Beyonce herself comments on it. Anyone know when she is gonna login and make her posting?? ;)

And why no comparison photo to accompany the article?? And besides, there many ways to give someone a changed appearance, what with the dozens of filters for camera's these days that can change everything from a person's skin tone, to the sky color, to whatever they want it to do. Photoshop not always required. ;)