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Airbrushed make-up ads banned for 'misleading'

The adverts - for L'Oreal's Lancome and Maybelline brands - cannot be shown in their old format

Cosmetic adverts featuring airbrushed images of actress Julia Roberts and model Christy Turlington have been banned by the advertising watchdog.

Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson complained that the L'Oreal adverts were "not representative of the results the products could achieve".

The Advertising Standards Authority agreed that the images were exaggerated and breached its code of conduct.

L'Oreal admitted retouching but denied that the two adverts were misleading.

Eating disorders

Ms Swinson said that while some retouching may be acceptable, the adverts were "particularly bad examples of misleading advertising" and could contribute to body image problems.

"We should have some honesty in advertising and that's exactly what the ASA is there to do. I'm delighted they've upheld these complaints," she said.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson: ''We just need to have a bit more honesty in advertising''

"There's a big picture here which is half of young women between 16 and 21 say they would consider cosmetic surgery and we've seen eating disorders more than double in the last 15 years.

"There's a problem out there with body image and confidence. The way excessive retouching has become pervasive in our society is contributing to that problem."

Guy Parker, chief executive of the Advertising Standards Authority, told the BBC that airbrushing was a "question of degree" and that advertisements could only be banned if they were misleading, harmful or offensive.

"If advertisers go too far in using airbrushing and other post-production techniques to alter the appearance of models and it's likely to mislead people, then that's wrong and we'll stop the ads," he said.

 “Start Quote

If advertisers go too far in using airbrushing and other post-production techniques to alter the appearance of models and it's likely to mislead people, then that's wrong and we'll stop the ads”

End Quote Guy Parker Advertising Standards Authority chief executive

The L'Oreal images were banned, said Mr Parker, because the company was unable to show exactly how much retouching had been done to the advert - a requirement for cosmetics adverts.

"Advertisers must be able to provide appropriate material to us to demonstrate what retouching they've done in the event we question them, and they mustn't mislead," said Mr Parker.

"In this event L'Oreal didn't provide us with that evidence so we were left with no choice but to uphold the complaint."

The French cosmetics firm admitted the image of Ms Turlington - promoting an "anti-ageing" foundation - had been altered to "lighten the skin, clean up make-up, reduce dark shadows and shading around the eyes, smooth the lips and darken the eyebrows".

However, it argued it still accurately reflected the results the product could achieve.

The advert featuring Julia Roberts - also for foundation - was down to her "naturally healthy and glowing skin", said the cosmetics firm, who added that the product had taken 10 years to develop.

This advertisement has been band, the reasons being is that the airbrush affect from software Photoshop. As this can come across as misleading to the public, as it doesn’t show a accurate images of the product and how it would look on the skin. Some people argue for the software Photoshop not to be used on cosmetic adverts as it doesn’t show the product in its true form.

It added that consumer tests had been positive, showing it helped make the skin "more radiant and luminous"

This advertisement has been band, the reasons being is that the airbrush affect from software Photoshop. As this can come across as misleading to the public, as it doesn't show a accurate images of the product and how it would look on the skin. Some people argue for the software Photoshop not to be used on cosmetic adverts as it doesn’t show the product in its true form. This advertisement may have an effect on women as they are likely to feel affect as thy will feel the need to use these makeup product in order to achieve the look that the females have within the commercial. This will have a negative effect on them as they won’t be able to achieve this look of having amazing skin as the commercial has been airbrushed to an extend where the product won’t give the look that the commercial is claiming to do.