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There’s been a lot of talk accusing cosmetic companies of lightening certain African-American women’s skin for their ads. Recently Essence held a panel investigating the lack of concern cosmetic companies seem to have when it comes to targeting and representing all shades of Black women. Here’s what they found:

African-American women spend $7.5 billion annually on beauty products, but shell out 80 percent more money on cosmetics and twice as much on skin care products than the general market, according to the research. That difference comes as African-American women sample many more products to find the ones that are most effective on their skin.

“She spends a lot, but there’s little satisfaction. What keeps us buying is the hope that this product will do what it’s supposed to do,” said [celebrity makeup artist] Sam Fine.

They also went in on the anti-aging market:

“There’s no face of aging in the African-American community,” said Fine. “There’s Sharon Stone and Christie Brinkley, but no one who’s African-American.”

Read the rest here.

Do you feel that the cosmetic companies don’t speak to your interests as an African-American woman? Do you wish more shades of skin were represented in beauty ads?

Was Freida Pinto lightened for L’Oreal? Check it out here.

Revisit Beyonce’s whitewashed ad here!

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