I remember my first purchase was from the brand Sleek. This brand has come a long way since the days I used to use it! I don't use their foundation now and haven't for many years so when I talk of my experience with them bare in mind its from 10yrs ago. At the time they were within my non existent budget (very cheap) I remember it never staying on my skin, you always knew I had been around because of the brown smudge marks everywhere! (embarrassing) plus they didn't cater for people with oily skin like myself. Anyway at the time I was less fussy and it did the job! I will say this I still use the brand for their lovely vibrant eye shadow palettes!
When I got my first proper job, I decided to up my game and try and find something a little better. I remember walking in to Selfridges and going to the Bobby Brown stand only to be advised that it wasn't the best for people like myself (yes that's what she said) and told me I would be better suited to Iman. So instead of challenging her, me and my naive self found the Iman stand and spent a whole lot of money. I still didn't find it suitable for me, it was very similar to Fashion Fair (thick and heavy)
Then I read in a magazine about Missy Elliot listing Mac as one of her favourite brands so of course I had to try it and nearly 10 years later I am still wearing it!
OK the reason for this post is simple, its to vent! I guess I always just accepted that I would always be limited when it came to having a large range of cosmetics suited to my dark skin! If I am honest I never really gave it much thought, I was happy with Mac, I never ever wanted to stray from them, I was a loyal customer (still am)
When I visited my family in New Jersey I nearly screamed when I saw (in Macys) Clinique did darker shades in foundation and I knew for a fact that they did not stock any of it in the UK. I saw Queen Latifa doing her thing for Cover Girl (another thing not stocked in the UK) I saw so many brands that I knew catering for us dark sisters but no hook up for us in the UK. But WHY?
When I got back home I did ask these questions to representatives of the company's and nobody had a good enough answer for me!
In the last couple of months I have been noticing brands such as Chanel, Lancome, and now YSL catering for my complexion (about bloody time) So I am interested in trying these brands out but on further investigation I am told I can only purchase the foundation, there is no powder, there is no concealer basically there is none of the other products that I use to compliment my foundation available to me!! Well what the F*!k is the point of bothering!? how can you sell one without the other!? I am then told they are seeing how it sells before they expand! Seriously!? Really!? It's like selling a matching bra set without the bra, having a toothbrush with no toothpaste, having cool aid with no sugar! (OK I think you get the point I am trying to make)
WOW dark skin black girls are like an after thought! If your as dark as Beyonce then lucky you because you are acceptable and the world is your oyster! I just feel like its a big slap in the face personally! I am saddened that in 2012 almost 2013 things haven't progressed as much as they should! How do these brands expect to make any sales if they do things half hearted! As I usually say to the T.F.B, go hard or go home!
Does anyone else feel the same way? Is my argument justified or are you thinking wtf? get a grip! LOL All I can say is until these brands get their shit together Mac will forever hold the title of Queen and Long Live The Queen!!! Thanks for reading! XOXO
