Illamasqua courts controversy with Christmas campaign

Published: 28-Nov-2012

Cult British beauty brand Illamasqua has defended an image in its Christmas 2012 campaign, after receiving a slew of complaints from customers over its racist nature.


Cult British beauty brand Illamasqua has defended an image in its Christmas 2012 campaign, after receiving a slew of complaints from customers over its racist nature. As part of the brand's current #ImDreamingOf campaign, the brand contrasts two images of a female model wearing both pale white and dark black face paint. The darker image was deemed by some customers as "black face" make-up, in reference to the depiction of black characters in minstrel shows during the early 20th century.

Responding to criticism, Illamasqua's creative director Alex Box said the images experimented with "using colour on the skin [rather than] on colour of the skin."

In an official statement on its Australian Facebook page, the brand also added: "Illamasqua is an independent British colour cosmetics brand founded on the principles of fairness, self-expression and delivering customers professional quality make-up. We embrace the diversity of humanity and feature people of all colours, ages and genders in our campaigns."

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