Should a white woman be making the below statements? (all from Hirons’ Fenty reviews.)
Her anger that most big beauty brands are designed for and tested on white skin is obviously justified. But then she gets so far out of her lane, my jaw dropped. I’m white too, but I think raising these questions is potentially useful?
Why did she not invite a black woman to take over her (huge) platform and review Fenty?
Here goes:
“Do you know how hard it is to convince younger black women to use an spf?”
“It is impossible to persuade some black girls - and I say girls cos they’re the ones I see the most - to wear SPF.” [She explains that the girls she is referring to are Ava’s friends.]
“Niacinamide is a brilliant ingredient especially for a darker skin, but to make it bright, which is what you want.”
“What makes it for black skin? Rihanna makes it for black skin, that’s what.”
And then she gets really inappropriate (I added the bold):
“Now, the strangest part for me was people complaining that the SPF was chemical... and not mineral UV filters because... I’m quoting... ‘mineral is better for sensitive skins and oceans and causes less irritation‘ That is all complete
bull.
I‘m just gonna put it to you like this, and then this can be the quote of the day, OK?
Rihanna making an SPF for black skin and using mineral sunscreen ... is like a white person, hear me now people, is like a white person... is like me bringing out an SPF that was boot polish, that was black, because when I put it on my face it blackens out my face. If you put those mineral sunscreens on a dark skin it is like this [holds a white flannel in front of her face] Yes - it’s me, I have a flannel to hand. Right? This line is not made for you and that’s absolutely fine.”
“It is literally like me bringing out an SPF and it turns my skin black. This is made for a dark skin tone, it is not made for you, OK?”
“So just to reiterate - asking someone, who is a black woman, to make a sunscreen that suits a white face is bizarre - to me.”
“It is like me bringing out a SPF and it like turns my skin black.”
“They are made for her demographic which is predominantly darker skin tones, black skin,
and I’m sure it suits them absolutely perfectly and it’s about bloody time, let’s face it. I have about 5000 products... 4995 of them were tested on white skin...”
WTAF??
By the way, looking at the Fenty website it’s clear that while the range is focussed on WOC, they want it to be for everyone. I get that Hirons is angered if white people are complaining that the range is not designed for them, but I’m not sure that is what she’s responding to. And whatever, the above from Caroline is not OK. If she can’t do better than this she just needs to be quiet. Accept that - as she keeps saying - she’s not the target demographic, and pass it to someone more qualified to review it.
