Did L'Oreal Whiten Beyoncé?

In an article by The Guardian published in August 8, 2008, L'Oreal is accused of "whitening" Beyoncé Knowles in a high-profile print advertisement. The company denies the charges, but media watchdog groups are skeptical.

Being a lighter-skinned model of color, I can say from experience that anyone trying to catch my exact skin tone on camera is in for a bit of a rude awakening. Makeup, lighting, and even the color of clothing or hair can do change the color of my skin in dramatic and often unpredictable ways. When the lens is turned towards me in the dawn or dusk, my skin dons a golden glow. Wearing an earthy dresses on a cloudy day where the sunlight is diffused by the clouds, my olive tones pop right out. A bright red dress with matching lipstick in a studio with high key lighting, completely washes out my skin and gives turns me into an alabaster girl. Put me in a boudoir setting with white clothing and I get a deep tan. My skin is tricky that way.

Part of the function of photography is to extend reality and present beauty that the untrained naked eye might miss. The best photos are often happy accidents. The thought of planning out a shoot for the purpose of creating a carbon copy something as variable a skin color seems fairly unreasonable in my mind. With that said, using a photo alteration program to wash out someone's ethic beauty for the purpose of creating a "more acceptable" is a huge and misguided step backwards for the world of beauty.

I am giving L'Oreal the benefit of the doubt. I don't think that they would purposely alienate a huge chunk of their market share by radically altering the appearance of a major spokesmodel in such a ridiculous way. However, if it does turn out that they were in the wrong, it will definitely be a public disaster for them. For the sake of L'Oreal and Ms. Knowles, I hope that things turn out well.

How I saved my nails from looking awful on camera.

*** DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored, authorized or sanctioned by Sally Hansen, Cutex or any related company. It only reflects the opinion of CoaAPM blogger, Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz. ***

A good manicure can make the difference between a perfect photo and a ruined picture. Chips and cracks, especially on a dark polish, can turn an otherwise professional-looking image into an eyesore. However, there are times when a going to a manicurist simply isn't practical.

A couple of weeks ago, I was scheduled to do a sunrise shoot in the Nevada desert at 5:45 am. My plane had been delayed by several hours, so by the time I made it into Las Vegas, every nail salon in town had been closed for the night. I thought I was completely out of luck. Thankfully, a fast-thinking cabbie drove me to the local CVS after I told him of my woes. There I purchased Cutex Essential Care One-Step Nail Polish Remover Pads. Inside my duffle bag I had Sally Hansen 5 Minute French Manicure Kit (I love using the French Manicure Pen for touch ups.) By the time I got to the hotel, it was 1:30 am. I desperately needed to shave my legs, bathe, get my hair ready and get my nails done. After I took a relaxing bath, washed my hair and prepared it for my very short bedtime, I decided to do my nails. I am absolutely awful at manicures, but I needed to take matters into my own hands. (No pun intended.)

I removed my nail polish with the Cutex pads. To my surprise, the polish came right off and a single pad DID remove the color from all ten of my nails just as advertised on the package. I filed my nails using a fine-grain emery board to achieve the desired shape. Then I used the Sally Hansen manicure kit as instructed. Although the manicure definitely took me more than five minutes, my nails were finished and completely dried in less than an hour. I went to bed by 3:30 am. Photographer called me at 5:00 am to wake me up, and I was ready to shoot with beautiful nails that I was proud to show off.

Although I would rather allow a professional to prepare my nails for every shoot, life sometimes happens. When practical considerations and time conspire against me, it's nice to know that conveniences like Cutex Essential Care One-Step Nail Polish Remover Pads and Sally Hansen 5 Minute French Manicure Kit are available to save my photos. I highly recommend these products.