We know our UK friends are far more stringent than any other European advertising standards authority for the accuracy of ads, especially those dealing with cosmetics. Once again, they prove it by banning an advert for an anti-wrinkles cream care considered misleading.
Revitalift Repair 10, by L’Oreal was present in double-page spreads in British journals since September. It displayed the actress Rachel Weisz’s face, fingering out the ten beneficial points provided by the cream care.
This advertisement in now banned by the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority), following a complaint filed by the liberal-democrat Member of Parliament Jo Swinson.
The grounds for this ban is that, even if the picture seemed to depict genuinely the radiance and the true wrinkles of the actress’s face, “the image had been altered to lighten the skin, making it smoother and more even.” The ASA came to the conclusion that the advert “emphasizes the performance of the product too much," and may mislead the consumer.
Thanks to our UK friends, the French and other European female consumers are alerted!