ColourPop Apologizes for the Names of Its Contour Sticks for Dark Skin Tones
When ColourPop’s range of 12 Sculpting Stix recently came out, the boutique brand was lauded by influencers, media outlets, and consumers for introducing such inclusive skin-tone combinations. But, while the actual product was a hit, the names of the contour sticks are now the cause of controversy.
As those on social media pointed out, the company made an egregious error on the names given to the Sculpting Stix in darker shades: the darkest shade was called “Typo,” and another shade on the same side of the spectrum was labeled “Yikes.” It’s clear why words denoting an error or a mistake would be problematic when used to describe a skin color.
Please don’t buy from Colourpop if you’re black. Apparently your skin color is a “Typo” in their eyes ????
— Nappy-Headed Gyal (@Flawsomee) September 19, 2016
This is so distasteful, and to think Colour Pop is one of my favorite makeup brands. They will no longer receive another dime from me. https://t.co/kHwW36QDVl
— D.Abiona (@chubztheflower) September 19, 2016
According to ColourPop, the brand is thankful for the criticism. “On behalf of ColourPop, we are sorry and are extremely grateful for our customers’ feedback,” a spokesperson for the brand told BuzzFeed News. “We have taken immediate action to change the shade names and review our naming process to ensure this does not happen again.” To that end, “Yikes” has been changed to “Bloom” while “Typo” has become “Platonic.” To keep everything aboveboard, the brand went ahead and changed the item titled Dume to Pointe Dume.
But this isn’t a first time the beauty industry has gotten into hot water over offensively named products. Kat Von D got flack in March for her Studded Kiss Lipstick called “Underage Red.”
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