Acne-Positive Blogger Kadeeja Khan Calls Out L’Oréal After Being Dropped From a Campaign Due to “Skin Issues”

Allure
Updated
Acne-positive blogger Kadeeja Khan was dropped from a L’Oréal campaign due to "skin issues," and is now calling out the cosmetics company to raise awareness.

Kadeeja Khan, an Afghan beauty blogger based in the United Kingdom, recently went viral for using a $9 foundation stick to flawlessly conceal her cystic acne. Now, less than a week later, the self-taught makeup artist and acne-positive influencer is speaking out against cosmetics giant L'Oréal U.K., telling The Sun in an interview that the beauty brand dropped her from an upcoming photo shoot for the launch of a new vegan hair dye because of her skin.

Khan alleged that L'Oréal approached her to be part of the photo shoot but then was told via email that the brand could no longer work with her because of her "skin issues," according to a statement she gave The Sun. "After I'd already got my hopes up, I was completely let down and insulted by their reason for not wanting to work with me," she said. "It just shows that L’Oréal only wants to work with people with perfect skin, but that isn't real." Khan also told the U.K. publication that the company is "promoting an image of perfect beauty that simply isn't real."

In the email, which Khan screenshotted and shared on her Instagram, a non-disclosed L'Oréal U.K. employee told Khan they cannot confirm shooting with her because "L'Oréal can't be involved with people with skin issues," and cited a "question of regulations" as the reason. Naturally, the 21-year-old was shellshocked and hurt by the brand's change of heart and decided to share what happened with her followers.

"To think we're supposed to live in an advanced society that not only ACCEPTS of ALL walks of life but actually embraces people of all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and disabilities.. Shame on you L'Oréal," she wrote in an Instagram caption next to the screenshotted email.

In another statement to The Sun, Khan addressed the emotional impact the situation had on her. "I know Internet trolls will say horrible things to me, but to have that confirmed by an international brand has made me feel like there isn’t any space for people like me online." When Allure reached out for a comment from Khan, she said, "'Because you're worth it?' Well, I obviously wasn't."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Besw5QuAiLx/?hl=en&taken-by=emeraldxbeauty

Khan regularly posts unedited and unfiltered makeup-free images on her Instagram and isn't ashamed of her acne (and no one else should be either). She told The Sun that she now wants to bring attention to the incident because "people deserve to know what this company [is] like." So far, her followers have been fervently supportive, she says. The blogger added that some fans have been sending her videos of themselves tossing out their L'Oréal products.

Since Khan's original post, the cosmetics company has responded with a statement to The Sun, explaining why it chose to go in another direction with the project. The brand claims the photo shoot was designed for a new vegan hair-color launch, and that there was, unfortunately, a misunderstanding that resulted in the casting of bloggers with skin concerns instead of hairstylists and lifestyle bloggers.

"This resulted in the wrong profile being cast, which was then poorly and insensitively communicated to the individuals concerned," L'Oréal said in the statement. The brand also told The Sun that it does not have regulations in place that restricts them from working with people with skin conditions. "At L'Oréal, we work with women and men with all skin types and celebrate beauty in all its diversity."

Allure reached out to L'Oréal U.K. and the brand responded with the same statement they gave The Sun. Read it in its entirety, below.

"We deeply apologize for any upset caused, and have made direct contact with the individuals involved to clarify this unfortunate misunderstanding. The photoshoot was designed to support a hair color product and feature hairdressers and lifestyle bloggers. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding resulted in the agency casting bloggers with skin concerns for this shoot. This resulted in the wrong profile being cast, which was then poorly and insensitively communicated to the individuals concerned. We do not have regulations in place that restrict us from working with people with skin conditions. At L’Oréal Professionnel we work with women and men with all skin types and celebrate beauty in all its diversity."

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