Does Sexily Named Makeup Turn You Off?

by BR Kellie

Fun BR Kellie Fact: Pre-Beauty Review I worked in radio advertising for over a decade. I was taught that you're not selling a product, you're selling the product of a product. An example often given whilst I was learning the tools of the trade was that when people sell perfume they're not selling whatever's in the bottle, they're selling the lifestyle that will come with wearing that perfume - often that lifestyle (if you look at the images of a handsome man hanging around a beautiful woman) is attraction, allure... sex.

And sex is something that certain brands seem unwilling to let go of as a concept when selling our beloved cosmetics.

NARS. J Star. Too Faced. I'm looking at you. 

Do not get me wrong. I am not a prude. Not by a long shot. It takes a lot to make me blush, and my mouth makes a public toilet look spotless. BUT... here's the thing. I'm sick and tired of brands being lazy and using the old sex sells formula. ESPECIALLY when I see that the brands using that old formula are more often than not run by MEN. 

Do they do focus groups with their target market? Have they asked the women around them 'why do you wear makeup?', because I would put my whole makeup collection in the bin if the answer they were to hear most often was 'I wear makeup because I'm constantly on the pull and I think it'll help me score'.

When I hear women talk about their reasons for wearing makeup I hear things like:

I love how it emphasises my features.

It makes me feel good.

I enjoy the artistry of it.

It's a bit of self care I can do on the daily.

Never, ever in all my life have I heard 'I wear makeup because I know that it makes Bob at the butchers want to lie me down on the counter and ravish my body while I stare at a string of sausages'.

That's not to say I disagree with creative license when naming a product. I love seeing a cute name for a lipstick as much as the next person, but I prefer something inspiring, like Hourglass' Lip Stylo's which feature names like 'Visionary' 'Liberator' and 'Inventor' over the likes of NARS 'Orgasm', 'Dominatrix' or 'Sex Shuffle'.

The question is... Is it time for brands to stop using sex to sell? To treat their customer base with the respect they deserve? As women who aren't slapping on makeup in order to attract a partner, but because they do it for themselves? 

Hit up the poll and let us know your thoughts below!