I despair

[tvordlj]

I'm flipping through Vanity Fair, which is actually a pretty good magazine. I'm looking at all the glossy ads. This one for a men's cologne is using the very handsome Matthew MacConaughey. It makes me think the cologne probably smells really nice and sexy. That's what the ad is hoping i will feel, but, it worked except i'm not going to go out and buy it. Effective advertising, mind you.

I see an ad for a cream that will make you look 10 years younger if you use it regularly. The model in the ad looks about... oh...12. She probably is or not far from it. Now is that going to make me want to buy it? If i was in my 20s maybe. At 50? Pah. Not a chance i'll ever look that young. Advertising Fail.

Oh look. There's Demi Moore. She's got a new perfume out and there she is surrounded by the suggestions of hot young men. If you use this perfume, ladies, you'll attract them all too. Except. Well. Demi doesn't really look like herself. She looks about the same age as that other model. Maybe she's been using that 10-year-younger cream? Nah. Photoshop. This is what she looks like. She's a little younger than me and looks close to it. But she's still pretty gorgeous, isn't she? I'd be a lot more likely to want to buy her perfume if i saw the real her surrounded by hot young men. After all, she really did attract a good looking younger man and married him. And that was before she sponsored this new perfume. "Wanted" is it's name. I wanted to like the ad. But i didn't. Fail.

It's bad enough trying to sell makeup and products to make you look younger, using a child model or nearly so. It's even worse when you're making an adult with a few years experience under their belt look like one too. And Matthew? Yes it looks like he's had a few wrinkles and bags smoothed out of his face for the ad as well.

But he's still hot in that ad.

Comments

[acey.livejournal.com]

I've found it's become increasingly expensive to stave off the effects of Mother Nature and Father Time so I've gracefully retired from the race. I believe genetics is a big part of it anyway. :)

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Genetics certainly help. I don't believe in spending huge amounts on this cream and that. The few times i tried some of the not-horribly-expensive creams they did nothing anyway so i stick to the basics. I do like to use something on my face because otherwise it feels dry. I keep my hair dyed as well. that's my only two concessions and they don't cost me the earth.

[acey.livejournal.com]

Mine are heavy-duty moisturizer and mascara. :) Heh, we're pretty low-maintenance, aren't we?

[tvor.livejournal.com]

I've never been a person to fuss with myself much.

[lola-is-naughty.livejournal.com]

It's as bad as those weight loss ads where the actors really didn't need to lose any weight to begin with.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Yes! I agree with that too!

[oceannadelamer.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the cover girl ads with Ellen Degeneres? I am not sure if they are a fail or a pass. http://www.covergirl.com/ellen_degeneres/

The ads don't look overly photoshopped, she's still got her crows feet, and it's nice simple makeup. Pass. The fail, imagining Ellen in makeup just took me aback. Did it make me want to buy it. MAYBE...

Hum..

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Even when they use women closer to my age in ads (Andie MacDowell is another one, Revlon i think or Lancome... ooh and Isabella Rosselini.. she's stunning!) they still smooth it out a bit i'm pretty sure. But I also notice Ellen is wearing full face makup on her chat show as well, in fact, more eye makeup than in that ad. I think that ad is very good, i think it's got more to do with the lighting than photoshop, as well. They seem to have kept that to a minimum though i'm no expert. Overall, i'd say Advertising Win.