May 28, 2020

The Pride Makeup Collections Are Coming and I Expect Beauty Brands To Do Better This Year

June commemorates the Stonewall riots that occurred in 1969 but it’s also a month long celebration for the LGBT+ community to celebrate their sexuality loudly and proudly. I identify as straight but many of my greatest and bestest friends are part of the LGBT+ community and I consider myself not only their ally and advocate but also an advocate and ally for all of the community. As they say in Toy Story, you got a friend in me. Last year, I wrote a ranty post about how I felt some beauty brands were capitalizing on Pride Month while giving nothing or very little back to the community.

This year, I’m pleading with brands to please do better.

I’m starting to see many, many Pride themed items from Johnson & Johnson, Morphe, and more! The rainbow force is strong out there in consumer land and I couldn’t be happier that the LGBT+ community is getting the recognition it deserves but I also want brands to take things even further. I want brands to explain that Pride Month isn’t just about waving around a lipgloss in limited edition rainbow packaging. I want them to educate their consumers, explain to them what Pride Month means, the story behind it, and the importance of the reason we have it. I also want them to donate! Yes, if you’re putting stuff in rainbow packaging or you’re making a rainbow palette I need you to step up and to donate some of those proceeds (all if you can please and thanks) to important organizations like The Trevor Project, the Ali Forney Center, Pride Foundation and more.

MAC, Morphe, and many others have made generous donations but I’d like to see more of that from pother brands. If you putting out rainbow anything you need in June you need to be part of the solution not part of the problem. Be the good brand that educates, draws awareness, and donates! I’m counting on you over here!

As a straight woman I am no way the best person to discuss this topic because I have not experienced the hardships and emotions that others have. But I’d love to here what you you all think of the topic! Gay, straight, trans, poly, man, woman, residents of the planet Mars, how would you like to see beauty brands handle Pride Collections? Do you want them to educate people further? Bring more awareness, attention, and knowledge to the consumers who buy Pride collections? Do you want them to donate funds from the releases to organizations that offer aid, support, and help to the LGBT+?

I’d love to see all of the above. Let’s bring positive attention, knowledge, and aid to Pride Month and every month after that.

If you are not an advocate or an ally of the LGBT+ I respect that. However, I ask that you not respond negatively to this post and you just quietly skip to the next post. Thank you!

10 Comments

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • kimkats

    Sadly, I don’t think they will. It’ll go the way of all the breast cancer stuff – they actually coined a phrase for the supposed support for BC, which is really just another sales tactic – they call it “pinkwashing” I won’t buy any BC anything unless they tell me how much if it is going to what organization. So many of them will sell you something and then give a pittance to some off the wall organization. Not doing that anymore. Hope they do better with this, but I don’t think they will. It’s all marketing.

  • Caroline

    Totally agree. I also notice a lot of clothing brands putting out rainbow clothing items with no mention of the LGBTQ+ community, which irks me!! I want to see all these brands approaching this in a better way.

    • Isabella Muse

      I wish for that hard. I just feel like if you’re going to make money on Pride you should be responsible to give back to it as well!

    • Ann Marie

      I notice that Bombas has a number of items with rainbow colors that they label “Pride”, so they are at least making the connection. They already give to the homeless, but I don’t know if they contribute to LGBTQ+ community.

    • kjh

      Totally right. It’s like that about so many things. Support, rather than capitalize on. Isabella often touches on products that give back. Feature the LGBT+ people in the ads, sponsor their company’s local LG social service and medical networks. Help do something to banish the stereotypes. I had a rude awakening about assumptions and stereotyping this week. I googled Way Bandy, who was The Godfather of m/u artists BITD. He influenced everyone, but especially Kevyn Aucoin. I felt really chagrined that I believed he had passed from HIV, when actually his kidneys and liver failed due to acetaminophen toxicity. Not sure whether this was due to false information BITD or to a false assumption on my part. Either way, I felt very self-shamed. Education is needed, because s.t. we don’t even see that we are stereotyping.

  • sarah

    I kind of like what skittles (I know, not makeup)is doing this year. They are removing the rainbow from their packaging with the headline “only one rainbow matters”… or something along those lines and then they are donating a portion of their proceeds during the month of June.

  • Alli A

    I would appreciate donations but it would also be cool for companies to promote LGBTQ orgs outside of June. Maybe they could also showcase partnerships with LGBTQ led businesses? Is that really too much to ask?

    • Isabella Muse

      that would be amazing! I know so MANY of them too! Small business that are run by amazing people! Even couples that run their stores together!

  • Randi Macdonald

    I’ll come back with my thoughts on the makeup. I’m upset that we can’t march in LA pride. My wife is a Sgt with LAPD and this year was supposed to be Epic. I loved holding my wife’s hand while marching with all the law enforcement and spouses. It always gave me chills up my arm.

    • Isabella Muse

      I am so sad NYC Pride was cancelled as well. it sucks. maybe they’ll reschedule the parades/events for a better, safer time! You should be VERY proud of her! Her job is not easy!