1. An article in the NY Times tells us about four companies being charged by the FTC with deceptive marketing based on "unfounded promises" related to weight loss products. I was shocked to see that one of the four is L'Occitane:
The commission also charged L’Occitane, a retailer with more than 2,000 boutiques worldwide, with deceptive marketing on two skin creams, Almond Beautiful Shape and Almond Shaping Delight. L’Occitane trumpeted that the creams, which cost $44 to $48 for about seven ounces, could trim inches from a user’s body in four weeks, resulting in a “noticeably slimmer, trimmer you.”I wasn't aware that these products even existed. L'Occitane Almond range is pretty great and I usually have one of the creams or oils on hand, but a shaping lotion? Seriously? This is the stuff for late night infomercials, between dudes who shout at you to buy their all-in-one power tool and demonstrations for knives that slice metal while also doing the laundry. Maybe because I'm such a huge L'Occitane fan who spends hundreds of dollars with them every year I also feel disrespected and slightly betrayed. And no, L'Occitane's official statement below is not enough:
“As a result of the F.T.C. inquiry, L’Occitane has implemented a set of even more rigorous policies and procedures that will guide future clinical testing and ensure that our marketing and advertising comply with F.T.C. regulations and guidelines.”
2. On a much more positive note, Hakuhodo USA now has a blog . They only started it last month, but there's quite a bit great information there, and you can ask questions and interact with the nice people of Hakuhodo. I can't wait to read more.
That's interesting. I am also a fan of the L'Occitane almond body oil, though more for the aroma, and I'm not even aware that they are marketing this to lose inches or whatnots. I've seen the message guideline in the package but never really notice that it's supposed to yield weight loss.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I hope they don't reformulate the almond oils as I really love the scent and texture.
Yah! I was surprised by this news, too. I am sure it is not a real pitch to try to convince people that they can lose weighty easily though. I love the aroma of the almond line.
ReplyDeleteI don't pay much attention to L'Occitane so I can't speak to the efficacy of any of their products, but their claim regarding weight lose is totally absurd. I applaud the efforts of the FTC to crack down on the preposterous claims that are made by many of the cosmetic companies. No customer should be at the mercy of fraudulent claims.
ReplyDeleteAs for Hakuhodo's blog, I just visited it and found it to be very informative. Although I've been a Hakuhodo fan for ages and have a large assortment of their wonderful brushes, I still managed to learn quite a bit about their brushes and the various series. I know many people would like to try Hakuhodo's brushes, but they are overwhelmed by all the choices. The blog is a great place for them to start.