Givenchy criticised for new foundation line with limited shade range: 'This is embarrassing'
The new line will only have two darker shades
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Your support makes all the difference.Givenchy is facing backlash after photos of its new line of foundations showed a lack of shade range and diversity - despite offering 20 different colours.
Photos of the new Teint Couture Everywhere Foundation & Concealer line, which will be available in April, were first revealed on the Instagram Trendmood.
In the Instagram photos uploaded, which only showed nine of the colours, there was only one shade for darker skin tones - which prompted initial concern that the new line would be limited to light-skinned foundation colours only.
The lack of diversity in the range was confirmed when promotional photos of the entire line revealed just two dark colours and 18 light shades - prompting beauty influencers to criticise the luxury beauty brand.
On Twitter, makeup artist and influencer Jeffree Star called the new range a “joke” and said he would not be reviewing the line.
He wrote: “Hi Beauty Community, Givenchy is officially cancelled until further notice. It’s 2019, stop making POC an afterthought.
“I’ve reached out to the brand for a response because this is a JOKE and we need answers. I won’t be doing a review and promoting this foolery.”
Another person said: “That new Givenchy foundation might work for you if you’re white and you’ve never been outside.”
Others compared Givenchy’s limited shade range to that of other brands such as Fenty Beauty, which has an inclusive line of foundations with more than 40 shades.
Despite a recent effort from many cosmetic brands to offer diversity in their lines, this is not the first time a brand has been criticised for releasing a limited shade range.
Last year, IT Cosmetics and Tarte Cosmetics faced similar responses following new product launches.
At the time, Tarte publicly apologised for the lack of inclusion.
While disappointing, Givenchy's new range is not surprising considering the lack of shade inclusivity in the brand's existing products.
Out of the four Givenchy foundations available on the brand's website, just two offer darker shades.
The Independent has contacted Givenchy Beauty for comment.
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