Harder, longer lasting, more virile eyelashes

Peter says:

09:23am | 15/07/09

If you judged by the advertising alone, the active ingredient in most cosmetics is ‘bullshit’.

Linda says:

09:59am | 15/07/09

LOL, so true about the mascara. I know it’s not going to work, yet, I always buy the latest “lash thickening, lengthening, non clump” product in that slight hope it will make my lashes look at full and thick as the ads. But no, never does and I curse myself….. If only I could affored eyelash extentions to be permantly on (the only way to make your lashes look like the ads…LOL)

Lou says:

10:05am | 15/07/09

If a cosmetic label is advertised on Commercial mainstream tv, then you pretty much know it’s fad rubbish.  Where are the ads for Dermalogica or Ultraceuticals - actual proper skin care products, or the cancer council skin care products that are really good for your skin.  I only tuned in for the last 30 minutes of PTTR…  this show is losing it’s lustre, characters are become to extreme and you see those actors everywhere now so it’s a bit overkill.

JS says:

10:09am | 15/07/09

“Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need.”

That’s all I have to say on the matter.

Mungo says:

10:19am | 15/07/09

My wife bought me a “mens facial cleanser” the other day… It’s fantastic! It’s from a company that are apparently “men expert”! It’s “Hydra Energetic”, “Cryotonic” and has “ADS” (Active Defense System, presumably some sort of Star Wars-like missile defense system) with some GT stripes to boot! And as if thats not absolutely fabulous enough, our shampoo of the moment contains “bio-marine complex”!  Do advertisers really think we are that stupid? Obviously, they do!

Shaz says:

10:24am | 15/07/09

Thank you!  I’m still waiting for the ACCC to launch some false advertising investigation into those bloody mascara ads (we all know the ‘after’ pictures are thanks to flase eyelashes not a great mascara!).

Jasper says:

10:27am | 15/07/09

JS: I see you quoted from the movie Fight Club.  That movie was essentially a two hour long cigarette ad.

steve says:

10:34am | 15/07/09

you all voted labor?

Lisselle says:

10:42am | 15/07/09

I saw an ad for a a woolen doona yesterday on the KAK Morning show, and, please dont quote me, the patronizing woman said something about the “climate control activation particles in the wool’ .. I mean? PARDON???

I really had a good laugh, then I felt offended that the company would assume that people would fall for this. How dare they insult my intelligence like that!

Diane says:

10:48am | 15/07/09

I must be an advertiser’s worse nightmare - not only do we not watch free-to-air television, we hardly watch television at all these days.  I don’t colour or perm my hair, yes I have greys (/shock /horror) and I’m not afraid to let them show, simply shampoo and conditioner (store brands and not the expensive ones) and I love how my hair looks and feels.  I also don’t use a lot of make-up - maybe a touch of mascara (same brand I’ve used since a teenager) and blush when going out, none at the office.  My skin is great and I don’t look my 40+ years.  Just soap and water and a touch of moisturiser (Nivea) at night.  I don’t believe the ads, and don’t buy into the promo’s.  I find what works and stick to it.

Nicola says:

10:54am | 15/07/09

What about the moisturiser that claimed to “protect your DNA’! Ridiculous!

rebecca says:

10:57am | 15/07/09

I’m so relieved that I’m not the only person to notice the after shots of thick lushious eyelashes are becaus of extensions! So infuriating!

bek says:

11:00am | 15/07/09

I watch ed Packed to the Rafters for the first time last night and one of the first things I saw was a zoom in of a coffee mug with http://www.realestate.com.au plastered all over it.  hilarious, back to foxtel i go.

BG says:

11:33am | 15/07/09

Get over it. If you don’t like what they advertise, don’t buy it! I think the product placement in Packed to the Rafters is clever! If there are men out there who do sub-conciously go and buy ‘the beer’ because they saw the label on the show, then good on ‘the beer’ company. they have succeeded. money well spent i say!
And for those who say they don’t take notice of advertising or promotions - P-LEASE! Why do you drive the car you drive? Send the kids to the school they go to? Use the electricity company you use? Use the supermarket you use? You have brand preferences for everything, even if you don’t think you do. And you all take in advertising. It’s a part of life!

kenoath says:

12:24pm | 15/07/09

I am immune . . . I gave up watching commercial television years ago, the programs were too stupid for me, especially those so called morning ‘news’(??) shows which were just incoherant ravings of delirium, and as for the sheer bombardment of advertising, I had to hide all the razor blades in the house!

Scooby says:

12:39pm | 15/07/09

Mascara adds infuritate me, all of the women have big fake eyelashes and they expect us to beleive that just by wearing mascara that we will get this affect.  ARGH!

Alicia says:

12:42pm | 15/07/09

BG - I use the electricity I use because I have no choice, and if I decided that I didn’t like my provider and stopped using them, well I’d be left in the dark. Literally. You do have a point though. I shop at Woolies as a preference even though Coles is closer. I chose my car because it was a good price but the initial attraction was the way they advertised it, I’ll admit that. Advertising is definitely part of life, and anyone who says their not sucked into it, not even a little, is lying!

Thiso says:

01:27pm | 15/07/09

BG - You are full of contradictions!!!! You say, “If you don’t like what they advertise, don’t buy it!” but then go on to say that we have no choice in what we buy.
“If there are men out there who do sub-conciously go and buy ‘the beer’ because they saw the label on the show, then good on ‘the beer’ company.’ And,
“And for those who say they don’t take notice of advertising or promotions - P-LEASE! Why do you drive the car you drive? Send the kids to the school they go to? Use the electricity company you use? Use the supermarket you use? You have brand preferences for everything, even if you don’t think you do.”
I don’t think you could have contradicted yourself more if you tried!

Rhea says:

02:15pm | 15/07/09

While yes I do agree that most advertising does somewhat exaggerate their claims, it is always in the interest of the purchaser to do their own research and be open to new technology.

Such as the climate control wool doona that one reader referred to:
“climate control activation particles in the wool’ .. I mean? PARDON???”

Actually, this is a scientific product that is a by-product of NASA research and is sold throughout Europe, I know of one brand that sells it in Australia. And while the technology may be a little too advanced for most (including me) to understand the science behind it, it’s a real product.

Maybe a little less pessimism and more reliance on your own research is needed by ALL consumers.

rachel says:

02:17pm | 15/07/09

Thiso - all you did was quote what BG said, how about explaining the contradictions if you really think they’re there, personally, I think BG made a lot of sense & there were no contradictions.  If you want to be smug - try being smart & smug!

Seymour Skinner says:

03:25pm | 15/07/09

Can someone please post the brand of beer the writer is referring to in the article? That way I can ensure I never buy it.

Killer Bees says:

04:56pm | 15/07/09

I bought a mascara that promised extra thick extra long lashes with no clumping, supposedly safe for contact lense wearers (I only wear glasses).  It was complete crap.  Within two hours of applying it, it smudged under my eyes.  It made my lashes long and spiky and very clumpy.  A lot of the product ended up rubbing onto my lenses and I had to periodically clean them throughout the day.  And the microfibres hurt my eyes so badly, they were aching at the end of the day.  I could hardly see.

My usual mascara is by the same company, it promises nothing and it works beautifully.  But I wanted to try something new.  I should have known better.  All beauty products are marketing hype and it takes a lot of money to do trial and error and see what actually works.

From now on, I’ll stick to what I know.

LashNessMonster says:

05:11pm | 15/07/09

Here’s a “scientific” view. An average eyelash is about 0.1mm in diameter. So nine times that, rounded up slightly, is 1mm.

That’s quite a hair. I mean, they don’t even grow that thick on…well, they just don’t grow that thick naturally.

Leesa says:

05:45pm | 15/07/09

I just hope Im not stupid enough to put that thickening mascara on my lips and gain all those extra pounds and the calorie free nutricious lip gloss on my lashes which may make my lashes look annorexic.  BTW   lashness monster you are too funny !!

Dave says:

09:49pm | 15/07/09

How dare you people ridicule the hard work done by the scientists at the prestigious Ponds Institute!

Peter T says:

05:10am | 16/07/09

Reply to BG: Regarding your ‘so what’ response to whether people will buy beer solely because it was featured on PTTR - that’s EXACTLY what this article is about - the influence of product placement and advertising claims. It’s asking the question - and seeking answers by way of comments such as ours - “are we really as gullible and stupid the advertisers claim we are?”. In response to your claim that we are ALL infuenced by advertising in everything we purchase, I beg to differ. 2 casees in point (that you raised) Cars: My wife and I upgraded our cars a couple of years ago. 2 brand new cars in one hit. The cars we bought were not even close to the heavy marketing campaigns of other makers such as Holden, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, etc. In fact, it was the FEATURES of the car that was the deciding factor. Advertising: 0, Consumer: 1. As for schools, I would certainly NOT suggest anyone make as important a decision as their childs’ education based solely on the marketing prowess of the school or education department!! My kids go to a school chosen after extensive research (by us, not some ad agency). NAPLAN results, Tertiary entrance ranks are but a small part of the picture and should NEVER be used on their own to make that decision. Again, advertising lost. As it does most of the time when decisions regarding our money are concerned. Maybe it’s because I worked in the media for a fair while and know how this shit (advertising, etc) works, maybe I just value my money so much that I want to be the one that decides how and where it’s spent!

The final score: Advertising: 0, Consumer: 2. There goes your theory. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Woolly Jumper says:

05:16am | 16/07/09

Climate control activation particles in the wool, hey? Well bugger me! Who’d have thought that a totally NATURALLY occuring fibre would have such complex, “space age” technology that would enable it to regulate temperature?! Afterall, isn’t that what ‘climate control’ means? EVERYONE knows that wool is the BEST natural fibre for controlling temperature, which is why it is always suggested for hiking, etc, so that even if you get wet, it will keep you warm. Learnt that in Primary School, not from an ad!

LashNessMonster says:

06:22pm | 16/07/09

Fanks Leesa.

Just thought of another possible application for thickening mascara.

I should maybe stop thinking.

BG says:

12:22pm | 17/07/09

Peter T….I’d love to know how you knew about the features of these brand new cars that you purchased - internet? magazines? TV ads? posters?.....and how did you do the research into the schools that your children attend? internet? word of mouth?........all advertising. Advertising is not simply an ad in the paper on television.
I too have worked in the advertising industry for many years and stand by my opinion. Without advertising, you wouldn’t even know about the brand of car that you bought, let alone know where to go to buy it.
Consumers aren’t stupid, our brains are just sponges. Even if you don’t watch television, you are still seeing advertising everywhere. By just getting ready and driving to work, you are being advertised to - the brands on the clothes that you put on, the branding on the shampoo you use, the badge of the car in front of you at the lights, the radio announcer talking about a new movie, the business name on your door as you arrive at work. Advertising is a part of life, it’s how we learn.
Consumers are humans, with a brain, and our brains are pure genius, you don’t even have to ‘read’ an entire article to recognise a product. Pure genius!