Ad Buster

Maybelline is a makeup company whose slogan is “Maybe she’s born with it.  Maybe it’s Maybelline.”  This gives the viewer the idea that it’s possible she is naturally beautiful, but Maybelline’s products will ultimately enhance your beauty.  In this magazine ad, I changed the text to say, “She’s not born with it.  It’s definitely Maybelline.”  I included a close of up the text just so it’s a little more readable.  This exaggerates the point from the original motto to emphasize that their makeup and products will make their consumers good-looking and this is the only way to do so.  It also implies that natural beauty has nothing to do with it.  This particular ad is selling a new type of foundation that Maybelline says is “perfect”, when in reality there is no makeup that produces flawless skin once its applied.  The intended audience is females from a wide variety of ages, but probably starting around middle school.  Maybelline ads are seen in numerous magazines, on the Internet, television, etc. so they are widely known and viewed by various people.  Males of all ages would be the ones most likely excluded from this advertisement simply because it is not relevant or applicable for most of them so if it seen in a magazine they would probably just flip right past it.  The emotion being exploited in the viewer is definitely pessimistic and somewhat mocks the original slogan.  It may also feel a little bit cynical yet gives Maybelline a potential sense of self-importance.