Halsey Faces backlash Over Limited Shade Range in New Concealer Line
A new product launch from singer Halsey’s makeup brand, About-Face Beauty, is drawing criticism for a perceived lack of inclusivity, wiht fans voicing concerns over a limited range of shades catering to deeper skin tones. The controversy erupted last week following Halsey’s declaration of the “Illusionist” concealer via Instagram, despite the brand’s stated commitment to diversity.
The new concealer, developed over three years and offered in 32 shades across five undertone families, was touted by Halsey as “incredibly weightless” and formulated with “gorgeous skincare ingredients.” The singer, who identifies with she/her and they/them pronouns, described the product’s ability to “blur and blend so well it’s undetectable to the eye, just like magic.” However, the positive reception was quickly overshadowed by a wave of online complaints.
“I love About Face but what is this range?” one commenter questioned. Others echoed the sentiment, with one user stating the “color gradient looks a little disappointing, there’s a lot of pale shades.” A further critique highlighted the scarcity of options for darker complexions: “What’s going on with the shade range here y’all? I’m excited to try it but why are there like two shades for dark skin???” Another simply asked, “Hold on girls what the hell is this shade range?”
Did you know? – Halsey’s About-Face Beauty brand launched in 2021, with the singer emphasizing thier creative control over product growth. The brand’s initial marketing focused on inclusivity, making the current shade range controversy notably striking.
About-Face Beauty positions itself as offering “multi-dimensional makeup for everyone, everywhere,” a claim now being challenged by consumers who argue the new concealer range falls short of this promise. Representatives for Halsey and about-Face Beauty have been contacted for comment.
This is not the first time Halsey has publicly addressed issues of inclusivity. In 2018, the artist used X (formerly Twitter) to call out hotels for failing to provide diverse hair care options, stating, “I’ve been traveling for years now and it’s been so frustrating that the hotel toiletry industry entirely alienates people of color. I can’t use this perfumed watered down white people shampoo. Neither can 50 percent of ur customers. Annoying.”
Reader question: – Do you think brands shoudl be held to a higher standard of inclusivity, especially when they’ve previously made claims about diversity? Share your thoughts on the shade range and the brand’s response in the comments.
When About-Face Beauty initially launched in 2021, Halsey emphasized their extensive creative control over the product development process, sharing their enthusiasm on X and detailing their background in makeup design. In one post, the biracial singer explained, “I am a student and a lover and every detail of this from shade names, to product ingredients, to packaging was me.I am so happy I could faint. Thanks for being so excited with me!!!!!”
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