Complicated.

Almost a couple of months ago, I read something along the lines of this piece about the Garnier division of L’Oreal being found guilty of racism in France. France is the kind of place where blatant racism is accepted as a way of life, so it really makes me go hmmm when L’Oreal gets fined.

Unfortunately, L’Oreal makes pretty high quality products here in the states, and I use a few when I need a color to say, match a dress I wear every blue moon and don’t feel the need to shell out department store prices. Also unfortunate is the fact that L’Oreal owns The Body Shop, which I’ve been hearing really great stuff about. I was ready to go and purchase a fragrance that I heard was the bees’ knees. But now I can’t, because I’m really not about giving up my green to somebody who I know supports racist business practices. Yes, there are a lot of racist business practices I don’t know about, but I try my best not to sponsor the ones I am informed of.

This morning, though, I had a discussion with my husband. He brought up the point that L’Oreal does employ quite a few people of color in the United States and that The Body Shop has a really great reputation as an ethical employer. I really wish L’Oreal would have released a statement, apology or something concerning the fines against Garnier. I hope they addressed it and I missed it. Being found guilty of racism by the French government is something that should be addressed directly.