London - Thandie Newton has accused Boots of creating a racial divide through the “ghettoisation” of makeup.
The British film star said the health and beauty chain stores initially stocked dark shades of foundation when a makeup range was launched, but then took them off shelves much earlier than pale shades – forcing women with darker skin to shop in specialist stores.
Speaking at a Selfridges event, Newton, who is also the face of Olay, said: “If the makeup was in there longer, the girls would go and get it and then the stores would get more, and they’d realise that everybody wants it, and then they would stock it.
“There’s this ghettoisation of makeup right now. The right shade is there for everybody but you can only get it at specialised shops. So you don’t go to Boots. So as a result we are all being physically separated when we go and buy makeup.”
She added: “We’re starting to think they don’t want us there. And it’s not that, it’s just that six-month time lapse where the shops are waiting to be able to say it’s not selling so let’s stop stocking it. We’ve got to encourage them.”
She added: “I’ll go into Boots at Heathrow Airport if I’ve forgotten my makeup bag or something and there isn’t even a picture of a black woman. I hate that.”
Newton is an award-winning actress who starred in Misson: Impossible II with Tom Cruise and alongside Will Smith in The Pursuit Of Happyness.
Earlier this year Newton revealed she suffered racist abuse growing up in Cornwall.
The star, who has daughters Ripley, 14, Nico, 10, and three-month-old son Booker Jombe with her husband director Ol Parker, described being treated like an outsider growing up in Penzance.
Newton also recalled going to castings where she and James Bond actress Halle Berry were the only two auditioning for a role, because of the lack of black stars in Hollywood.
Responding to the claims, makeup artist Kay Montano said: “Every single makeup company has every single shade. It’s all made. But it all comes down to territories and men in suits deciding what sells.”
A Boots spokesman said: “It is disappointing when we hear our customers feel we can’t meet their beauty needs, as many of the beauty brands available in store and on boots.com offer a range of products for black skin.” - Daily Mail