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Original poster

Orgasm or Deep Throat?

151 replies

DesignerDesigner · 05/10/2020 07:54

Friend has asked for this for a present but she can't get to try. I've used both but actually gave away as they were too bright for me.

She' s very pale and had been using Sex Appeal but thinks it's too pale.

I know Hannah Martin loves Deep Throat for all skin tones (in her John Lewis Xmas box) but not sure.

OP posts:
TheQueef · 09/10/2020 13:26

I agree Gerb I think every time this title pops in active it gets a mnetter thinking wtf eurgh enough to click.

That's why it's a good thread.
I think Designer has inadvertently demonstrated perfectly that things can slip in to common use and alerted a few (like me) the depths companies go to for that edge.

What we now call grooming and coercion and abuse is being memorialised, for a blusher.

VinylDetective · 09/10/2020 13:34

They need a new marketing team and one who understand women

Those names were created by the marketing team Nars had two decades ago so they probably have a completely different marketing team now. They’re obviously not going to confuse loyal customers by changing the names of products they’ve been buying for years.

Every large company does extensive market research before it launches new products so those names obviously resonate with their customer base. They’re not going to change their marketing strategy because a tiny number of women who don’t fit their target demographic object to the names of their products.

userxx · 09/10/2020 13:43

Those names were created by the marketing team Nars had two decades ago

Yep, I can remember my mum giving me the eye when I aked for Orgasm in space NK 20 odd years ago :) I still use it now.

TheQueef · 09/10/2020 14:03

Doesn't it make you think though Vinyl? Why are names like that used, does it increase sales, who are they targeting etc.
I only buy make up twice a year for my nieces. I know sweet FA about make up so normally but a nice gift set by a brand who I recognise. I'll avoid Nars now with my annual £100.
OK Nars used the name for ages but now you know you can't get away from the ick and it may make people think twice about what is being normalised.

What about you Vinyl does it make you feel off or don't you notice?

Scaraffito · 09/10/2020 14:14

They’re not going to change their marketing strategy because a tiny number of women who don’t fit their target demographic object to the names of their products.

Ah yes true, how you feel about these things as a woman is dictated by your age, and no one possibly falls within the demographic they are appealing to- which according to them is 18 to 40 year olds. I honestly cannot see the appeal of going into a shop and asking for the shade deep throat- orgasm I actually think the name suits.

VinylDetective · 09/10/2020 14:15

I think I probably should object because I’m a feminist and have been for nearly 50 years but, if I’m honest, I really can’t bring myself to care about the name of a blusher. Lots of cosmetics names make me roll my eyes - one of my favourite lipsticks is called Scarlet Siren, ffs. Presumably it means I lure sailors onto the rocks.

I care passionately about the exploitation of women and children in the production of fast fashion and its impact on the environment, animal cruelty in cosmetic testing and associated issues. The name of a blusher or lipstick just doesn’t seem that important by comparison.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2020 14:26

Was it common knowledge what the actress in deep throat said about it 20 years ago?

Did most women and girls even know what deep throat was alluding to, 20 years ago?

I think I had heard of the film at school in the 80s (giggle, edgy!) but didn't really get what it meant in practice (the act) and had no idea about the ??? filmed rape side of things.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2020 14:27

I also wouldn't have had an issue at 14 with makeup called underage red, or Lolita.

Now, I do.

Funny isn't it. Just musing really.

Scaraffito · 09/10/2020 14:30

@VinylDetective you can care about more than one thing, make up by its nature is trivial in the scheme of things, imo scarlet siren isn't anything like deep throat. Each to their own, but I think making a sweeping statement that those who aren't a huge fan of the name are outside of their target demographic so who cares is a bit of a reach. A lot of reviews on sites by people who actually buy it say they hate the name but like the product.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2020 14:31

It's not that important by comparison but neither is it nothing.

This is just a few messages on a chatboard. A couple of women have sent emails and been informed that deep throat is named for empowernent of women Grin

No one's organising marches or cancelling charity subscriptions or lobbying Whitehall.

It went

Which makeup is better?
Yikes! The names. Why?
Some: Oh yeah that's crap
Others: not fussed

The end.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2020 14:34

Scarlett siren is bluergh too.

The whole conversation around the cosmetics industry is massive though and one for a different board.

You'd get into
Sexism
Racism
Objectification
Capitalism
Deliberately creating insecurity to sell stuff
Skin whitening possibly
And all sorts
FWR for that one of anyone wants to start a thread!

This is S&B though so not the place for a wider convo.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2020 14:35

I mean it's bad but underage red? Deep throat? Whole other level.

Original poster
DesignerDesigner · 09/10/2020 14:59

They’re obviously not going to confuse loyal customers by changing the names of products they’ve been buying for years.

Oh dear our little girly heads will not cope with renaming a product Hmm

Molton Brown has renamed a lot of their shower gels over the years- most are still recognisable but they have reduced the names and made them succinct.

I'm not sure about demography either. I don't fall into it in terms of age. And I can't see why 18-40 year olds would be happy with names that suggest rape or sex. Surely these women are more independent and 'feminist' than women were 20 years ago when the names were marketed?

Neither do I agree that it's not a topic for this board or is nothing to get worked up over.

I'm a feminist. I see these names as a drip-drip of what men think of women or what women want. They are patronising and unnecessary.

OP posts:
TheQueef · 09/10/2020 15:02

From what I remember around that time it was celebrated as breaking boundaries but anyone who saw it who'd experienced abuse were triggered (as we'd call it now) and complained. I've seen it years ago and it was obvious then. No one bothered and Linda Lovelace became a well known star.
Even seeing a little of her story it's pretty clear that's an abused woman.

True Vinyl the worries are legion at this time, I should be doing downtime on mnet but it prickled me that it had slipped in to S&B vernacular so I saw my arse and emailed Smile

Funny eh Gerb before this thread I had the idea that Von D was an empowering brand for women. Not titillation for underage fetishists.

userxx · 09/10/2020 15:35

Oh dear our little girly heads will not cope with renaming a product

I'll be honest, I'd forget. Brain like a sieve since hitting peri

MitziK · 09/10/2020 16:38

Never mind, I'm sure they'll be releasing a purple and yellow combination called 'Rough Sex Defence' soon enough.

As a 27 year old who spent thousands on cosmetics at the time the original was released, I didn't spend any of it on stuff that sounded as though it was named by a 14 year old boy trying to be an all Knowing Edgelord.

And as a 47 year old who still spends a fuckton on things, I'm not changing my mind now.

VinylDetective · 09/10/2020 16:46

@userxx

Oh dear our little girly heads will not cope with renaming a product

I'll be honest, I'd forget. Brain like a sieve since hitting peri

I would too. A lot of people would just think it had been discontinued if the name changed.

Anyway, I’m clearly in a minority here. I’ll leave you to it.

damnthatanxiety · 09/10/2020 16:49

Orgasm is pinker with gold shimmer. DT has a bit of yellow in it so warmer and not sparkly. DT is way more natural in most people.

Emmapeeler2 · 09/10/2020 18:28

You can care about several issues at once. And it doesn't take much time to read a thread, think WTAF? and send an email. I do buy expensive make up sometimes, and have done for 20 years, but I don't wear blusher so had never heard of it. I honestly felt quite sick at the name Deep Throat. When I was 20 I guess I would probably have thought it cool. Now I see it for what it is and it bothers me that women like me 20 years ago are being manipulated into thinking something with abusive/rape connotations is cool, that's all.

Don't worry, I am not losing sleep over it and won't be taking banners to Nars HQ. I just think it's Not Right.

VinylDetective · 09/10/2020 19:06

See, this what pisses me off about MN.

@Emmapeeler2, what part of I don’t give a toss do you find so difficult to understand? I didn’t think wtf because I’ve known about Deep Throat for years. Nor would I waste time sending Nars a pointless email.

If I disagree with a company’s ethical stance I just don’t give them my money. Body Shop pissed on their chips with their tweets about J K Rowling so I won’t shop there. I’m fine with Nars.

hikinggirl · 09/10/2020 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Emmapeeler2 · 09/10/2020 19:26

I do understand that you don't care vinyl. I was iust responding to your comment that people who did must have lots of time on their hands. I don't think others should think how I think, I was just explaining why I do.

Scaraffito · 09/10/2020 19:28

You give a toss to bother to keep responding vinyl. If it annoys you on a messageboard that people respond after you post saying you disagree then that's a bit odd.

NiceGerbil · 09/10/2020 20:11

I also understand that vinyl doesn't give a toss!

For the avoidance of doubt Grin

EdgeOfACoin · 10/10/2020 07:12

I think if you've been buying the product for twenty years and have got used to the name, the attitude of some posters on here might seem like an overreaction. Particularly if the product is good.

However, when you haven't come across the name before, it's pretty jarring.

The reason why I wasn't getting upset about this 20 years ago is because I was a teenager back in 2000. I wasn't in a position to go shopping for the sort of brands sold in Space NK!