Lancome's sexist ad campaign is no secret

The new Lancome spots are the most offensive ads I've seen in a while. Lancome is offensive to begin with, since it still engages in animal testing, but now it is also engaging in overt sexism.

In the new commercials, women are put to various tests to determine that they are lying, and the tests all show them to be telling the truth when they say they are only 29 years old. "A woman's age is her business," the tag line says, "and Lancome keeps yours a secret," or some such nonsense.

Promoting the idea that women are ashamed of getting older is an outrage, and to use the old "I'm still 29" line is such a throwback it would almost be funny if it were not so sickening. Unfortunately, every time advertisers play to women's desire to look younger than they are, women buy into it. There are plenty of women who still think "You don't look a day over 30" is a compliment.

And shame on Drew Barrymore for being part of Lancome's 2005 lineup. What with torturing cats and rabbits and insulting women, Lancome is one of the worst companies Barrymore could represent.