Home   Herne Bay   News   Article

Herne Bay woman with facial birthmark speaks out about educating people on visible differences

A housekeeper says she was made to feel intimidated by inconsiderate shoppers and under-trained staff during visits to beauty counters - because she has a birthmark.

Julie Randall, from Herne Bay, lives with a haemangioma, a collection of small blood vessels that form a lump under the skin, on her left cheek.

But the 41-year-old says she was asked if she had “had a fall or a tooth out” by customers as she searched for cosmetic products in shops as a teenager.

The encounters left her feeling insecure and convinced her to stop shopping for make-up.

“The experience of going to a beauty counter was too intimidating for me,” she said.

“I’d look for help and advice from staff, but they just didn’t have the knowledge.

“It made me feel quite awkward and embarrassed.

Julie Randall believes shop staff need to be better trained in how to deal with people with physical differences
Julie Randall believes shop staff need to be better trained in how to deal with people with physical differences

“Some customers would look and ask ‘have you had a fall?’ or ‘have you had a tooth out?’ and automatically assume that.”

Ms Randall, who works at Herne Place care home in Parkland Road, says she was steered in the direction of uncomfortably thick make-up to “cover up” her birthmark by doctors.

She believes beauticians need to be better trained in how to cater for people with visible differences.

“When I was younger I was recommended very thick make-up to cover up my birthmark as if it was something to hide,” Ms Randall explained.

“The make-up was very uncomfortable and my birthmark wasn’t, and isn’t, something I wanted to hide.

Julie Randall, from Herne Bay, says the experience of shopping for make-up was an unpleasant experience because of the way people spoke to her
Julie Randall, from Herne Bay, says the experience of shopping for make-up was an unpleasant experience because of the way people spoke to her

“One in five people have a visible difference. It’s a massive issue and I want people to feel confident about how they look.”

Ms Randall made do with camouflage make-up until she started running a beauty business as an Avon representative in December.

The multi-national cosmetics firm has announced that it will launch specialist courses - in conjunction with charity Changing Faces - to teach its representatives how to treat people with visible differences.

This coincides with Face Equality Week, which will run until Sunday, May 23.

To find out more about Changing Faces and Face Equality Week, visit changingfaces.org.uk.

Sign up to KentOnline's WhatsApp service and find out how else to get your news here.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More