The Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmakers behind titles such “Allen v. Farrow,” “On the Record,” “The Hunting Ground,” and “The Invisible War” are teaming up with “Alice” star Keke Palmer to expose the ugly side of the beauty business. A four-part HBO Max series helmed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick and narrated by Palmer, “Not So Pretty” pulls back the curtain on the trillion-dollar cosmetics, beauty, and personal care industry.
“Sometimes all these products may do things to us that are not so pretty,” says Palmer in a new trailer for the docuseries. “Almost every chemical you can imagine has been regulated except for the chemicals we use in everyday personal care products,” we’re told. We’re then warned about links to changes in brain development, birth defects, and ovarian failure, among other horrors.
While you may, as one interviewee puts it, “assume that whatever you’re buying, because it’s on the shelf, is safe,” that’s not the case. “There is no one to protect us,” it’s emphasized.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with innovative and bold HBO Max and the brilliantly talented Keke Palmer to bring viewers this riveting four-part series exposing the hidden secrets and ugly truths behind the trillion-dollar beauty and personal care industry that will literally have viewers running to take a second look at all the personal care products lining their bathroom shelves! Working on this project has certainly changed our own purchasing habits and perspectives, and we are excited to empower viewers similarly by providing them with essential information they need to know and simply cannot get anywhere else,” said Ziering and Dick. “With Keke’s wit and curiosity serving as our engaging guide, our series provides viewers with shocking insights, startling revelations, and important knowledge that will help them not just look their best on the outside but also feel their best on the inside — a win-win for not only our personal health, but the health of the planet as well.”
Palmer added, “I’m big on self help and in order to best help yourself, you need information. I can’t tell you how much I learned from working on ‘Not So Pretty.’ Each session inspired an OMG I HAD NO IDEA moment and then I became relieved to be a part of something that can help break these myths and encourage personal autonomy within the beauty industry which can only come with knowledge. You can’t choose wisely when you don’t know what to look for! This show will illuminate that and it’s really empowering.”
“Not So Pretty” launches on HBO Max April 14.
