As I played Tetris (as talented procrastinators do), the TV blaring in the background, catches my attention, 3 images of a model each placed beside other appear. The skin tone of each varying the most prominent image in the foreground depicting her with a light or as the advert claimed ‘fair complexion’. Applied upon the image was a glow filter, looking as if she had experienced prolonged exposure to radioactive material (exaggeration in marketing is madness). It was an advertisement for: a skin lightening cream.
Sales of such products in Asian countries exceed those of anti-wrinkle creams. A darker skin tone in these countries, since ancient times have to be singled out as flawed, associating it with poverty, misfortune and impurity. However this is not just a predicament associated with Asian nations but also in african or carribean communities. Occasionaly you find a dark skinned celeb, having their skin lightened on the cover of a magazine.
On the other end of the scale dissatisfaction with skin is also apparent in the western world, however this is more recent. During the 40’s tanned skin began to symbolize a wealth (money to jet out to exotic locations) and health, and the porcelain complexion began to decline. I assure you here in Britain during the summer various bottles of tanning lotion will be advertised everywhere we look.
By no means am I condemning people for using such products, but you must not harbour contempt within yourself for the colour you are. Being of one skin tone or the other does not make you unattractive; the colour of your skin reveals rich heritage and cultural history, which is BEAUTIFUL. It is not flawed. And it is not worth destroying yourself over either. Basking for hours under lethal UV rays in sun beds to darken yourself, or turning to toxic bleaches in order to lighten your skin tone, is going to do nothing but kill you.
Of course it is fine to alter your appearance sometimes to try something different like straightening or curling your hair, but not to use these as means to hide behind.
We have been so culturally washed over by what is and is not beautiful that we find flaws in ourselves that don’t exist. So please do me a favour, look yourself hard in the mirror and think, ‘Do I really need that skin tan lotion/ skin lightening cream?’
Pssssst. The answer is most likely NO! These products are not confidence and beauty packaged in a bottle. It is all already in YOU!
Sales of such products in Asian countries exceed those of anti-wrinkle creams. A darker skin tone in these countries, since ancient times have to be singled out as flawed, associating it with poverty, misfortune and impurity. However this is not just a predicament associated with Asian nations but also in african or carribean communities. Occasionaly you find a dark skinned celeb, having their skin lightened on the cover of a magazine.
On the other end of the scale dissatisfaction with skin is also apparent in the western world, however this is more recent. During the 40’s tanned skin began to symbolize a wealth (money to jet out to exotic locations) and health, and the porcelain complexion began to decline. I assure you here in Britain during the summer various bottles of tanning lotion will be advertised everywhere we look.
By no means am I condemning people for using such products, but you must not harbour contempt within yourself for the colour you are. Being of one skin tone or the other does not make you unattractive; the colour of your skin reveals rich heritage and cultural history, which is BEAUTIFUL. It is not flawed. And it is not worth destroying yourself over either. Basking for hours under lethal UV rays in sun beds to darken yourself, or turning to toxic bleaches in order to lighten your skin tone, is going to do nothing but kill you.
Of course it is fine to alter your appearance sometimes to try something different like straightening or curling your hair, but not to use these as means to hide behind.
We have been so culturally washed over by what is and is not beautiful that we find flaws in ourselves that don’t exist. So please do me a favour, look yourself hard in the mirror and think, ‘Do I really need that skin tan lotion/ skin lightening cream?’
Pssssst. The answer is most likely NO! These products are not confidence and beauty packaged in a bottle. It is all already in YOU!