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Is white right?
1/ 9/2006
Assalamu Alaykum to all Asian News readers.
Whilst you have been blissfully enjoying the sun I have been busy researching attitudes and reasons as to why some people prefer to whiten their skin colour and the different products used to do this.
The first point to make is that this is of course a controversial
area. The assumption that white is beautiful is now being
challenged more and more, not least by darker Bollywood actresses
who feel perfectly comfortable in their dark brown to mahogany
skin. They say that the lighter skin movement has racist
undertones.
Nevertheless it is an unavoidable fact that many Asian women in the
UK and 'back home' strive for a lighter skin.
So lets start with WHY?
I asked members of the public, both men and women, and my research
threw up some very interesting reasons.
The most popular reason, especially from women, was that it was
thought that lighter skin colour helped to build up confidence and
improve marriage prospects.
Other reasons given was that it helped hide unwanted facial hair as
the whiter skin process bleached the hair as well.
Some maintain that the opposite sex preferred a lighter skin tone
and that it helped to enhance facial features.
I asked people what they used.
Some said they bought bleaching creams that turn skin a shade
lighter with constant use.
Some even had their own recipe. One reader, who wishes to remain
anonymous gave me this home made concoction.
She said to mix an egg yolk in 1 cup of gram flour with coarse salt
and 2 tablespoons of yoghurt, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Rub the mixture into the skin and once dry, begin to rub the dough
off the area.
Wash with tepid water and moisturise.
Repeat twice a week and results should be apparent in six weeks
claimed my friend.
A new formula on the market which is selling really well is the
NUR76. It's a Chinese brand of skin lightening cream using natural
ingredients and they are aiming it at the whole Asian market.
Skin lightening has been an obsession since the days of Cleopatra
who famously used milk and honey to maintain her appearance.
Today, although appearance is still high on the agenda, we are
constantly being bombarded with cosmetic companies telling us what
our hair needs, what our nails should look like, what is best for
our skin and so on.
My piece of advice is not to get confused, but if a product works
for you then stick to it.
If not, there is no harm in researching to find out what works
best.
Most recent 2 of 4 user comments
27/12/2006 at 23:16
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30/12/2006 at 17:00