Being Fair Project

• Skin lightening products are a part of a multi billion dollar industry prevalent throughout the world, including Africa, South Asia, Middle East and even in the United States. It is estimated to be worth 3 billion dollar.

 

• There are countless skin lightening products ranging from treatment creams, cold creams, soaps, face washes, chemical peels and much more.

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• Many products do not necessarily advertise themselves as skin lighteners. They also hide the true intention under the banner of "skin brighteners".

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• Companies like Unilever, P&G and Johnson & Johnson each sell (more than one) skin lightening products.

 

• Many skin lightening products include toxic chemicals such as mercury and hydroquinone.

 

• Inorganic mercury found in skin lightening products stops the formation of melanin, which in turn gives the effect of lighter skin.

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• Skin lightening creams can cause long lasting damage to a person's skin. It can cause skin to burn more easily under the sun, blistering, irritation and can even lead to skin cancer. 

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• At 77 percent, Nigeria has the highest number of women who purchase and actively use skin lightening products according to The World Health Organization.

 

• On August 1st 2016, Ghana banned products with hydroquinone that is known to disrupt the creation and production of melanin through their Food and Drug Authority. However, countless commercials and billboard still sell the idea that light is more beautiful.

 

• In 2014, the Advertising Standards Council of India proclaimed that they would begin banning any advertisement that shows persons with darker skin as inferior to those with light skin.

 

THIS IS NOT OKAY. We need to change beauty stereotypes, the idea that dark skin is inferior to light skin and institutionalized racism. We need to listen to each other's stories, understand them and where they stem from. We need to address the long lasting effects of European colonization and work together to find impactful solutions. We deserve to live in a world where all colors in the spectrum feel loved and included.

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