‘Aye kali, gori hone wala cream lagana’ This is what I constantly heard growing up as a dusky child. Not only did people have a problem with my dark skin tone but they were unhealthily obsessed with fairness creams. So, after all these years, when I heard that cosmetic companies are trying to make their skin-care portfolio more inclusive, I jumped with joy.
Although, I know it took a while but we are finally getting there. After HUL, L’Oreal, the world’s biggest cosmetics company, has decided to remove words referencing “white”, “fair” and “light” from its skin-evening products, reports India Today. L’Oreal’s flagship products include Garnier Skin Naturals White Complete Multi Action Fairness Cream.
A L’Oreal Group spokesperson said the company acknowledged the legitimate concerns about the words used to describe its skin-evening products, reports Business Standard. “We have, therefore, decided to remove the words,” the spokesperson added.
Unilever and L’Oreal are two big players in the global market for skin whitening creams, reports the New York Post. Their products are used in many Asian, African, and Caribbean countries where fair skin is often considered superior. In such places, cosmetic companies advertising skin-lightening products might stigmatize people with darker skin tones.
It is very important that skin products are all-inclusive in order to eradicate skin-colour based discrimination. Don’t you think so? Tell us!