Monday, April 7, 2014

F for fairness creams



'Fair and lovely' is a name of a popular fairness cream that promises lighter skin with regular use. There are a dozen other fairness products all of which strive to provide its customers with "fair, blemish free, glowing, beautiful skin".Over the past decade, fairness cream advertisements have attracted a fair share of criticism for promoting the idea of fairer (lighter complexion)skin-tone being the key to securing a job or a much-sought after affection and interest of the most eligible bachelor in town. If a girl is slightly dark or dusky, it is the end of the world for her, her future is a million shades darker. Funny thing is nowadays even the men have been sucked into the black-hole of "fair skin". There are a bunch of fairness products for men and equally ridiculous ads where Bollywood actors and cricketeers endorse a xyz brand and advise distraught, love-lost young men that they too can win the affection of the girl of their dreams by dabbing themselves with a cream. After all life is all about glitz and glamor, and hogging the limelight, right?  Ridiculous claims and rubbish advertisements aside, I often wonder what is the connection between lighter skin tone and beauty. Does merely lighter skin color make a person beautiful? What of the dark thoughts, cruel intentions that lie hidden beneath the layer of "fair" fat? The obsession with fair skin borders on the ridiculous in Indian mindset.

Fairness also means being free from bias, dishonesty or injustice. Will people ever realize that there is more to fairness than just complexion? Beauty is not just skin-deep. Real beauty lies hidden deep within, visible only to the hearts that realize this subtle truth.
I want the whole world to be fair and lovely, give me a cream that can turn the world fair and make it a lovely place to live in.


This post is shared with April A-Z blogging challenge for alphabet F

16 comments:

  1. All we need to do is start with fairness and it will flow.
    Beth
    http://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/

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    1. True Beth, putting our best foot forward and hoping for the best is the way to go.
      Thank you for dropping by :)

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  2. The fact is that these creams dont live up to the tall promises made in the advertisements, still the market for these fairness creams is growing rapidly. First it was for women, then men, I am worried about the day the'd start targeting children. Speaks a lot about the mindset of our society! :|

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    1. True Shilpa, it speaks volumes about stupidity with which people value fair skin over other meaningful attributes.

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  3. Imagine if these creams really worked we would have men and women looking fair only in their faces, and other parts of their body being dark.I often used to wonder about the logic behind it.
    However,after so many years of pushing this idea, they have come up with body lotion that gives instant fairness. Really there is a limit to fool people.
    But foolish people will always be foolish and keep buying these products.

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    1. You are right Rama, foolish people will always be foolish. It is crazy the extent to which people value fair complexion

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  4. I read this post. Do not know what to comment.

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  5. The mindset of the people is such that manufacturers take advantage.In matrimonial columns the first demand is for a fair and slim girl.

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  6. That is so true. It's ridiculous how people are so obsessed with skin color. They go crazy over any whitening product.

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    1. Yes, it is really unfortunate Rajlakshmi.

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  7. Very true. What a lovely blog post, nice to follow and connect through a to z http://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Comley for your kind words. I'll drop by your space soon :)

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  8. Great post dear. Looks a decent enough product but fairness products have never arrived for my rescue.
    roopamrit fairness cream

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    1. Thanks Shikha, I hope people realise a healthy skin is important not the color.

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