“Fair & White?” Proof that Some Cosmetics Companies Just Don’t “Get” Black Women

I have worked for a skin treatment company for 2 years now. So I am speaking from experience. Asian's and Indians are number 1 in skin lightening followed by Africans.  African Americans mostly use it for corrective treatment acne dark marks like I had Chicken Pox marks, hyperpigmentation. It is suppose to be used to even out your skin tone. Many older women use our products for age spots.  Fair and White is the top seller among Africans from Africa in the America's and they are using it to bleach. They mix it with harsher creams because alone it can only change you back to the color you were born with which is lighter because we have not been exposed to the sun or harsh environment.

Why would you believe Fair and White or Dark & Ugly? Who said Dark is Ugly. Why not Dark&Lovely? really do not think you get the name Fair & White, please research. As for So White, the Product includes a leaflet, informing users that the name So White, derives from the fragrance, which is an extract of floral white tea, called So White...

LOL! The ad is so silly but there are sooooo many more just like this one it is pathetic.

Even though they have a black woman on the cover. I think the Eastern Indians have a worse problem wanting to be 'white' . Is there any dark Bollywood actors/actresses coming out of there? maybe, but I havent seen them. Plus many  use bleaching cream ...ugh

I can't believe they had the audacity to propose such an ad.

OMG Is that Lil Kim I see with the straight nose and fair skin above? Damn the rumors were true. She actually did a photo op for Fair & White.? Wow.

I heard about Fair & White around 15 I think. My cousin was offended by the product. Even at a young age she knew what was up. Good job Cristelyn for turning them down.

I haven't read the comments yet. But, those products seems similiar to products sold in India. I believe the name is Fair and Lovely. LOL, become Fair and Lovely and all your problems goes away. Right? Then why some many other race women tan their skin? So much for fair and lovely.

You are right Chris, but as long as those who are in charge of marketing and promotions can keep black women believing  that black is not beautiful and the "ideal" is to be white or fair skinned. The dollars will keep rolling in. if it ain't broke why fix it??? This has been going on for a long time.

As islandgirl said, this company is not new. Their biggest market is in India, followed by east Asia. Surprise. I never saw their products in mainstream American stores. It's usually in "ethnic" (usually Asian) stores.

I'm stunned by this.  I know Chris wouldn't dare lie, but I couldn't take this Fair & White nonsense in until I saw their web site. 

And I'm still shocked.

I'm inspired by this.  I should make a product line for the Jersey Shore wannabes.  I'd call it "Stupid & Orange".  I'm gonna be RICH!!!

These products have been around for years. These type of products have been scientifically proven to cause skin cancer and permanently disfigure users. In some countries there is a big drive to educate women about the dangers. Colourism is a huge factor why women of colour use these products but not the only factor. As someone mentioned before it took Coco Chanel to made possessing a natural tan popular because it is taken to mean the person is rich enough holiday in exotic places like Bora Bora. Previously and historically a tan was not desirable because it meant the person had to work in the fields. 

wow..just wow..the funny thing is that on the website they keep saying it's for all races and skin tones...but all they have are brown/dark skinned black women in the pictures..hmmm.

I am just now picking my jaw off of the floor. Like....WOW. I don't think I want to know who else you've turned down as far as ads go. :S

You know they wouldn't be selling it if they weren't making money  on it. Loads of women all around the world who believe that a lighter skin complexion will open doors to opportunities. Esp in the developing world. As more people get access to education and work their way out of poverty, this may change. I pray.

What I find hilarious is that they thought THIS site would be appropriate to market that junk. That's what gets me...

I work at a cosmetics company (won't reveal the name, but you guys might figure it out) and our NUMBER ONE SKU is our skin bleaching creme.  Its ridiculously popular in the Caribbean, Africa, the UK and France.

Companies market this stuff because womben of color buy it.  Its ridiculously sad, but its true.  Some of our customers have been using it for decades...like, how light you tryna get?!?

From the parent company's website

"The Mitchell Group is headquartered in Miami and has offices in the United Kingdom. The Company distributes Fair & White, So White and the Yelen brands, all produced in France, while other brightening products from Mitchell Group are produced in the United States, Europe and Lebanon. The selling network extends to North America, South America, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Africa and Asia."

Ah, these guys; they've been around for years.  Big sellers that started out in the UK and came to the USA for tax reasons.  They've been big in India and the rest of Asia for, like, ever.  [gotta stick a 'like" in because I'm in SoCal...]

I know colorism sucks, but you're not going to change anything, because the target market is larger than just Black women.  A lot of people want this stuff and are willing to pay through there less than 'losa' noses for it.  'Losa' is a Pilipino term for porcelain white skin.  Hispanics also use the stuff.

As for the $1.1 * 10**9 in 2015, it sounds like a lot, but, according to Terry College of Business, U of GA, which cites a $1.2T for AfAm in 2015, the Hispanics will have $1.5T and Asians will have $775 Billion in 2015.  

Here ya go  http://www.terry.uga.edu/news/releases/2010/minority-buying-power-report.html  because you know I do love sourced stuff.

I look at the Mitchell products like I look at alcohol and tobacco and spectator sports.  I have no use for any of it, so I don't waste money on it.  Just look at it the same way and move on.  You have bigger things to worry about than Liyuan, Sushmita and Carlotta lightening their skin.  They use Black models because Blacks market well for beauty products for other darker women on the basis of 'if it works for them, it will work well for me'.  Same way the ED drugs are now all about Black guys with limp, uh, apparatus; sells well to Whites; removes the shame because even Black guys use it.  Mind control at its finest, employing the best people in consumer psychology.  

You have bigger fish to fry.

sh*t  Coco Chanel made tanning popular in the 1920s. Ima need them to come a bit forward. seriously? I am reposting this to my blog. seriously..

and this is why so many black people bleach their skin in other to be fair and white because thats considered to be 'true beauty'. as one of my history lecturer said in college, you never here people say brown(browning is what jamaican call light skin people) and pretty. SMH!

Those products are all over the beauty  supply stores, there are so many of them. I know some black women uses them because when you see them on the street , their skin tone doesn't match; the face is another color while the rest of the body is something else. This is absurd!

fair and white.....W.T.F.? O__o. smells like another 'okey-doke" to me.

the only makeup that i use is Fashion Fair,Dermablend & Iman.

What the hell? Does each product come with a blonde wig and blue contacts?  The sad part is that the name is going to appeal to some people and they are going to rush to buy it or promote it.  But we aren't all falling for that ish!!

Anything that plays on the insecurities of some women will always make a profit.

sserious???