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August 30th, 2010
Why, oh why, would anyone want to lighten their skin from a darker shade?
The demand for lighter skins has motivated skin care giant, Vaseline to launch a new skin care cream that would allow darker skin individuals to appear lighter. In part of their promotion, they offer Facebook applications that would change someone’s profile picture into a lighter skin tone – to give friends and family a preview of what your new skin features are about to look like. To me, this is just a publicity stunt to start a heated discussion on ethnic individuals and their insecurities. And I am buying into this publicity stunt.
Skin lightening cream is not new to the African, Caribbean and Asian community and with no doubt, South Americans as well – it has been around for a long time. What was once something that women were so obsessed with, now men are trying to get skin lightened as well. In India, and I have no doubt in Africa and South America as well, the fairer the skin, the more attractive you are. Men chooses women with lighter skin tone more often. Even look at Bollywood for example, most of the successful stars are very fair. The reason for darker skin tone individuals to even think about lightening their skin was well explained in the article stated in Canada.com and what I believe as well. The reason is due to the European influences back in the days when Indian, African and South American countries were occupied by the Europeans. Europeans gave the perception of status and prestige. Many dark-skinned ethnic individuals believed that status and prestige was related to skin tone. This belief was then carried on from generation to generation.
Not everyone uses skin lightening cream to appear fairer. Some people use them to make their skin appear even in tone, or the help remove the age or liver spots as they get older.
Ever since there were a demand from both men and women who wants fairer skin, cosmetics giant Emami, Garneir, L’Oreal and Nivea has caught on.
Lightening cream has not always been safe. In the Europe, skin lightening cremes are banned but not in the US. There are some brands that are band in some countries, forcing individuals to visit the black market to find products that are sold illegally. Most skin lightening cream should be given as a prescription and given by a registered dermatologist that can support you along the process and to ensure your safety.
Lightening creams contain steroids, such as high usage of steroid corticosteroid and mercury.Lightening cream can cause weight gain, stretch marks, inability to conceive, deposits of fat in chest, face, upper back and stomach, swelling, wounds taking loner to heal, osteoporosis, cataracts, acne, muscle weakness, birth defects, neurological, kidney damage and thinning of the skin.
Lightening cream has been around for centuries and it is not going anywhere, at any time sooner.
Did you find it was offensive for Vaseline to create a Facebook application for fairer skin?
from,
Ethnic Beauty
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August 17th, 2010
What was once an awkward teenager look, braces have now been easily available for many adults looking to straighten their teeth. Using their own teeth, of course. Not the artificial ones from a veneer procedure. Celebrities has influenced our desire to have straight, white teeth. However, you probably didn’t know that you may have other benefits from wearing braces, as well.
Teeth can be straighten using less obvious looking braces such as invisalign or lingual braces. Invisalign, which is similar to a mouth guard, and are a clear tray that matches the form of your teeth. Invisalign are suitable for people who have little work needed to be done. Lingual braces are similar to any metal braces but they are placed behind your teeth and can perform any alignment issues.
In the recent years, many celebrities have decided to wear braces in their adult years and incorporate an “Ugly Betty” beauty routine to their look but with a long term goal of changing the appearance of their smile. We have seen Tom Cruise, and most recently Celebrity host of “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here”, Myleen Klass wearing invisalign and lingual braces, respectively.
Many ethnic individuals benefited from wearing braces as a non-invasive form of facial reconstructive surgery. I have personally met orthodontics that understand how ethnic individuals reacts when wearing braces over time. Particularly with Chinese descendants’, their shape of the face and the contour of their face changed. After wearing braces, they had a more defined chin, less protrusion of their lips and a dramatic improvement on their facial profile. Some reported better speech, breathing and prevention on irritable bowl syndrome. Who knew!
The good thing about braces is that adults can receive the treatment at any age. Don’t let your age stop you from getting that perfect look. It is never to late to smile even more!
from,
Ethnic Beauty
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August 9th, 2010
Every wonder if you would have reconstructive surgery to be a virgin again?
Apparently, many woman are. The demand for hymen reconstruction has tripled. In some cases, practices are performing 2-3 a day, instead of the normal 2-3 per week.
The rise in hymenoplasty is for cultural reasons and to eliminate any first time sexual situation by starting all over again, or after cancer treatment. Many woman , particularly Muslim women are interested in having their hymen replaced prior to their wedding night to enable them to have the first time sexual encounter experience – bleeding when the hymen tears during intercourse.
Being a virgin bride for a Muslim women is considered a life saving operation. It is custom for bride to show their in-laws the blood on their bed sheet after their wedding night to prove her virginity. Whilst both bride and groom have been exposed to western culture, their in-laws may have strong religious beliefs. A bride that is not a virgin can be perceived as a shame to the family. Sadly, in some cases, divorce would occur or relatives would consider killing the bride to release any sin from the family tree.
Surgeons can perform this procedure for 30 minuets by stitching the hymenal membrane or using the virginal lining and a blood capsule, inserted into the lining, to re-create the experience when the membrane is broken. Dr. Michael Kreidstein, a local plastic surgeon is Toronto, performs hymen restoration and talks about it on his website. He states that candidates report that the bleeding is much more than the original experience but clients are satisfied with the result.
This example shows how cosmetic surgery can be for cultural reasons and the value it can give to a woman’s life. Usually it is about the physical appearance but in this case it is not. It was about saving a woman’s life and allowing her to maintaining a bonds with people she loves in her life.
from,
Ethnic Beauty
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August 2nd, 2010
We heard the saying many, many times before – “Black skin doesn’t crack” but this statement is truly a myth. In the last 5 years, ethnic minorities are requesting more Botox procedures than ever before. Even, Filipino singing sensation Charice Pempengco, at the age of 18 years of age, stated recently that she got Botox to look “fresh” for her debut role in the hit sitcom, Glee.
So, what is the reason why more ethnic minorities are getting Botox? One reason is that ethnics were not sure if Botox will be safe on darker skin tones. The latest research can add some comfort for those who are hesitant to get Botox. A trial has been conducted by pharmaceutical giants and the Food and Drug Administration to prove that Botox and injectable fillers (Zyplast & Hylaform) are safe. These procedures where tested among ethnic patients and the results were positive. In some cases, ethnic minorities reported much better reaction than that of non-ethnic patients. The reports did indicate that there were side effects such as headaches and tingling feeling. This implies that Botox can cause more bruising, increased postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, keloids, and granuloma, are not true.
Ethnic minorities are finding that they do wrinkle and would like to maintain a youthful look. They tend to loose volume on their face as they enter the aging process: frown lines, marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and upper forehead lines are common reasons why ethnic minorities are getting their Botox done.
So, if you do want to get Botox, first I would always recommend to speak with an expert. A real ethnic expert. Avoid being a guinea pig! Even the best cosmetics dermatologist may not be able to serve ethnic patient. Even though ethnic minorities can use Botox and fillers, specific types of brand and fillers procedures have been tested to work well. So, not every brand may be okay. Also, cosmetics dermatologist need to understand the facial contour and skin of various ethnic individuals well in order to perform the procedure properly on any ethnic individuals. Do your research when you meet for consultation with a dermatologist. Ask for before and after pictures of their ethnic clients for references and look for a picture of someone who closely matches to your ethnicity.
And please, don’t go overboard and freeze your face! We need to still see all of your facial expressions and emotions!
From,
Ethnic Beauty
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Remember, I am not a medical professional. So speak to an expert. I would like to thank BNet for the information to help me write this article.
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July 25th, 2010
There is Halal meals, Halal pharmaceutical products and now you can get Halal makeup and cosmetics.
The global Muslim population is nearly 3 billion and the Halal products and services industry is a multi-trillion dollar industry. The consumers market were there are many Muslim consumers around the globe, makes the Halal industry a profitable one
The challenges that modern Muslim population are facing is integrating into the western society. There are many products that consist of unlawful ingredients, which makes the products or services “Haram” – illegal. Halal “legal” products should not consist of any meat products or alcohol. It may be obvious Muslim will not eat pork meat, blood or alcohol. However, many animal-based products are added without anyone being fully aware. There are gelatin, which is an animal-based product and monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is often found in meals and it is also an animal-based ingredients. Even, vanilla extract like other extract contains alcohol and are forbidden.
Many companies are resolving the problems and supporting the Muslim community. McDonald, in North America – Michigan state, serve Halal chicken nugget. Also, the Mary Brown’s Canadian fast food chain in Ontario and Alberta is 100% Halal. However, many Muslim-owned businesses serve to their own community. Businesses are required to prove that they have Halal certified products and services to ensure that Muslims are receiving the correct Halal products.
So it is no wonder that Halal make-up would be developed for the large Muslim population. Halal cosmetics is the 560 million dollar industry and it is the 3rd largest consumption in the Muslim community next to food and finance. Halal make-up contains plant extracts and minerals. It will also appeal to the growing organic users and does not contain animal by-product such as pig placenta or alcohol. In the UK, Samina Akhter set up a Halal make up range called Samina Pure Make-up, she is the first in the UK to sell Halal certified make-up. In Canada, OnePure, Layla Mandi, a Canadian makeup artist who converted to Islam, she saw a growing need and now serves internationally to the large Muslim population.
There are skeptics that believe that Halal or Haram is applied only when the product is to be eating. So, makeup does not apply and it is purely a marketing strategy. Regardless, if it Halal or not, as long as people appreciates its benefits, then there is no harm.
from,
Ethnic Beauty
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