skin whitening for dull complexion

[puzzled]

I've always have a problem that my face complexion is significantly darker (cos of constant sun exposure in the past) then my body's colour. Am now trying out on Biotherm's Whitening Detox C series..Anyone tried it before? How's the results like? Was thinking of trying out SKII whitening products, or maybe even bleaching my skin.

I desperately want a fair complexion!!

[sundaymorningstaple]

puzzled,

maybe you can tell me.......why do girls (I would assume you are a girl) want to look like a cadaver on a morgue slab instead of having a radiant healthy sunkissed glow about them? Fair skin is very unhealthy looking to me.

Just curious......

sms

[Carpe Diem]

Same comments SMS... Funny that girls in Asia (OK, MANY girls, otherwise I will be accused of making generalizations) want to be whiter than white, while in Europe they struggle to have a nice suntan...

I was once told that they want to look like European ladies... But I doubt this is the major motivation. On the other hand if you discuss with Chinese men (at least in China) most of them prefer fair skin.

(And I fully agree - suntan looks healthier and more attractive)

[tiki]

'cos CSI makes the dead look good.

[puzzled]

[quote="sundaymorningstaple"]puzzled,

maybe you can tell me.......why do girls (I would assume you are a girl) want to look like a cadaver on a morgue slab instead of having a radiant healthy sunkissed glow about them? Fair skin is very unhealthy looking to me.

Just curious......

sms[/quote]

it's a generalisation that asian women like it fair. Taking japanese women for example. Hmm, maybe i'd prefer my skin to be radiantly fair, if not fair. So are there any producs which u all may recommend?

[earthfriendly]

This question seem to crop up so many times.

The "tan" look is a relatively new phenomenon in the Western world. I remember watching a program that attribute it to Channel spotting a tan after returning to France from a vacation. Henceforth it became trendy and fashionable. And people associate being tan with being wealthy. Well, at least you have to be wealhy enough to afford a vacation.

It is so ironic because westerners used to associate being tan with people of lower class. These people have to work under the sun. Whereas genteele ladies would be shading their fair complexion with hats and umbrellas.

Caucasian is the only group, that I am aware of, that goes for the tan look. Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians (from India), Blacks and Hispanics all hope for a fair complexion. In fact, there is some kind of favoritism/discrimination within the Indian (Northern Indian who has fairer complexion are considered more desirable) and Black community that favors a member with fairer complexion over a more tan-looking one and some type of class issue is involved.

So I would think the western world is quite unique in that respect and since they are the minority in this issue, it should be us (the majority) asking you guys why do you prefer a tan complexion ? So many things in life is a matter of cultural perspective.

[CardZeus]

I've always have a problem that my face complexion is significantly darker (cos of constant sun exposure in the past) then my body's colour. Am now trying out on Biotherm's Whitening Detox C series..Anyone tried it before? How's the results like? Was thinking of trying out SKII whitening products, or maybe even bleaching my skin.

I desperately want a fair complexion!!

3 parts hydrogen peroxide 7 parts water; immerse head in solution for 2 hours every day - should do the trick. Keep mouth open for pearly white teeth too!




management accepts no responsibility for facial disfigurement as a result of this treatment. May cause drowsiness, do not attempt to operate machinery whilst your head is submerged. NO SMOKING. Small children can choke on nuts - you are nuts; avoid small children.

[earthfriendly]

Cardzeus, to each his own. And like they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" as I so pointedly indicate in my post.

Just because I don't share other girls' passion for tanning bed, tanning lotion, risking skin cancer sunbathing myself, I do not go about ridiculing them or their methods.

A little respect goes a long way .

[CardZeus]

Cardzeus, to each his own. And like they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" as I so pointedly indicate in my post.

Just because I don't share other girls' passion for tanning bed, tanning lotion, risking skin cancer sunbathing myself, I do not go about ridiculing them or their methods.

A little respect goes a long way .

Sorry EF - but respect is something to be earned - by posting such inane trash the OP has invited ridicule. IMHO and no offence meant, of course

[earthfriendly]

Could you advise which part of her post is trash? She comes across as genuine in her quest / post, though it does appear a bit shallow (from a man's perspective esp. a western one).

I have heard other chinese women reflecting the same exact sentiment. I am aware of some Taiwanese women who bleach their skin. I am not sure about the chemical used but beauty salons do offer such treatment.

[dot dot dot]

This question seem to crop up so many times.

The "tan" look is a relatively new phenomenon in the Western world.

New phenomenon?

Well, at least a hundred years or alike I would say, it is back in Victorian ages that the western society stayed out of the sun and walked like today's Asian community: with an umbrella in the sun.

And people associate being tan with being wealthy. Well, at least you have to be wealhy enough to afford a vacation.

That's an interesting one indeed, as the lower middle classes in Holland (as in many other Western European countries) are being looked down on by the higher echalons for their 'over the top' tanning. So it is the wealthy who do not like too much tanning, therefore tanning surely is not a sign of wealth back in Europe.

It is so ironic because westerners used to associate being tan with people of lower class.

Yes, but only when 'over the top'. A 'healthy' tan and a radiant look is what most westerners desire, regardless of the social background.

It is so ironic because westerners used to associate being tan with people of lower class. These people have to work under the sun. Whereas genteele ladies would be shading their fair complexion with hats and umbrellas.

I would say this is exactly the case in Asia, where the Chinese Singaporeans look down on the tanned workers from India and other Asian countries.

Caucasian is the only group, that I am aware of, that goes for the tan look. Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians (from India), Blacks and Hispanics all hope for a fair complexion. In fact, there is some kind of favoritism/discrimination within the Indian (Northern Indian who has fairer complexion are considered more desirable) and Black community that favors a member with fairer complexion over a more tan-looking one and some type of class issue is involved.

Agree that it is all culturally related, but it seems that those living in countries with less sunshine do adore the suntanning more than those living in hot tropical countries (which in itself often explains the origin of races' skincolour. Black / negroid originates from hot and tropical Africa, caucasian is more to be found and originates from the northern milder climate regions.

Maybe the only exception is for the Japanese (an extreme race anyway)who indeed seem to want to have a fair skin as much as possible.

So I would think the western world is quite unique in that respect and since they are the minority in this issue, it should be us (the majority) asking you guys why do you prefer a tan complexion ? So many things in life is a matter of cultural perspective.

Why do you get defensive here?

Eric

[sundaymorningstaple]

I was really asking a serious question. I don't know about victorian era, southern belles, or rice paddy farmers, ancient druids, or whatever.

To me personally (not my culture or anything else) extremely fair only looks good on natural redheads. Anything else reminds me of a cadaver. Dead Meat! A tan (doesn't have to be dark, just glowing golden) is a sign of a healthy person who isn't afraid of activities and would therefore probably be much healthier and have a better immune system than someone who stays indoors or covered up all the time. Maybe that's why the majority of Singaporeans seems always to have the flu. Not enough sunshine & Vitamin D to keep their health and immune systems up to par.

Even butts look better tinged with gold otherwise they look like large lumps of lard or Crisco! Ling2, can we have another look? Please?

[Loops]

I'm not going to say whether you are right or wrong to use whitening products, just that I read somewhere that they are as bad for your skin as suntanning is. Something worth investigating before using them regularly I would think.

[earthfriendly]

Eric, I was not trying to be defensive which was why I added the emoticons.

I was trying to point out that a person's idea of beauty (as in fair vs tan) is linked to his cultural background. It is also subjected to fashion trend and the particular genre that you live in.

I don't think there's a universal definition of "beauty".

[earthfriendly]

I was really asking a serious question. I don't know about victorian era, southern belles, or rice paddy farmers, ancient druids, or whatever.

To me personally (not my culture or anything else) extremely fair only looks good on natural redheads. Anything else reminds me of a cadaver. Dead Meat! A tan (doesn't have to be dark, just glowing golden) is a sign of a healthy person who isn't afraid of activities and would therefore probably be much healthier and have a better immune system than someone who stays indoors or covered up all the time. Maybe that's why the majority of Singaporeans seems always to have the flu. Not enough sunshine & Vitamin D to keep their health and immune systems up to par.

Even butts look better tinged with gold otherwise they look like large lumps of lard or Crisco! Ling2, can we have another look? Please?

It is what these girls perceived to be beautiful and I do not think they ever try to rationalise it e.g it is healthy to look fair etc. That's what appeal to them visually, which I believe may also be influenced by the images that surround them.

As we speak, some of most popular stars in Asia look like these (both stars are very fair looking):



I agree that a sunkissed complexion reflects vitality and health. I wonder how many women get their tan the natural way i.e. via sun? I have seen many walk around with what looks like chemically-induced tan. It does not look healthy to me as it looks quite unnatural. To me, there’s no difference between these women and the ones that indulge in whitening products. I don’t understand why the latter group gets picked on? I don’t believe there’s a correlation between one’s IQ or morality and one’s passion to seek out beauty products. Vanity, yeah. Making a joke and jesting is OK with me. When people try to put another down because of whitening products, I find such behaviours bullying. SMS, just my personal observation and not targeted at you.

It can get very tiring having to explain every little thing from why I prefer a fair complexion to why I am constantly spitting or sniffling (some chinese like myself are walking mucus machines), just so I don't get derided. What happens to freedom of speech/expression/opinion? Sorry, just got to rant as I am feeling very under the weather. Was just about to recover from my previous cold and shortly, am afflicted with another big one. And I am in no shape to step out of the house as I have to go to the toilet very 5 mins (I mean it literally) to spit it out or blow it out.