Men’s skin-whitening lotions for that manly, porcelain skin

by Suzie Leung on November 16, 2009

There’s nothing hotter than a guy with that pale, sun-deprived skin.  Well, at least that’s how things roll in India. Originally a huge hit as a beauty product for women, skin-whitening lotions are now a hot commodity among men.

I don’t mean to beat a dead horse with all these posts about skin color, but anyone who has lived in Asia knows that fair skin is apparently beautiful and people will go to some pretty hilarious lengths to keep their skin tan-free (e.g. fobby driving gloves and fobby “sun helmet” hats).

In India’s entertainment industry, the demand for fair skin even gets competitive because, as Darshan Gokani, 27, a model for TV and print commercials says, “Anyone who’s fair gets on Indian television.”

Skin Whitening Lotion

Maybe it’s a case of what you don’t have.  In many Asian countries, the demand for porcelain-fair skin is mirrors the desire for that glowing, sun-kissed tan among Westerners.  Still, I think it runs deeper than that–as NPR writes, the preference in India for fair skin reflects a history of biases based on caste, power and colonialism.

Read the full story here.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com November 17, 2009 at 6:22 am

That makes me sad that in Asia the preference towards lighter skin is so prevalent.

:( And people actually bleach their skins looking for that.

Justin November 18, 2009 at 7:25 pm

Pretty tragic actually…. It’s also crossed into the American Desi shopping experience as well- you can buy the Fair and Handsome box in the photo at the Indian grocer near my house….

Met Tathione March 14, 2010 at 8:37 am

Taking Glutathione is the healthier way to whiten your skin. Glutathione is an antioxidant that help to protect our skin from free radicals.

Hal June 16, 2010 at 11:13 am

Good for them,what about us in West,who are obsessed with haircuts,body and height.Do we have more right than everyone else to look how we want to look.My genes gave me the white skin that black,brown or yellow people want,but doesn’t mean that i am not looking for other things to improve in me.I mean for fucks shake,they are not irking us by whitening their skin.I dont understand why they want to be white,but that doesnt mean they dont have the right to change their face,skin,height,weight or whatever.But i agree its tragic that “urban” Indians dont give a fuck for the poor ones,and spending their money in creams instead of food for their own “blood”.At least most white people dont waste their time on their appearance when they dont have job,food or water.

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