Please Be Contented with The Skin Color That God Gave Youđ
Overview
The goal of skin whitening (or skin bleaching) is to lighten or fade the complexion beyond the natural skin tone. Skin whitening is controversial and could have potentially dangerous side effects. Skin-whitening products are becoming trendier than ever despite the health risks. It is a well-established fact that skin-bleaching products generally contain unsafe ingredients. Top on the list of these ingredients/chemicals are hydoquinone and mercury – which have been identified to cause liver and kidney damage as well as poisoning after an extended period of use. Why are skin-bleaching lovers ignoring these dangers?
Background
In 2011, many skin-lightening products were randomly studied by Minnesota Department of Health and found to contain toxic mercury levels. The mercury contents that were found in this particular study were much higher than what the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits in beauty products (Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.). A similar study was commissioned by Marketplace (Canadaâs Investigative Consumer Program) in a UK laboratory in which frightening levels of hazardous, unpublished ingredients in popular brands were discovered (Tomlinson, McDonald & Grundig, 2020).
The Risk:
High mercury levels have been discovered in the hair, blood and urine of individuals who routinely use mercury-containing skin products (Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.). Sometimes it can be difficult to decipher which cosmetic products contain mercury due to the way they are advertised. Therefore, it is imperative that consumers check the labels for words like âmercurous chlorideâ, âcalomelâ, âmercuricâ, mercurioâ, or âmercuryâ (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 2016).
Expectant mothers and women of child-bearing age should avoid contact with mercury as babies (born and unborn) may be particularly reactive to the risks mercury can cause to their evolving brains and nervous systems (Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.; U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 2016). The risk of using skin-bleaching products is not limited to birth abnormalities because scarring, kidney, liver or nerve damage have all been identified as possible risks of skin-lightening products containing mercury or hydroquinone (United Kingdom National Health Service, 2019).
Alternatives to Skin-Bleaching Products:
In contrast to skin whitening or bleaching, âskin lightening, brightening or toningâ has a positive function other than achieving a lighter complexion. We do not recommend âskin whitening/bleachingâ, so we’ll move on to âlightening/toning/brighteningâ.
The goal of skin lightening is not to bleach your skin, but to fade out unwanted blemishes by inhibiting melanin, which gives your skin its color. âSkin Lightening, toning or brighteningâ reduces pigmentation, lightens discoloration, eliminates blemishes and evens skin tone. Importantly, it can be done through simple skin care products and does not require any type of chemical or medical procedure. Skin lightening, toning and brightening products target particular areas of discolorations like age spots and hyper-pigmentation from acne breakouts and bruising.
Citrus for Toning in Victoria Naturals Products:
Citrus Essential oils and Extracts are packed with Vitamin C and citric acid, agents not only to brighten your skin but give it a healthy glow as well.They leave refreshing scent on your skin really lighten your skin if used consistently. On top of that, these super-fruits also pack a vitamin C punch and make your skin feel more elastic and soft. They destroy free radicals that are cells causing aging in your body. Citrus extracts give your skin a radiant glow while rejuvenating it from the inside.
As a result of photo-sensitivity nature of citrus, they can only be found in the “wash away” products by Victoria Naturals and not leave on ones.
Victoria Naturals Skin Toning Products Recommendation :đ
REFERENCES:
Minnesota Department of Health (n.d.). Skin lightening products can cause health problems. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/skin/gpfs.html
United Kingdom National Health Service (2019). Skin Lightening. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/skin-lightening/
Tomlinson, A, McDonald, J. & Grundig, T. (2020, February 07). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. âWhiter skin in 14 daysâ: Tracking the illegal sale of skin-whitening creams in Canada. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from cbc.ca/news/health/marketplace-skin-whitening-lightening-beauty-shadism-1.5454257
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2016). Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/mercury-poisoning-linked-skin-products
