ABC News Video: Lil Kim’s unrecognisable white skin
An 8-minute ABC News video about the controversy following Lil Kim’s lightened skin.
VICE News: What It’s Like to Be Discriminated Against by People of Your Own Race
A VICE article offers perspectives from people battling light-skinned and dark-skinned stereotypes.
Malaysian Health Ministry bans Qu Puteh for containing mercury
The Malaysian Health Ministry has banned two cosmetic products found to contain high levels of mercury — Qu Puteh Whitening Pro 9 and Qu Puteh Whitening UV Block.
Skin lightening creams seized in the UK
Toxic skin lightening creams containing damaging ingredients were seized in east London.
UK man fined £16,000 for selling cosmetics containing mercury and hydroquinone
Kabamba Tabukanga admitted selling products that contained mercury and hydroquinone. He was caught after a check found a number of skin lightening cosmetics containing the dangerous substances.
‘Salmon sperm’ soap sold in Thailand claims it can whiten skin
A testament to how far Thais will go for whiter skin is a soap said to be made from salmon semen. The salmon semen soap costs about 50 baht on social media, where the sellers claimed that it will help to whiten skin. Yikes.
Europeans were dark-skinned until 8,000 years ago
Genetic analysis has shown that hunter-gatherers living in Spain 8,500 years ago still had dark skin. It was not until 7,800 years ago, when the first farmers migrated from the Near East through Turkey that two key genes that provide lighter skin appeared.
‘Chlorine Soap’ sold in Thailand could damage eyes and skin
In Thailand, a dangerous product called ‘Chlorine Soap’ has been touted to whiten skin. It contains calcium hypochlorite, used to disinfect swimming pools. The manufacturers claim that it kills bacteria and whitens skin in 1-2 weeks. *facepalm*