Fair and Lovely Skin-Lightening Cream Ad

This Indian ad, for Fair and Lovely Ayurvedic "natural fairness" cream, makes it clear that lighter skin is more beautiful. The woman can't get a job at first; notice how she is also dressed in a sari. After her father gets her some Fair and Lovely, we see the stages of her lightening. She then goes back to the store--now wearing Western-style business clothes, like the women who previously rejected her--and gets a job. She also attracts the attention of a light-skinned man. Next we see her new, glamorous life.



So light skin = modernity = beauty = success at work and in love.

Fair and Lovely also has a line of skin lighteners for men called Menz Active. The Fair and Lovely Foundation also awards college scholarships. And provides career advice.

Here's an interesting video where Indian Americans discuss skin tone and respond to the Fair and Lovely ad:




Random fact: the company that owns Fair and Lovely, Hindustan Unilever, is owned (the majority stake, anyway) by Unilever, owner of brands including Dove and Axe.

Thanks to Chris H. for sending this one in!

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Help Others by Spending Money on Yourself

30% of the retail price of these shirts will be donated to "some of the country's best charities. What better excuse to go shopping?" The retail price is $68. The charities are:

Women in Need
Free Arts NYC
Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Children's Hope India
American Refugee Committee's Darfur Relief Effort

I like these kinds of things because they bring up two issues: Why don't people just contribute $20 (or, in most cases, something like 10 cents) directly instead of filtering it through a corporation? And should we have to personally get something out of it in order to contribute to worthy causes?

For other examples, look here, here, and here.