Kavya
In time, India will awaken to a world wherein every Indian has improved. Fair isn’t the only thing that’s lovely anymore. There will be no seeking fair or extremely white bride classifieds. Kali will no longer be a word that haunts dark-skinned women, but rather the name of a Goddess. Brown-skinned actors and models will appear (not just for playing the villain or rural roles). You will not be whitewashed by Instagram filters. There would be no YouTubers showing home remedies for light skin in a week. But, alas, that India has yet to arrive. True, we are the inheritors of our forefathers’ sins. There is nothing that can be done about it, which is a good reason to avoid berating the past. It’s certainly time for us to stop putting ourselves down.
Women (or men) must recognise that it is not “fair” to aspire to be. All of our beauty decisions seem to revolve around what benefits something provides rather than what is in the product. When shopping for face creams or any skincare products, we must ensure that the cream contains natural extracts and has been clinically tested.
Skin absorbs what we put on it
Moreover, if it contains a sun protection formula that can shield you from the sun’s harmful rays. Up to 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. That is, the substances we put on our bodies have an impact on our health and general well-being, either positively or negatively. Because the FDA does not regulate skin care, almost any ingredient, some of which are extremely potent, can be included in a formula.
What to look for in skin care creams?
In your cream, look for ingredients like Laminaria Japonica, Alaria Esculenta, Maris Sal, Dead Sea Salt, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B3. Avoid products that contain chemicals such as mineral oils, parabens, and sulphates.
Consumers who have been concerned about the presence of cancerogenic or irritating ingredients in their beauty routine used to have to memorise long lists of unpronounceable compounds and sulphates. Because of the extra effort required to verify the composition of toothpaste or shampoo, this continues to remain a niche pursuit for obsessives; most shoppers were inclined to believe the product manufacturer. We no longer have to!
Here are a few apps to help you better understand what you’re putting on your skin:
1.INCI Beauty
This app is free and enables you to examine the ingredient contents of cosmetics. Simply open the app, use the camera to detect an item’s barcode or type the product’s name into the search tab, and the product’s rating and ingredient list should appear right away. You can also share your thoughts or knowledge with the app’s community, which will benefit other users.
App: INCI Beauty – Analysis of cosmetic products
2.Think Dirty
The Think Dirty app detects and evaluates highly dangerous or “toxic” ingredients in makeup and cosmetic products. Due to a family history of cancer, the app’s founder, Lily Tse, wanted to avoid toxic ingredients and find safer alternatives.
App: Think Dirty
3.Ingred
You must use the app to take a picture of the ingredient label of a cosmetic or food product, and it will display a list of detected ingredients. The greatest feature about using this app is that it screens out the ingredients in the product and classifies those that are hazardous to one’s health. Once the ingredients are detected, you must tap on them to learn more about them.
App: Ingred – Cosmetics and food analysis
4.Detox Me
Detox Me is also free (which is great to see) and uses data to help reduce a user’s exposure to hazardous substances in all household items, including skincare products. According to the apps’ ethos, knowledge is “a prescription for prevention.” It allows you to track your improvements toward eradicating toxic products, provides tips and suggestions for safer alternatives, and deciphers those often-confusing labels and technical jargon.
App: Detox Me
Despite this, there are a variety of products out there that don’t reveal their ingredients. Be wary of such products and shop judicially.
If you want a healthier approach, you can always rely on Mother Nature. Face masks containing sandalwood, yoghurt, papaya, orange, lemon, and oatmeal can significantly lighten skin tone when used regularly. Avoiding sun exposure, using sunscreen lotion, and following a proper CTM (cleansing, toning, and moisturising) regime can also help to improve skin tone. They are a variety of natural and essential oils that are useful too.
