ChinesePussy
01-26-2004, 08:34 AM
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http://www.bangkokpost.net/en/160104_Realtime/16Jan2004_real21.html
Whiter shade of pale
COSMETICS: The pursuit of fair skin is now an integral part of skincare
Story by KANOKPORN CHANASONGKRAM
Caucasians apply whitening products to boost skin clarity and fade dark spots. White Lucent products aim to control melanin and improve skin texture.
Asia is renowned as a terrain where women have a passion for pale skin.
Naturally, giants in the cosmetics industry have capitalised on this craving by offering whitening products that have been specifically developed for Asian skin and many Indian damsels, Thai ladies, and Japanese gals have taken the bait.
Despite the fashion for a fair complexion, farang females glance at the looking glass and assume that they are outsiders of this "blanc beauty" culture, though in the near future, whitening products may be the skincare of choice for women of all skin colours _ yellow, brown or white.
Actually white beauty is nothing new to Caucasians. Hark back to ancient Greece when women used white ceruse on their faces to appear pale and pretty.
Because ceruse was a poisonous substance, the practice of coating faces with this ancient whitening agent was condemned by the Greek physician Galen.
Regardless of the toxicity of bleaching agents, women in the past endured side effects to attain alabaster skin.
Ceruse and toxic solutions made of lead and mercury were popular during the Renaissance and in Queen Elizabeth I's era, women also painted their faces with white ceruse to primp up a porcelain complexion.
White Lucent products aim to control melanin and imporve skin texture.
As a timeless trend, the pursuit of paleness is now more popular among Asian societies and the demand for a milky complexion drives a thriving market for whitening products.
Unfortunately, some women today fall prey to manufacturers who still include mercury in their whitening formulations.
By contrast well-established companies have devoted their resources in R&D to find harmless whitening ingredients.
In 1917, Shiseido introduced its first whitening products, Shiseido Whitening Cucumber. Since then the Japanese company has spearheaded R&D of whitening cosmetic products from various angles, including drug development, to respond to rising consumer demand.
Advances in Japanese dermatology caught the attention of distinguished dermatologist Dr Thomas Fitzpatrick of Harvard University who expressed a desire for a joint US-Japan symposium and Shiseido's first international conference entitled the Light and Skin Seminar was held in 1972.
The meeting discussed the effect of UV rays on human skin and how dermatologists should respond to this problem.
From then on, the whitening concept evolved beyond bleaching the skin to respond to the beauty buzz.
Knowledge about sun-induced skin damage also established a practice for people to slap on sunblock.
In the whitening market, other Japanese, American and European brands jumped on the bandwagon and bombarded consumers with products that are claimed to perform melanin reduction miracles through ingredients such as various vitamin C derivatives, arbutin, and kojic acid.
Even though melanin formation is one of the body's essential defensive responses against harmful UV rays, excess or uneven production of melanin can be a menace to both Caucasians and Asians. Sun rays stimulate melanin production in melanocytes by triggering the enzyme tyrosinase that changes melanin precursors into brown melanin pigments, which darken the complexion and deposit as brown spots and freckles.
"Nowadays women around the world, especially Asian women, realise the importance of taking care of their skin," says Nobuyuki Takai, managing director of Shiseido Thailand. "As we know UV rays cause skin damage, and whitening products now play an important role in skincare by not only inhibiting melanin production but also reducing dull and uneven complexions, thus brightening the skin for a more beautiful complexion."
Recent research has discovered that melanin production also takes place outside the melanocytes and that when a person is under stress, there may be an increase in the melanin level, which results in discoloration on the skin's surface.
From fruits of research into melanin and Shiseido's technological capabilities, the Japanese brand developed White Lucent, a product line which features an advanced skin whitening formulation and an exclusive retexturising technology.
The new whitening regimen is targeted at not just Asians but will be marketed to customers worldwide in 2004.
Takai says that the launch of this product line responds to a dual desire for a fairer complexion without dark spots and freckles among Asian consumers and radiant skin without dullness and uneven skin tone with regard to US and European consumers.
"Of course Caucasians have white skin but they do have concerns about dull and dry skin due to the climate. UV rays also make freckles and dark spots more pronounced. So they need special whitening products to clarify the complexion, fade dark spots and retexturise the skin from within," Takai explains. "Both Asian and Caucasian's needs are the same in that they require products to boost skin clarity and make the skin more supple."
Whitening products will therefore remain a "fair" favourite among all races because in this planet called Earth pale pulchritude prevails.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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http://www.bangkokpost.net/en/160104_Realtime/16Jan2004_real21.html
Whiter shade of pale
COSMETICS: The pursuit of fair skin is now an integral part of skincare
Story by KANOKPORN CHANASONGKRAM
Caucasians apply whitening products to boost skin clarity and fade dark spots. White Lucent products aim to control melanin and improve skin texture.
Asia is renowned as a terrain where women have a passion for pale skin.
Naturally, giants in the cosmetics industry have capitalised on this craving by offering whitening products that have been specifically developed for Asian skin and many Indian damsels, Thai ladies, and Japanese gals have taken the bait.
Despite the fashion for a fair complexion, farang females glance at the looking glass and assume that they are outsiders of this "blanc beauty" culture, though in the near future, whitening products may be the skincare of choice for women of all skin colours _ yellow, brown or white.
Actually white beauty is nothing new to Caucasians. Hark back to ancient Greece when women used white ceruse on their faces to appear pale and pretty.
Because ceruse was a poisonous substance, the practice of coating faces with this ancient whitening agent was condemned by the Greek physician Galen.
Regardless of the toxicity of bleaching agents, women in the past endured side effects to attain alabaster skin.
Ceruse and toxic solutions made of lead and mercury were popular during the Renaissance and in Queen Elizabeth I's era, women also painted their faces with white ceruse to primp up a porcelain complexion.
White Lucent products aim to control melanin and imporve skin texture.
As a timeless trend, the pursuit of paleness is now more popular among Asian societies and the demand for a milky complexion drives a thriving market for whitening products.
Unfortunately, some women today fall prey to manufacturers who still include mercury in their whitening formulations.
By contrast well-established companies have devoted their resources in R&D to find harmless whitening ingredients.
In 1917, Shiseido introduced its first whitening products, Shiseido Whitening Cucumber. Since then the Japanese company has spearheaded R&D of whitening cosmetic products from various angles, including drug development, to respond to rising consumer demand.
Advances in Japanese dermatology caught the attention of distinguished dermatologist Dr Thomas Fitzpatrick of Harvard University who expressed a desire for a joint US-Japan symposium and Shiseido's first international conference entitled the Light and Skin Seminar was held in 1972.
The meeting discussed the effect of UV rays on human skin and how dermatologists should respond to this problem.
From then on, the whitening concept evolved beyond bleaching the skin to respond to the beauty buzz.
Knowledge about sun-induced skin damage also established a practice for people to slap on sunblock.
In the whitening market, other Japanese, American and European brands jumped on the bandwagon and bombarded consumers with products that are claimed to perform melanin reduction miracles through ingredients such as various vitamin C derivatives, arbutin, and kojic acid.
Even though melanin formation is one of the body's essential defensive responses against harmful UV rays, excess or uneven production of melanin can be a menace to both Caucasians and Asians. Sun rays stimulate melanin production in melanocytes by triggering the enzyme tyrosinase that changes melanin precursors into brown melanin pigments, which darken the complexion and deposit as brown spots and freckles.
"Nowadays women around the world, especially Asian women, realise the importance of taking care of their skin," says Nobuyuki Takai, managing director of Shiseido Thailand. "As we know UV rays cause skin damage, and whitening products now play an important role in skincare by not only inhibiting melanin production but also reducing dull and uneven complexions, thus brightening the skin for a more beautiful complexion."
Recent research has discovered that melanin production also takes place outside the melanocytes and that when a person is under stress, there may be an increase in the melanin level, which results in discoloration on the skin's surface.
From fruits of research into melanin and Shiseido's technological capabilities, the Japanese brand developed White Lucent, a product line which features an advanced skin whitening formulation and an exclusive retexturising technology.
The new whitening regimen is targeted at not just Asians but will be marketed to customers worldwide in 2004.
Takai says that the launch of this product line responds to a dual desire for a fairer complexion without dark spots and freckles among Asian consumers and radiant skin without dullness and uneven skin tone with regard to US and European consumers.
"Of course Caucasians have white skin but they do have concerns about dull and dry skin due to the climate. UV rays also make freckles and dark spots more pronounced. So they need special whitening products to clarify the complexion, fade dark spots and retexturise the skin from within," Takai explains. "Both Asian and Caucasian's needs are the same in that they require products to boost skin clarity and make the skin more supple."
Whitening products will therefore remain a "fair" favourite among all races because in this planet called Earth pale pulchritude prevails.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous story Next story
Front page News Business Entertainment