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Indonesia - Michael Jackson Whitening House

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia – On any given day, the poolside of the Yogyakarta Hyatt Regency Hotel swims with pasty, Vitamin-D-deprived European and American flesh. Businessmen snatch a few hours of sunshine between meetings, warming their bellies in the tropical morning rays. Visiting honeymooners make the most of clear spells to sip cocktails in the sunshine while they bake in coconut-scented tanning oil.

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As the Westerners cook themselves brown, a hundred meters down the street, at the Michael Jackson Whitening House, Indonesian men and women pay exorbitant fees to have their dark skin scrubbed, scraped and burned away with exotic chemicals.

The Michael Jackson Whitening House is just one of several salons and clinics in this student-filled city of half a million in Central Java that offers skin-whitening treatments.

The salons, which are most popular with the city’s wealthy and young elite, offer a more extreme version of skincare that is already commonplace in Indonesia. In supermarkets and drugstores here, major brands offer a vast selection of skin-lightening products, from soap to lotions to “restorative” face masks that promise astonishing results.

Far from taboo, the cosmetic process of skin-lightening seems to have become a popular and mainstream form of self-beautification among young Indonesians. Interviews with several 20-somethings and teenagers in this city revealed that most young people find the use of skin-lightening products and the more extreme “treatments” entirely acceptable, if prohibitively expensive.

source : http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/indonesia/101125/indonesia-michael-jackson...

Race, Beauty and Skin Bleaching

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A Dominican-American artist examines the delicate relationship between beauty and race relations in a new exhibition in Washington Heights, Manhattan. NY1's Shazia Khan filed the following report.

Growing up with dark skin and curly hair in Washington Heights, Dominican-American artist Tony Peralta says he was considered to be ugly by his community and his own family.

"My mom would say things like, 'You know, I don't know where you came out with such bad hair.' She was like, 'Oh, it's from your fathers side.' She would say things like that and, you know, they say it kind of with humor, but as a young child, you know, it starts just kind of like picks at your self-esteem," says Peralta. "And then from, you know, the color issue, like me being the darkest one from my family and never being seen as like the handsome one."

In his deeply personal show, "Complejo," which means "complex" in Spanish, on view at the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, Peralta pushes conversation about his culture's standard of beauty, which he says is light skin, straight hair and a narrow nose.

"Complejo" was inspired in part by the dramatic transformation of Sammy Sosa, the former Chicago Cubs slugger of Dominican decent, who now has straight hair and a significantly lighter complexion. 

"I don't have anything against Sammy Sosa, but it's just something that needs to be spoken about. It's just like the elephant in the room and people don't talk about race relations like that between each other," says Peralta.

http://bronx.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/arts/144550/upper-manhattan-art-exhibit-takes-on-racialized-beauty-ideals

 

The Beginnings of Skin Bleaching ?

History of Skin Care: The Royalty of Ancient Egypt, 3000 BC-1070 BC
By  Jill Knowles

Secrets of the Egyptian Queens

The Ancient Egyptians were known for their knowledge of beauty and their appreciation of luxury. Even today, the remains of their vast palaces, temples and monuments attract archeologists and tourists alike. The Egyptians are legendary for their precision and technique, using methods that today's technology still cannot explain. Their quest for perfection was not limited to the great pyramids, however, but also to the perfection of the human appearance. In fact, the Egyptians' knowledge of beauty is as legendary as the sphinx, and they were the first culture to develop and record their skin care methods and techniques.

Many Egyptian queens were renowned for mastering the finer points of skin care and beauty. Even today, Cleopatra is considered to have been one of the most beautiful women who ever lived. She was an avid student of beauty techniques and authored one of the first books of beauty secrets. Her secrets included bathing in milk and rubbing her skin with aloe vera. Queen Nefertiti and her two daughters were also renowned for their beauty and were buried with a number of cosmetic implements, such as tubes of the kohl they used to line their eyes. Queen Thutu was another pioneer of make up and skin care techniques. She used pumice stones to exfoliate her skin, and had a special bronze dish used to mix herbs and plant compounds into beauty ointments and eye shadows.

The Desert Effect

Skin care techniques were not only important for queens, however, but were an important part of Egyptian court life. The hot, dry desert air took its toll on the skin, and many cosmetics were developed to keep the body's largest organ soft and supple. In fact, combating the climate was one of the main concerns of many Egyptian beauty regimens. Most noble men and women wore their hair short or shaved their hea

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ds to allow for better aeration and easier scalp care. They covered their bare heads with elaborate wigs made of human hair, plant fibers and sheep's wool. Plant oils were used as moisturizers and were liberally applied to the whole body. While these were necessary to combat the effects of the dry air, they were also scented with fine perfumes which helped keep the wearer smelling fresh all day. In fact, the Egyptians were expert at mixing perfumes and many of the perfume pots found in tombs still contain traces of their original scents, thousands of years after they were buried.

While their sense of cleanliness and hygiene may have originated in response to the climate, the Egyptians soon developed elaborate skin care systems based on a deep knowledge of plants, oils and organic compounds. Noble men and women were expected to bathe daily, and many applied scented oils to their bath water. Exfoliating scrubs were made from sand and aloe vera. Numerous formulas for body oils were developed to help treat specific skin ailments. Some formulas, such as those made to fade stretch marks, were intended mainly for women. Others, such as those made to prevent balding and promote hair growth, were intended mainly for men.

The Egyptian nobility also developed a number of cosmetics intended for special occasions. Many perfumes and incenses were used in religious ceremonies, particularly during the last rights before burial. Other cosmetics were used for more festive occasions. Women and men would attend parties, their eyes lined with thick kohl and their heads adorned with their most elaborately decorated wigs. They would often attach cones of perfumed wax to the tops of their wigs. These cones would slowly melt, releasing the scent of jasmine and frankincense into the air.

The Beginning of the Book of How to Make the Old Young

The Egyptians valued youthful vibrancy and beauty and developed many concoctions intended to smooth away wrinkles and regrow lost hair. Some of these were even compiled into a book titled The Beginning of the Book of How to Make the Old Young. Fenugreek, a grass-like plant with a number of medicinal and ceremonial applications, was the main ingredient in many anti-aging lotions. Concentrated fenugreek oil was considered to be a potent skin care treatment that would erase wrinkles and other blemishes, leaving the skin eternally youthful. Even in death, good skin care and a youthful appearance were important to the Egyptians. Many tombs contain the perfume pots, the make up containers and the remnants of body oils necessary for maintaining a beautiful, youthful appearance in the afterlife.

To read more about skincare in ancient Egypt take a look at:
by: Judith Illes -- http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag06012000-mag4.htm
How Did Cleopatra VII Look Like? -- http://www.ancient-egypt-history.com/2011/04/how-did-cleopatra-vii-look-like.html

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?History-of-Skin-Care:-The-Royalty-of-Ancient-Egypt,-3000-BC-1070-BC&id=6473864] History of Skin Care: The Royalty of Ancient Egypt, 3000 BC-1070 BC

Get a More Even Skin Tone

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Eat well and chose an appropriate skin regimen. It might be easier thatn you think to get a more even skin tone.

How to Achieve Even Skin Tone Naturally
By Joanna Vargas

Even skin tone is the much sought after outcome of maintaining daily skin care routine. However many people don't realize that this is also the outcome of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While we perform many beauty rituals that change over time as we age sometimes we realize that less is more.

Some people thinking that all skin care concerns can be care for on the outside soon overwhelmed their skin with too many products ranging from exfoliants to moisturizing serums. In the end we realize that less is more-the less we overwhelm our skin with products the better the results in the overall health of our skin.

Finding a reliable regimen can be challenging depending on your skin type, but fewer chemicals in the skincare products we choose guarantee the preservation of your skin's condition and tone.

What Does Diet have to do with Skin Tone?

The diet you choose has so much to do with the health of your skin. Certain foods, like mango, help your skin to better absorb and retain moisture. Then there are fruits and vegetables that are diuretics that help release toxins from your body, while they flush pores for increased blood circulation and restoration of epidermal cells. An inner cleanse that frees your body of toxins leads to skin that is rejuvenated and vibrant. The reliable cleanse of sufficient water intake promises and will naturally deliver hydration throughout the body that ultimately deters the onset of premature aging. There's no better way to decrease the likelihood of wrinkles and fine lines than with adequate moisture for the body. Foods like avocado that stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin help prevent sagging skin that make the skin look more aged. Most important are those fruits that are rich in antioxidants that help protect your skin from ever present free radicals in the form of environmental pollutants, chemical preservatives, herbicides, pesticides, smoke and sun exposure. When you choose pomegranates, plums, blueberries, cranberries and a variety of darker colored fruits, your skin will benefit from their natural abundance of antioxidants. And don't forget the fresh catch of the day: salmon is one type of fish that is full of Omega-3 for fatty acid content, will nourish your skin for improved elasticity, strength and the most desirable even tone. For the vegetarians out there Omega-3 can also be found in flaxseed.

What Daily Cleansing Ritual Achieves Toned Skin?

The simpler the ingredients, the better the results will be. Choose skincare products with as few chemical ingredients as possible-if you can afford it choose organic products for the best results. Like the adage goes-if you can't pronounce the ingredients in it, you might want to avoid using the product. Even if you simply choose the less expensive home made skincare options using yogurt, honey, oatmeal, carrot and cucumber-choose organic. In this way you avoid the damaging chemical pesticides and herbicides used to cultivate non-organic botanicals. Consider what your skin type is and what you may be allergic to. For example, the peel of Kiwi, a fruit that is sometimes used in skin cleansers and creams, is a common allergen. Gentle cleaners, like a Vitamin C wash, are best and should always be used prior to applying any facial mask you choose. Exfoliants should not be used daily, giving your face the chance to properly regenerate skin cells. When you over-exfoliate, your skin overcompensates by becoming oily to make up for its losses. Your skin will respond in the same manner if you use hot water in your cleansing regimen. Use lukewarm water to wash and rinse your face for the best results-- that is less prone to dry out skin and decrease its even tone.

Finally, your choice of moisturizer should be a lightweight one that will not clog your pores or irritate your skin. Serums offer a higher concentration of active ingredients for optimal benefits for both day and nighttime use. You want ultimate absorption and retention with any moisturizer that leaves the skin soft and supple with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Avoiding fragrance-laden creams can reduce the chance of undesirable acne. Finding a hydrating option loaded with essential vitamins and minerals that will ensure your skin's overall glowing health that is perfectly toned.

Don't forget exercise is the one of the best ways to clear your body of toxins and unclog pores as you sweat. Afterwards, take 30 minutes in a steam or dry sauna for completely restored evenly toned skin.

Joanna Vargas is a graduate from the University of Chicago and is a celebrity facialist known for the best facial in New York City. She has a holistic http://joannavargas-skincare.com/ skincare products line and sells full body http://joannavargas.com/led-light-therapy-facials/ LED light therapy beds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Achieve-Even-Skin-Tone-Naturally&id=6486465

Exco Levi - Bleaching Shop - Denounces the Practice of Skin Bleaching

 

here you go - I had to press play a couple of times to get most of the lyrics, and I am still trying to find the lyrics to this moving song.

List of Banned Skin Whitening Products

Chicago-based scientist Dr. Joe DiGangi, using an X-ray Fluorescence device that analyzes chemicals on products, detected 28,600 parts per million (ppm) of mercury in one product labeled Miss Beauty Magic Cream. The said amount of mercury was way above the limit of one ppm under Philippine and Chinese regulations.

List of Banned Skin Whitening Products

DiGangi also found the Jiaoli 7-Day Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set Cream to contain 12,400 ppm of mercury and the JJJ Magic Spots Removing Cream containing 9,610 ppm of mercury, which is known to harm the nervous system, kidneys and other organs.

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Ten other China-made skin whitening products also contained mercury. These are the

• Flower Woman 7-Day Whitening and Spot and Night Set Cream with 7,754 ppm,
  
• Jiaoli Miraculous Cream with 7,665 ppm,
  
• Sara Glutathione Sheep Placenta Whitening and Anti-Spot Cream with 6,210 ppm,
  
• Szitang 7-Day Specific Whitening and Spot AB Set Cream with 5,886 ppm,
  
• Beauty Girl Natural Olive and Sheep Essence 10-Day Double Whitening Cream with 3,638 ppm,
  
• Miss Beauty Excellent Therapy Whitening Cream with 2,304 ppm,
•  Aichun Beauty Green Tea Whitening Speckle Removing Series Cream with 1,820 ppm
  
•  Aichun Beauty Whitening Freckle Day and Night Cream with 1,574 ppm.

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90056049?Chinese%20cosmetic%20products%20sold%20in%20Manila%20contain%20high%20levels%20of%20mercury#ixzz1UMddQY5D