Vintage Advertisement for Skin Bleaching Products

Vintage Advertisement for Skin Bleaching Products

Popularity of skin bleaching in Senegal

Skin lightening products are common, with more than ⅓ of Senegalese women using skin lightening cream. Many of these products are made up of unknown components. In a study, it was found that 75% of women reported adverse effects to skin lightening treatments. Paleness as a beauty standard has colonial roots; Europeans favored lighter skin and often enforced the racist ideology that dark skin was evidence of racial inferiority. However, there are movements throughout Africa celebrating dark skin and opposing skin bleaching. The Senegalese model Khoudia Diop works in Paris and New York and is known for her very dark skin.

Lila Elrod

US National Library of Medicine

Keona Dordor
Abby Moschel

English and French

Francophone Africa, Senegal