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Are cosmetics brands removing words such as 'light,' 'white' and 'fair' from their packaging?

Wednesday, July 1, 2020
By Claire Zimmerman
YES

In response to the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests, some beauty companies are steering away from marketing certain skincare products as lightening or specifically suitable for white skin. The head of Unilever's beauty and personal care business said the company would remove the words "fair," "white" and "light" from its advertising, communications and packaging, and will change the name of its "Fair & Lovely" skin products, which are sold across Asia.

L'Oreal says it's eliminating terms like "whitening" and "lightening" from what it calls "skin evening products," although the products themselves will remain on the market.

Johnson & Johnson said in a statement to NPR that it is discontinuing two brands of skin-lightening cosmetics sold in international markets.

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