Ostensibly out of concern for young girls #Dove has launched a #StopTheBeautyTest campaign at the start of Navratri, the festival which honors and celebrates the feminine power.
Mothers are shown as judging their daughters by their appearance. As is a teacher who removes the glasses off a girl’s face (which teacher does that?). According to the video and print ads – Hindu mothers and teachers treat girls as a commodity whose main aim in life is marriage for which she must look good.
This is an irresponsible attempt by Unilever to alienate girls from their parents merely to peddle a soap.
Really Unilever? A woman who nurtured her child for 9 months in the womb will judge her by her appearance but a MNC is the saviour?
The same MNC which for decades told women that dark skin is a problem and the solution is Fair & Lovely Cream. A cream which was banned in some countries like Norway.
In a weekly report published on its official website on January 10 2020, the European Union warned that two ‘Fair & Lovely’ creams were banned in Norway as they contained toxic metal mercury and hydroquinone — a skin lightening agent.
The video ad shows a Hindu mother putting what seems to be a besan pack on the daughter’s face.
Besan pack :
To put the glow back in your face, mix around two tablespoons of besan, a few drops of lemon juice, and around one tablespoon of milk cream.
The consistency of the mixture should be smooth.
After cleaning and drying your skin using a cleanser or rose water, apply this mixture evenly all over your face and neck.
Keep it on for 15-30 minutes and once it is dry, wash it off with cold or lukewarm water.
Pat your skin dry and watch your skin glow!
Let’s look at what Dove contains.
Ingredients of Dove Soap (from the Dove website) :
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Oleate, Water (Eau), Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Laurate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Kaolin or (ou) Titanium Dioxide.
Using homemade face packs is safer for every age group. Pl #StopUsingChemicalProducts for your face and body. Homemade packs are soothing and will have no side effects. The chemicals will not pollute the water and pose problems for marine species. No plastic packs choking the planet. Homemade packs are wallet friendly and planet friendly.
Dear Unilever, This #DaughtersDay inviting you to #StopTheHypocrisy.
P.S readers – a great alternative to soap is to coarsely grind green gram(moong). Store it in a bottle. Take a teaspoonful of it, mix with water and apply the paste on your face. Massage it and leave it on for a few minutes. Wash it off gently. Skin feels soft and nurtured. You can grind enough for a week’s requirement. Replenish as needed.
