THE government recently released a list that showed 56 out of 59 samples from cosmetic manufacturing companies had an excessive amount of mercury deemed unacceptable for human use. This list includes all famous local and international brands.

As girls, we use these creams in our teens. We all grew up and realised how ignorant for us it was to try to lighten the skin colour which was gifted to us by almighty Allah.

How can we talk about racism or expect other cultures to respect us if we can’t treat ourselves with the same dignity? Now I refuse to buy anything with the words ‘whitening’ or ‘brightening’. We have to break the notion that fair colour is the symbol of beauty.

We all are beautiful because Allah has created us — a friendly reminder that the fairness creams are toxic and it will cause our skins a long-term damage.

Aiman Ali
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2020