Unilever to drop 'Fair' from its infamous 'Fair & Lovely' skin cream range

AFP

Following a massive backlash on social media, the Indian unit of Unilever on Thursday announced its decision to rebrand its "Fair & Lovely" range of skin products.

It said it will drop "fair" from the brand name, in a bid to make the products more "inclusive".

"We recognise that the use of the words 'fair', 'white' and 'light' suggest a singular ideal of beauty that we don't think is right, and we want to address this," Sunny Jain, president of Unilever's beauty and personal care division, said in a statement.

"We are making our skin care portfolio more inclusive ...a more diverse portrayal of beauty," Hindustan Unilever Chairman Sanjiv Mehta added in another statement.

It comes as Johnson & Johnson announced this month its decision to stop selling skin-whitening creams.

Many companies have been called out for selling products that promote a certain stereotype around people with darker skin tones.

 

More from Business

Coming Up on Dubai Eye

  • The Business Breakfast

    6:00am - 10:00am

    The Business Breakfast is the day’s must listen for the UAE’s business leaders, and those who aspire to be.

  • The Agenda

    10:00am - 1:00pm

    Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE.

BUSINESS BREAKFAST LATEST

On Dubai Eye

  • Is There Sufficient House Supply In UAE

    Dubai’s current population is more than double compared to almost twenty years ago, which now stands at 3.7 million. Lots of families are also moving to the UAE now. So what does it mean for the property market?

  • Noon's First Female Delivery Driver

    Glory Ehirim Nkiruka is Noon’s first ever female delivery driver. In her first ever interview, she explained why she loves her job, despite the heat!