Do many Egyptians use skin whiteners to lighten their skin?

Question

I remember when I was in Egypt, I saw "Fair & Lovely" commercials about this sad looking dark girl but after she got light using "Fair & Lovely" creams. Although there are skin whiteners in America, it is not really advertised.

What is your opinion about ads like "Fair & Lovely"? Do you think it's okay or no? Do you think that it sends out a negative message that being lighter is better? In Egypt does the though of being lighter is better. I just want to hear your opinions. :-)

Answer 1

From my experience there, most Egyptian men who were clearly Egyptian/Arab -looking, not Nubian or of African descent, wanted to get darker, get a tan, get some sun at the beach. However, women I met generally preferred lighter skin. However, I don't think skin whiteners are commonly used.

Answer 2

in general we Egyptians feel ashamed from our own skin color, even in movies till now we like to make fum of people with black skin like a movie called: "haahaa we Tufahaa".

many girls has been rejected by the guys parents cuz they are "sumrr" means black in Arabic.

Answer 3

not many

i don't and don't know any one do

Answer 4

i have a friend who has darkish skin.

she keeps looking for skin lighteners like Fair and Lovely .

im fair , so i keep seeking a tan!

no one is satisfied with what they are .

so, i dont think that something or another gives a negative message .

the fact is that a product is advertised , and those who seek its effect get it .those who dont , dont get it .

it is human to seek what you dont have !

Answer 5

This isn't targeted for Ladies, Right?

Anyway I wouldn't use it, I like my tan adds to my exoticness  

Answer 6

Yes, many Egyptians use skin whiteners to lighten their skin.

The adds for these creams send out a negative message for having dark skin.

It is true that it is thought in Egypt that being lighter is better.

My opinion in this matter is that using these creams is part of the look that the person wishes to have. It is similar to wearing make up. The only problem is that I doubt that it is safe to use these creams. If an expert tells us that it is not bad for health to use them, then it is up to each one to decide how he/she wants to look like.

Answer 7

very few

most egyptians prefer the lighter ( but it's not a better or worse thing nor a racism - it's just the egyptian beauty standard )  

Answer 8

i totaly agree with u that these advertisments send negative messege the lighter is better, but the fact that most egyptians think the more lighter ur skin is, the more beautiful u r.acctually my sis thinks she is more pretty than me coz she is lighter.

Answer 9

That's kinda funny... considering "white" people are always trying to get tan.  Nobody is ever satisfied.

Answer 10

Well I personally love my dark/taned look its a symbol of my Egyptian-ness and i love my egytpian-ness andd im very proud to be egyptian LOL

but i know my friend uses the whitening cream thing only when she goes on vacation and gets really tanned. coz her skin gets tanned really easily and really dark... soo when she comes back she uses the whitening thing to light a bit of that tan.. but with her natural skin colur she doesn't whiten and she's egyptian too.. im pretty sure that egyptians are fine with being dark.. i hope so anyways coz we're not even that dark..  

Answer 11

you know what i hate that commercial cause is that mean that only white ppl is happy and dark one must be failed any how i hate it and dont use it cause i love to be darker as when we go to alex or marsamatroh or any where i dont wear the sun block i love sun and i love its effect