Why So Pale? Ah, That's Not Your Colour.

I had quite an interesting day at work today, and a little frustrating at that. Two West Asian girls came to the store to look at some make-up and so naturally I went over to assist. They were about a shade and a smidge darker than me and I am more or less (not even kidding) in between Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Lopez- yes, deal with it. In any case, they came in search of the perfect foundation but they kept insisting on trying on the lightest shades we have, and I mean colours within the Aryan colour swatch. Apparently, everytime they go to a counter, the ladies would often give them a foundation that would look too dark for their liking. Fair enough, counter sales people aren't always the best points of consultation when it comes to cosmetics because- let's face it- they (WE) are there to sell. We've all seen the Snicker-bar-ladies haven't we? The point is, perhaps under the harsh fluorescent lighting of Boots and Superdrug they looked a little off-colour. Bearing that in mind, I try a couple of shades on this girl which looked good in daylight. I was happy with it, but ultimately hers was the decision that mattered. Lo and behold- it was still too dark. 'I want to look like, really pale! It's my natural colour you see. Let's try the lightest one you have', she says. Maybe she wanted the Kardashian glow? I go half a shade lighter again, just down the centre of the face and told them that they could use a darker shade around the outside to mimic a glowy, radiant look. Nope, still too dark! Argh! Aggravated, I grab the lightest shade in the spectrum, one that even Nicola Roberts would find still dark for her snowy complexion, and laid it on her cheek....

[Image from Penelope's Oasis]

...ding, ding, ding! Apparently we have found the right colour! Yes. Turns out, these girls were trying to go for Beyonce post-airbrush and lightening, a la L'Oreal True Match (right). At what point do I throw the retail apron off and say that actually, the shade they want made them look anemic and slightly a little Cullen-like? Customers are always right they say, but if I can help them avoid looking like this season's colour block trend, would that be stepping over the line or by principle, doing a good deed? 

I for one like looking tanned. In fact, because my arms and face are more sunkissed than the rest of my body, I have asked Tasha on more than one occasion to help me 'bronze' out so the colour looks even. In the winter I cannot help but be a little pale, but my Bourjois bronzing bar is always at an arm's reach just so I have a hint of colour to cut through the sunless chill. I've never wanted to look fairer than my skin's seasonal graduation, and I don't think I would ever want it so much to go as far as to hook an IV full of derma-bleach either. But maybe I'm just way happier and more content with my natural colouring than most people? I can understand the difficulty of finding make-up to suit my tone because I am neither White or Black or simply Beige. Perhaps this craze has rooted from the necessity to use what was available and make it work. I've read and heard stories of ethnic models having to look white a few decades back because there was no make-up for their demographic on the market at the time. There used to be a cosmetic range in the Philippines in the 90s that literally whitened and bleached the skin upon application. EEEK! Maybe it was acceptable then- but today? With all the current cosmetic technology available, the latest being No.7's skin gadget reader- on top of newer formulas and a vast colour swatch (even with premium ranges), some people still prefer a rather unnatural version of themselves which just  pales in comparison. I always remember my mum (who was born naturally fair- freckles and all, therefore it was only predictable that she won local beauty contests) saying that 'people all over the world-that is outside Asia- work hard to achieve your colour. Be proud of your golden tan!' and so I have been for the last decade. 

This new gadget takes photos of your skin and matches it with the correct shade of base. No more excuses! [Image from Elle UK]

For years I have noticed that there is a craze, a culture trait if you will, with Asians (Western, Eastern, Southeeastern...whatever) and being pale. I'm not marginalising as I am aware there are others who share the same twisted sense, but merely remarking on something that I grew up around. No need to deny it- it's a fact. Growing up in the Philippines, celebrities always strived to look as white as they could as a sign of elitism, wealth and status. Now that I think about it (I am a Classicist after all), this mentality has been around for absolute eons. The difference is, the descendants of Zeus and Boudicca have learnt to embrace the sun, while the daughters of the East- naturally burnished- have forsaken their sunkissed gleam. Hell, they may as well go the full monty and brush on some white lead. If you were born fair, there will always be a slot free for you to be a Muse of some sort at school or even at a pageant. I've always been in-between, a kind of mellow golden, so I've never received any bullying for it...and let me tell you. Some things people say if you are dark can be very hurtful. The Japanese and South Koreans are complete Anglophiles (ahem, Sailor Moon..) while some Western Asians worship the ground Aishwarya Rai walks on because she's fair, and most Filipino celebs go to extreme lengths as far as glutathione IV-drips just to help their skin achieve or retain an alabaster gradient. I never got why they are so crazy with looking more or less Caucasian when Europeans flock to the sun-worshipping continents to achieve the perfect tan. I can't imagine any of these people gracing the Olympic grounds and beaches of Rio in 2016. I remember the last time I went back home in 2006, there was commercial on TV featuring a famous singer advertising this dermatologist/plastic surgeon's products to 'enhance and embrace the real you'. Right. And I'm supposed to feel better about myself?

Unfortunately, I have found that with such people, common sense just isn't strong enough and there's just no way of truly convincing somebody whose mind is already set. It's sad really, especially in an age where everywhere you turn, there's some kind of self-beauty and self-esteem mantra screaming at you to love yourself- popstars and fashion magazines alike. But like weeds that never die, there are still some who exist to warp someone's perception of beauty. Beauty may only be skin deep, but when a person can't even embrace their own skin- how in the world is he/she supposed to reach a nirvana state of self-actualisation and appreciation? It's obviously a deeper issue than just trying to look like you're glowing, but if you really want to glow- glow from within (I know, it's corny but there you go). Make-up is only really there to enhance or to be creative. Feeling good inside always counts for more than what a foundation will ever do for one's self. Just look in the mirror- if you see that it's not the best colour for your skin tone, move on to the next. Don't try to make it work. It shouldn't work, it should just be. 

There. I'm going to get off of my soapbox now and take a breather. However, bear in mind that if I see any of you looking two-toned from chin to chest, you better be wearing a pair of Chanel pumps around your neck or I will go at you with a sponge. Take a cue from Miss Aguilera's Beautiful, and stop listening to your peers. If they want to look paler than they really are, let them.  It's their face and not yours. After all, no one will judge you if you look like your natural self. Compliments are much more likely to be heard, and not to mention- great pride in not looking like you're about to keel over from dehydration and a bad case of mistaken identity. 

Lots of love!