[tottycat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated_xtc

I'm not sure, but when I was in Hong Kong a couple years ago, the hugest thing going was the skin whitening potions. Sort of like the new fad, it's not always about actual having WHITE skin per se, but to have lighter skin that's evenly toned with no freckles, sun spots or stuff like that imo.

You are right about that, but that's not a new trend per se. I am a case in point...since I am 50% Celtic and 50% Japanese, I got the double whammy in the hyperpigmentation department. If I don't wear SPF 50 everyday, not only do I tan as soon as I go out in the sun (not very likely here in London this time of year, but I do tan rapidly), my face explodes with freckles. If you look at my skin close up, you will see a zillion freckles, just like those of a red-head, because half of my family has milk-white skin and blue eyes (and never tans). So, I have the worst of both worlds in the hyperpigmentation department -- these freckles can enlarge into big sun spots if I am not careful. You can see this effect on rural women in East Asia, who have never worn sun protection in their life.

So, I do use whitening formulations by Shiseido, NOT to appear whiter (for heaven's sake, I am NC25, I don't want to be any paler), but to damp down melanin production and prevent age spots. Oh, and don't forget the SPF--I wear a minimum of 15 even if I'm not leaving the house, upto SPF 50 when I am outside in sunny weather, even in the UK.

So, it's not just pale redheads that have tons of freckles! I have just as many, but they are not as noticeable because I am not extremely pale (e.g. NW15).