I love Stylist Magazine; apart from being free there is always a range of interesting topics applicable to women of different races. Although I’ve seen some men reading it on the train too!
Stylist has done live debates about the lack of make-up for darker skin tones including the nude debate. Models from different ethnic backgrounds have featured in the magazine, which advertises a range of beauty products including afro haircare brand, Mizani (L’Oreal seem to want to cater for afro hair now. Or maybe it realises there are ££££ to be made). Of course I’m aware that other publications feature health and beauty topics related to women of different ethnicities, but as a mainstream publication Stylist has become more inclusive.
Why was I impressed when Stylist printed a double page spread called “African Beauty”, by Suzanne Scott, highlighting the natural resources of the Motherland which have become staple in western beauty products?
The fallacy that western and Asian beauty ingredients (which do have their benefits) are superior to those from Africa is ebbing away. From the solid mounds of Shea butter made across the continent including Ghana / Nigeria, to baobab tree seed oil harnessed in Botswana / Zimbabwe and marula tree oil from Namibia / Swaziland, Africa’s raw materials have been used by its people for centuries. It seems that fighting acne, stretch marks and maintaining soft cleansed skin is important to women (and men) around the world and has been so for thousands of years.
Photo: theguardian.com
With beauty comes nudity.
There’s been a growing trend toward nude makeup; giving the illusion that you’re not actually wearing makeup or of a more ‘natural’ look. This nude style has slipped into fashion, with dresses and shoes also advertised as ‘nude’. Up until now, I’ve been on my own silent protest regarding ‘nude’ products, mainly because the majority of them are not nude for all!
Does this matter?
Yes it does.
If a company makes a dress, shoe or eye shadow for example, and calls it ‘nude’, it’s supposed to represent the natural colour of skin. If only one colour is defined in this way, then every other natural tone is excluded. Personally, I’ve never bought a product described as nude that doesn’t resemble my skin colour because it’s false advertising or is targeted at a specific consumer, which obviously isn’t me!
I’ve been lucky to find tights that match my skin tone (described as ‘chocolate’ on the label) locally by a brand called Gypsy, but this hasn’t always been easy. Thank goodness there are other brands providing more choice for ‘nude’ tights including a variety of skin tones, such as Brun et Noir Hosiery. Before Marks & Spencer started selling ‘chocolate’ tights they, like most high street stores had ‘nude/natural/tan’ tights which only came in one shade. It’s not just hosiery that has limited the description of ‘nude’ to one shade; the makeup industry has been culprit too. This is why when I saw the article in Stylist ‘This is not the only nude’, I thought, “at last someone states the obvious!” The title sums up the article perfectly; in it there are six broad categories for skin tones and natural coloured makeup which compliments each tone with the quote:
“Now is the time to reclaim the word ‘Nude’ to mean shades unique to the user.”
Hit the nail on the head!
You shouldn’t need an excuse to treat yourself but Valentine’s Day is hot on our heels, whatever your relationship status find your nude, and treat yourself!
The categories according to Stylist are below (I’ve added in pics of celebs who I think fit into each) 🙂
Type 1 – Very fair, always burns in the sun, hardly tans
Photo: unrealitytv.co.uk
Type 2 – Fair, burns in the sun, tans with difficulty
Photo: Huffington Post
Type 3 – Fair, burns but tans gradually
Photo: Bing Images
Type 4 -Medium, hardly ever burns, tans with ease
Photo: Bing Images
Type 5 – Brown, rarely burns, tans profusely
Photo: Bing Images
Type 6 – Dark brown, deeply pigmented
Photo: blackbeautymagazine.com
Ad+s Diaspora Series
The Purpose Copywriter 