Preliminary Proposal for Final Project Title: Fair and Lovely, or Just Plain Broke?

Research Question: How do products on the market used for skin lightening work? How do they compare to natural/ayurvedic products such as egg whites, etc? Are there any side effects from either product? Introduction: In western culture, being tan, or appearing sun kissed is attractive- in fashion. However, in eastern culture- mainly in India, being fair is the ultimate sign of beauty. Indian culture pressures both men and women alike to be pale, even more than there is a pressure to be tan in western countries; men and women in India attempt to lighten their skin as much, if not more than men and women in America get spray and natural tans. This obsession with being fair is due to appearing more Aryan or to appear like a member of a higher caste. Due to this obsession, there are many products in the market that advertise skin lightening by three shades or more. These come in the form of ayurvedic/ all natural as well as products that are topical creams. Some such products include Fair and Lovely, sandalwood paste, egg white, honey, some lentils, milk, papaya, etc. The market product, Fair and Lovely, has been for sale since 1978, in India. It claims to use all natural products and no bleaches, making it safe to use. This obsession is promoted by ads that picture darker skin tones as ugly, horrific and unwanted by potential grooms, and work places. This has interested us in investigating the actual effectiveness and health of the skin if one uses these products in order to appear fair complexioned. Hypothesis: The active cultures and protein found in yogurt and egg white (ayurvedic products) inhibits melanin concentration, which causes the appearance of lighter skin; the chemical carbon compounds found in products such as Fair and Lovely also inhibit melanin concentration, but at a more rapid rate. Materials: -Fair and Lovely -Egg white -Plain Yogurt -Camera Procedures: 1. On clean skin, apply about a quarter sized amount of Fair and Lovely Complexion cream, once in the morning, once in the night. Repeat everyday for the next three weeks. 2. Person two will apply one egg white, and one tablespoon of plain yogurt on clean skin, twice a

Preliminary Proposal for Final Project day, everyday for the next three weeks. 3. Both test subjects must get exactly 15 minutes of sunlight at exactly 6:00 PM everyday, for the next three weeks. 4. Pictures must be taken of the face and neck area everyday at night.