We’ve read horror stories about skin whitening—products, for instance, that contain toxic ingredients like mercury, resulting in consumers ending up with patchy, blotchy skin instead of a fairer one.

At a time when whitening is being aggressively marketed in the Philippines, these kinds of stories illustrate the lengths some women will go to lighten their complexions—and the dangers this obsession may carry.

The vast selection of skin-whitening creams on supermarket and drugstore shelves is a testament to an industry that has flourished over the past decade, with four out of 10 women all over Southeast Asia and in the Philippines using a skin-whitening cream, according to a survey conducted by Synovate, a market research company.

The skin-whitening craze is not just for the face. Recently, popular skincare brand Vaseline introduced a new innovation—Instant Fair Lotion for the body.

Thanks to years of careful research, the newest product in the brand’s range is said to have microreflectors and triple sunscreen protectors to lend skin that instant whitening effect.

Similar to illuminating or light-reflecting products used for the face, both microreflectors and Titanium Dioxide achieve the same effect for the body, diffusing and reflecting light to instantly give the appearance of fairer-looking skin.

Another known whitening agent, vitamin B3 (or Niacinamide) gives gradual skin lightening. Together with broad UVA and UVB protection, the end product promises to help diminish

hyperpigmentation to achieve fairer skin over time.

I got to test the product during the recent product launch, and one thing I noticed was that the lotion did give that instant lightening effect, considering that my skin is a bit fair to begin with.

Vaseline also unveiled its Skin Studio—a gallery of Vaseline products and innovations through the years. The Skin Studio will serve as a traveling showcase of the Vaseline heritage as well as its established skin expertise around the Philippines. You can catch these Vaseline Instant Fair Lotion booths in selected venues around the country, where you may also try the product and see for yourself how it can make your skin visibly fairer in an instant.