While we’re opening up to the concept of celebrating the beauty of varied skin tones; there’s still a long way to go. Or so believes Dipthi Aashok, a Bengaluru-based make-up artist. Her recent initiative, #NotFair, voice against skin colour bias, is garnering traction online and off it. The beauty expert and marathon enthusiast tells us more, just as she’s all set to collaborate with city-based NGOs to offer free makeovers for mass marriages taking place in the rural areas in town, with efforts to dispel an expendable obsession with fairness...
The make-up artist works on a dusky beauty.
“As much as it baffled me, I must reveal how a large number of women have come to me with concealers, which were easily a shade or two lighter than their natural skin tone. They staunchly believed using a lighter concealer would make them appear lighter in an instant. In the past, whenever I refused to make a dusky bride appear unnaturally fairer, the responses have been like, ‘Oh, but using this product really helps make the complexion fairer, an expert told me she could make me fairer in a couple of hours. Why can’t you?’ Truth be told, the application of these products only made them appear masked and unnaturally white. As a beauty expert, I tried conveying the same as I believe make-up should compliment you, not overshadow you. Since the obsession is rampant among the lower strata and rural areas, I plan on reaching out to these sections in particular and create an awareness, as it’s high time we do,” shares Dipthi. The month-old initiative is garnering attention of the city folk by the hordes, with posts about harrowing prejudices and perspectives reflective of the same. “I’ve put out about 10-12 posts so far, and the responses have been tremendous. More than the physical aspect, when I see women fussing over wanting to appear a couple of shades lighter, it makes me really worried. Because irrespective of the number of whitening skin products that promise fairness in say seven or 14 days, it’s very misleading. We need to take care of our skin. And, most importantly, love it. I believe social media is a powerful medium, and would like to use it to channel some healthy vibes about one’s skin tone. I wish to create an environment that doesn’t discourages the, ‘Make me fairer’ view,” adds Dipthi.
Vouching that there’s always time for fitness, she adds, “I’m an active marathon runner and love taking to the tracks. The frequency of participating in marathons has dropped post delivery, but I try catching up whenever I can. That aside, gyming and reading takes up all my free time,” she concludes.
