In beauty aisles across the globe, one product continues to spark controversy and concern: skin-lightening creams. For decades, the skin bleaching industry has thrived by selling the idea that lighter skin equals greater beauty, success, and desirability. But behind the glossy ads and promises of “flawless fairness” lies a much deeper story — one intertwined with colonialism, colorism, identity, and health risks. At Velvet Melanin, we believe in reclaiming our radiance. This is not just about skincare. It’s about rewriting narratives that have, for too long, devalued deeper skin tones and pressured people into harmful beauty practices. Today, we’ll take…