Yellow Beauty: Skincare Ending Child Marriage in Bangladesh
Refreshed July 20, 2021
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In many South Asian cultures, the haldi ceremony is performed at weddings. Turmeric is used in this yellow paste and is believed to ward off evil spirits, promise a life of prosperity, and give the couple a beautiful glow. We think this tradition should be celebrated. However, there's a hidden truth that isn’t often talked about. Nearly 50% of girls in South Asia are married before their 18th birthday. We don't want something as beautiful as the haldi ceremony to be associated with child marriage. We've made it our mission to help empower girls and prevent future child marriages.
— Yellow Beauty
Why I love their whole philosophy:
Cultural appropriation would be if Yellow Beauty profited off a South Asian custom or ceremony, but ignored the struggles or deep-rooted issues of their culture. However, Yellow Beauty shines a light on the beauty of South Asia while choosing to make the culture safer and more nurturing toward girls and women. WOW! Are you as speechless as I am?
THE TRUTH
Child marriage is a common practice in many communities in Bangladesh. Fueled by generations of poverty, this cycle is tied to low education levels and few economic opportunities, especially for girls. With limited choices for families, social customs that restrict the rights of women and girls are especially common, and prevent gender equality from flourishing.
More than one-fifth of girls in Bangladesh are married by the age of 15, the highest rate in the world.
While the legal age of marriage in Bangladesh is 18 years old, 59% of girls are married by the time they turn 18. This number is higher in the country’s rural areas, where 71% of girls are married before the age of 18. The situation is made worse by a lack of availability and access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, particularly for young, unmarried women.
Read stories of real women here
How does Yellow Beauty help?
Yellow Beauty works with Plan International Canada, specifically the Aparajita Project to which they donate 10% of their profits.
Plan International Canada (what they do):
Builds the agency of girls & boys to make decisions for their futures & to say ‘no’ to child marriage
Mobilizes families and communities to change attitudes & raise awareness of the harmful consequences of child marriage
Scale up age verification & marriage registration systems to help leaders at all level of government to prevent child marriage
The Aparajita Project (what they do):
The only way to truly end gender inequality is to improve not only the conditions faced by women and girls but also their social positions – how they are valued in society. This requires us to dig deep and uproot the systemic inequalities that stop gender equality from thriving. Ending child marriage is a crucial part of this mission. Aparajita, a Bengali word meaning 'women who never accept defeat', is a five-year project that will focus on reaching over 200,000 children, especially girls, by 2022. Young girls will strengthen their agency, claim their right to say no to early marriage and pregnancy, and be supported to influence decision-makers on issues that affect them.
About Yellow Beauty
Started by Jaz & Jamil (raised in a Bengali family)
At a family wedding, he experienced the Holud (Haldi) ceremony, which was one of the highlights of his visit. Unfortunately, the sad truth was revealed: a third of the girls in his homeland are married before their 18th birthday — and his own grandmother was married at just 9 years old.
Plant-based/vegan
Certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny
Read reviews here
Why turmeric?
Naturally brightens your skin, leaving you glowing
Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that naturally reduces melanin production in your skin—that means faded dark spots and acne scars, a more even skin tone, and lightened facial hair!
Shrinks breakouts & reduces redness
Turmeric is full of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, meaning it's amazing at reducing the appearance of pimples and helps calm conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
Lowers free-radical damage that causes premature fine lines
Because of its antioxidant properties, turmeric helps you retain your skin's elasticity even after long term UVB exposure. That means a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Soothes & hydrates dry skin
Turmeric works to hydrate and reinvigorate your skin by naturally speeding up the removal of dead skin cells in favour of healthy ones.
Golden Hour Face Wash
Stay Gold Facial Elixir
Red Erase Facial Scrub
Glow Dust Facial Mask
What causes are tugging on your heart? How can I shine a light on that issue on Empower Palette for you?
Post a comment or question below and don’t hesitate to share this post and help create a cycle of ending child marriage 😘
& remember to allow your authentic self to empower the women around you
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