Dear Little Ruchi, Your Beautiful Brown Skin Is Not a Burden
The beauty industry has been my passion and job for years. I was adopted from India and have now worked on advocating for inclusion in the beauty Industry as a Digital Creator. I enjoy nothing more than beating my face, soaking my skin in a delicious face mask and telling my Instagram followers all about it.
You might recognise Ruchi Page @ruchipage as the Indian Australian writer, content creator and beauty influencer championing confidence and inclusion in your Instagram feed. Ruchi is also lending her voice to the Global Shades campaign calling for inclusivity in the beauty industry through acquiring all globally available complexion shades. Keep scrolling for Ruchi's letter to her younger self...
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Dear little Ruchi,
There are many moments in your life right now that are filled with confusion, curiosity and questions. You're learning to understand what shapes your identity and what makes you.
Take a breath, who YOU are does not need to be decided in one day.
Along this journey of self-understanding, you will soon learn the feelings of discomfort about your skin colour and its value in your daily life are not lonely thoughts. In fact, there is an entire army of brown-skinned girls and boys just like you feeling and questioning the same thing.
This is just the beginning. And eventually, togetherness will be the building blocks that shape strength and pride.
I want you to know the usual faces in magazines, on television and in movies you consume are about to change. The world you know will begin to diversify and a sense of belonging and self-appreciation will flood through.
As you grow into yourself and learn more about the need for representation, you will soon realise voices like yours are beginning to be heard. People are beginning to be seen. People like you. Those feelings of vulnerability will be used to challenge society’s expectations of what it means to belong.
You have spent far too long accepting the beauty industry for its colourism. It’s now time for the beauty industry to start accepting you in your entirety.
Remember when you wanted to try that foundation that only came in five shades and none of them suited, but you wanted it so bad that you bought it anyway?
What about the time you saved your money and travelled an hour and a half to a popular beauty counter, only to be turned away because they couldn’t cater for your skin tone? Or when you wanted to try a bronzer for the first time, but the deepest shade was too light to add warmth to your skin?
Remember when people would tell you, “but you don’t need foundation, you’ve got brown skin"? They were attempting to comfort you, but all it did was confine and limit you even further.
These are the memories that will fuel the fire to step up, stand with the Black, Indigenous and people of colour community and demand to be acknowledged.
You can watch more of Ruchi's story in her Global Shades video below...
Trust me, there's a glimmer of light at what seems like a never-ending tunnel.
There are people in charge of brands who understand your worth and want to create a new industry where the BIPOC community are of significance.
You are wanted, welcomed and understood.
Your brown skin is not a burden.
So, What's My Global Shades Foundation?
What: M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 30ml - A long-wearing liquid foundation that delivers medium to full buildable coverage and controls oil production for flawless matte skin.
Why I love it:
You know that friend you can rely on and trust with your biggest secret? You know, the one who ALWAYS shows up? Well, that’s M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid for me.
The satin finish formula is buildable and is currently carrying 67 shades. This foundation is incredibly comfortable to wear and durable. Put simply, it just works.
If I am heading out to an event and I need a foundation to photograph well AND look flawless in person, then studio fix foundation is the one I choose.
If you believe beauty in Australia should include everyone, sign our Global Shades digital petition today and share it using the hashtag #StockAllShades. Together, let’s commit to elevating the voices of Black, Indigenous and people of colour.
Read more experiences of beauty, identity and Global Shades foundations in these stories below:
*Global Shades photography by @mettesee.
