Skin of Colour and the Challenges of Colourism

For years, the beauty industry has overlooked skin of colour, leaving those of us with melanin-rich skin struggling to find products that actually work. Most mainstream beauty brands cater to lighter skin tones, sidelining the unique needs of darker complexions. Why is that? Well, a lot of it comes down to colourism—a deeply ingrained issue that’s shaped not just the beauty industry but society as a whole.

Colourism & My Personal Experience

Let’s talk about colourism—a form of discrimination that favours lighter skin over darker skin, even within the same racial or ethnic groups. It’s a legacy tied to colonial history and the idea that lighter skin is more beautiful, successful, or desirable. This belief subtly permeates everything—from beauty ads and movie roles to family expectations.

Personally, I felt the weight of colourism growing up in a western country and while it’s not always easy to talk about, I know these experiences resonate with many in the Rock Melan community, so I feel a responsibility to share.

As a kid, I did things like avoid taking my mum’s Indian cooking to school because I didn’t want to stand out for the smell of curry. I’d cover my hairy legs and tan skin because I’d been taught that those weren’t things to be proud of. I even skipped playing sports, fearing names like “blackie” or “kaali”—not just from strangers but from people in my own family and community. Most of my childhood was spent indoors, avoiding the sun, terrified that getting darker would only bring more judgment.

It took years—and studying medicine—for me to understand that my melanin is something to embrace, not hide. Melanin is our skin’s natural protector against the sun, and this beautiful bronze skin is something to celebrate. It also took my sister, Simran, telling me as an adult that my rich, bronze complexion was beautiful. She pointed out how my skin brought out my natural curves and contours, and that validation from someone so close to me was transformative.

That sisterly advice helped shape the vision of Rock Melan. Like an older sister who isn’t afraid to speak up and tell you the truth, Rock Melan stands firm in challenging outdated beauty ideals. We exist to help people with melanin-rich skin embrace their natural beauty and let go of the toxic idea that lighter skin is somehow “better.” It’s time we celebrate our melanin for the strength and beauty it brings.

So, let’s be the change in brown beauty ideals—together.

Our vision at Rock Melan is to “be the change in brown beauty ideals our mothers needed, our sisters believe in and our daughters and future generations deserve!”