Band-Aid Is Finally Adding Brown and Black Skin TonesBut People Are Rightfully Questioning Why It

April 2024 · 2 minute read

This week Band-Aid announced it would be expanding the shade offerings in their products—but many are rightfully asking why the company took so long to enact such an obvious change, one that people have been discussing for years and years.

“We hear you. We see you. We’re listening to you.⁣ We stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues, collaborators, and community in the fight against racism, violence, and injustice. We are committed to taking actions to create tangible change for the Black community,” the brand posted on Instagram. “We are committed to launching a range of bandages in light, medium, and deep shades of Brown and Black skin tones that embrace the beauty of diverse skin. We are dedicated to inclusivity and providing the best healing solutions, better representing you.⁣ ⁣ “In addition, we will be making a donation to @blklivesmatter.⁣ We promise that this is just the first among many steps together in the fight against systemic racism,” the post continued. “We can, we must, and we will do better.”

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The conversation about “nude” products—from foundations to stockings—is not new.

“Like most black women, I’m constantly reminded how ‘nude’ still overlooks many of us: I’ve had to mix multiple foundations, choose a black bra over so-called nude in the lingerie department, and search in vain to find a neutral shoe that actually matches my shade of brown,” Jessica Cruel wrote for Glamour in 2018. “And I’ve been told that pasty BB creams blend to match ‘any skin tone’ (really?). The disgruntled mumbles of women like me have morphed into a resonating shout on social media with hashtags like #NotMyNude: Why is ‘nude’ exclusive?”

Slowly but surely, the beauty industry (thanks in no small part to Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and its inclusive shaded range) has started to change. But there is still much work to be done, as evidenced by the fact that only now is Band-Aid expanding its offerings.

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