Difference between Moisturizer and Fairness Cream

Key Difference: Moisturizers are a type of mixture that aims to increase the hydration, i.e. moisture content of the skin. This is important as dry skin can crack, is flaky and is more prone to infections that healthy skin. Fairness Creams are exactly what they say. They are creams that claim that they can make the skin fairer.

Moisturizer Beauty is skin deep. While everyone preaches that age old adage, not a lot of people follow it. Today, beauty means physical beauty which everyone seeks to attain, no matter what the cost, and that cost of beauty products is constantly increasing.

Moisturizers are a type of mixture that aims to increase the hydration, i.e. moisture content of the skin. This is important as dry skin can crack, is flaky and is more prone to infections that healthy skin. There are many different types of moisturizers; natural as well as chemical. Some natural moisturizers include honey, oil, milk, cream, etc. There are also many chemical moisturizers that are available on the market.

Moisturizers serve a variety of purposes, such as preventing dry skin, treating dry skin, protecting sensitive skin, improving skin tone, improving skin texture, and masking imperfections.

Moisturizers come in many different types; this includes light moisturizers, heavy moisturizers, moisturizers for normal skin, moisturizers for dry skin, moisturizers for oily skin, moisturizers for aging skin, moisturizers for sensitive skin, etc. Today there are also many products on the market that serve dual purpose, for example a moisturizer with SPF, which moisturizes skin as well as protects it against sun’s harmful rays. Moisturizers may also come as part of fairness creams.

Fairness Creams are exactly what they say. They are creams that claim that they can make the skin fairer. There is a presumption in society that lighter or fairer skin is prettier or more beautiful than darker skin. Hence, there are many products available on the market that claim to make the skin whiter or fairer.

Fairness creams are also known as skin lightening creams, bleaching creams, whiteners, skin brighteners, or skin lighteners. These creams basically work by reducing a pigment called melanin in the skin. Melanin is what gives the skin its color; darker skin has more melanin, whereas lighter skin has less.

However, many dermatologists say that no product has the power to magically change the color of your skin. These fairness creams usually include various chemicals that bleach the skin hence making it appear lighter at least for some time; however, many don’t actually work. Additionally, overusing these products can lead to damaging the skin, especially sensitive skin. Overusing these products can also lead to increased pigmentation.

Comparison between Moisturizer and Fairness Cream:

	Moisturizer	Fairness Cream
Also known as	Emollients	Skin lightening creams, bleaching creams, whiteners, skin brighteners, or skin lighteners
Description	Moisturizers are a type of mixture that aims to increase the hydration, i.e. moisture content of the skin.	Fairness Creams are creams that claim that they can make the skin fairer. However, many dermatologists say that no product has the power to magically change the color of your skin.
Purpose	To moisturize and hydrate skin.	To make a skin lighter; to increase fairness.
Risks	Low risk. However, one should check the safety of the ingredients it contains and the risk of bacterial contamination. People with sensitive skin should also make sure that it will not irritate the skin.	High risk. May contain chemicals that are harmful to the skin, including some that are actually banned in western countries such as hydroquinone. May include steroids that will have adverse effects. Long term use of skin whiteners can lead to pigmentation, hence making the skin darker.