Blac Chyna Has Reportedly ‘Never Applied’ The Skin-Lightening Cream She’s Promoting

Blac Chyna may be pushing a skin-lightening cream, but the former star of Rob & Chyna apparently doesn’t use the product herself.

While a rep for Chyna originally told TMZ that she’s been using the Whitenicious by Dencia dark spot corrector for several years to deal with hyperpigmentation, it seems she actually does not use the product. In a follow-up story on TMZ, sources close to the former reality star said it’s simply an endorsement deal she is paid to promote.

The product in question is Diamond Illuminating & Lightening Cream, which retails for $250. Created with Chyna, the product is said to give “a brightening glow for younger-looking skin” and “brightens, lightens without bleaching skin out.” It comes in a gold-topped jar encrusted with Swarovski crystals.

Whitenicious announced it was teaming up with Chyna in an Instagram post just a few days ago.

Blac Chyna

The use of skin-lightening creams is controversial. Chyna launched the brand in Lagos, Nigeria, a country where 77% of women use skin-lightening products on a regular basis, according to the World Health Organization. Mercury, a common ingredient found in skin-lightening soaps and creams, can also be found in eye makeup, cleansing products and mascara. However, Cameroonian pop singer Dencia, who founded the brand, told Ebony that her products do not contain mercury.
Many have said there is “encoded racism” in beauty campaigns. “Whitening is social conditioning wherein people internalize the ideal that ‘white is right’ and ‘white is most beautiful,’” writes Zoé Samudzi on Racked. “Beauty campaigns replete with grinning white (and fairer-skinned nonwhite) women convey the message that clear, bright, light skin begets a happy and beautiful woman; the messaging in these campaigns can be understood as part of a larger practice of social engineering where strategies are employed to influence attitudes and social practice within wider society.”

Chyna hasn’t commented on the backlash or about whether she uses the cream, and simply posted on her Instagram about the upcoming launch of the product. “Lagos, Nigeria, join me at the first official launch of my face cream this Sunday November 25 at the Whitenecious store,” she wrote. “Everyone is welcome.” A post about the cream on Whitenicious’ website doesn’t mention whether Chyna uses it, and a video on Instagram shows her simply holding it and smiling.

This isn’t the 30-year-old’s first foray into the beauty world. In 2017, she launched a 12-piece lipstick collection with Lashed Cosmetics, as well as a line of skin care products with BodyBlendz. She has also scored endorsement deals with other types of companies, such as the Tunes Audio headphone line. Chyna has recently made headlines for saying accusing her former partner, Rob Kardashian, of not paying enough child support for their daughter, Dream. Yahoo News