Thais are obsessed with appearances both physically and socially. As a result, there are some pretty weird beauty products out there. Not all directly from Thailand, but nevertheless, Thailand has adopted them like a plastic surgeon’s knife.
But it wasn’t until I was recording Thai Girl Talk’s podcast about the death of Athitiay “Kratae” Eiamyai (a Thailand “pretty” a model for high end products) that I learned about more bizarre and fashionable products. For example, did you know there is a whitening cream for your vagina?
At first, I just scrunched up my eyebrows trying to picture what that would look like. I kept thinking, is the way it looks now, you know, darkish, undesirable? But my podcasting partner, a Chiang Mai native, explained the whitening product originally comes from India and is considered an aid in helping your nong sao or “little sister” look more youthful.
Good god. I don’t know about you sisters, but as I am enjoying my last year in my 30s, the last thing I want to worry about is how my nong sao is appearing to the opposite sex. I’m already keeping a closed eye on my wrinkles and greying hair.
I figure most men would be simply thrilled to meet your little sister, and if he doesn’t like the way you look, then you need to tell his nong chai, pope gun mai.
Product #2 is the vaginal enhancement and tightening cream. Please see above for my feelings on the matter. I think we’d have to be really careful about what we are applying to such a sensitive area, an area I might add, that is already amazing. But what do I know?
Next up! Breast slapping.
Yeahhhh. Doesn’t it feel like some perverted guy’s boob of an idea? I haven’t tried it, I guess, because it would take a long long long long long long, very long time to get any results.
The other product l learned about through talking with fellow podcaster, Mia, is skin whitening injections. Ewwwwww.
I know. Disgusting. Well, the super gross part was hearing that one girl experienced leakage. Leakage. *Shudder* Can you imagine? I’d rather not.
The next 2 products I saw at either 7-11 or at MBK when I first moved here: the infamous pink nipple cream and the sheep (?) placenta cream. These products on the color of particular body parts, pink and white, just drew attention to the fact that I wasn’t born with the desirable shade. It makes me feel bad for younger women and girls who think they need to look different.
I never understood why Asians or the Chinese were considered to have “yellow” skin. But it wasn’t until my friend and I compared our skin tones side by side, my arm against his “white” coloring, that I noticed I had a yellowish hue.
Perhaps these whitening products will help alleviate any yellowness that is in my skin. But to be perfectly honest I’d rather be yellowish than pinkish. Pink burns. I tan. And I’m happy with the way I look, so I’m a little crazy.
This last beauty obsession, reminds me of Halloween, the “big eye” contact lenses trend was something I first experienced as an English teacher in Chiang Mai. I automatically knew something was “wrong” when I looked at her. And then I asked, “Are you wearing contacts?”
While it is common for the ladies to wear the super black contacts to create the illusion of “big eyes”, I remember one of my boys entered the classroom wearing red ones. Ug.
I’ve even had a student ask me if I was wearing “big eyes”. I laughed in discomfort and surprise. But maybe I should hold off until someone asks me, “Have you had the breast slapping treatment?”
*I originally posted this on ChickyNet.com but since my new theme supports images so beautifully I couldn’t resist a repost 🙂
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