According to Ingram, South African skin tones are vast and beautiful; however, the influence of media and social media have not always encouraged this. "We're constantly bombarded by unattainable standards of beauty; we underestimate the true beauty of being ourselves, in the skin we’re in," says the team at Ingram's. 

The brand says that due to this, being brave in the skin we're in, and owning it with pride, can be a challenge. It was with this in mind that Ingram created its latest campaign. 

Ingram's 'Skin Sessions' is a series of episodes that aim to uncover the internal struggles that some of South Africa's favourite personalities experience. It aims to give society a chance to look in the mirror and show us how we treat ourselves and each other.

The brand says that the initiative will demonstrate the ripple effect of words and actions and what roles brands and media play in shaping and allowing the reality of what 'beautiful' is.

Each episode will take place on Expresso and Afternoon Express from Tuesday, 28 July and will focus a series of influencers and panelists. The speakers will unpack their daily struggles in taking pride in their skin, while battling the opinions and voices that try to tear them down.

According to Ingram, each guest has faced backlash, either public or personal, that has had ripple effects on others' self-confidence. 

The personalities who will be joining the series include:
  • YouTube personality Lasizwe Dambuza
  • poet and social commentator Lebo Mashile
  • model Sanele Xaba, and
  • activist Zulaikha Patel.
"The Ingram's Your Skin; Your Brave' campaign is about giving people the confidence to ignite their inner bravery," says Ingram's brand manager Venus-Gene Jackson.

"Being brave in the skin we're in and owning it with pride can be challenging. We all have our insecurities that are exacerbated by the realities of our everyday circumstances," adds Jackson.

"It is imperative for us, as a proudly South African brand, to celebrate our collective beauty by creating skincare products that care for all skin types, but also to be a voice that celebrates the unique beauty of every skin," Jackson says.

"At Ingram's, we believe that everyone's perceptions of beauty are different. Being brave in your skin means loving how your skin and body looks and feels — not because it's perfect but because it's yours and it reflects who you are," concludes Jackson.

Individuals are encouraged to watch the 'Ingram's Skin Sessions' on Expresso and Afternoon Express from Tuesday, 28 July to Friday, 18 September.

The episodes include:

Week 1 — 'The Politics of Beauty: A discussion on colourism in a global and South African context'
The episode will be joined by Lebo Mashile and Ayanda Mhlongo. It will be hosted by Expresso presenters Jamie-Lee Domburg, Kuhle Adams and Palesa Tembe on Afternoon Express.

Week 2 — 'Beautiful Boys: A look into gendered beauty and the modern definition of masculinity'
The episode will be joined by Ryle de Morny, Sanele Xaba and Lasizwe Dambuza. They will join Ryle De Morny, Graeme Richards on Expresso and Palesa Tembe on Afternoon Express. 

Week 3 — 'This is skin deep: Social media vs. Self-Confidence'
The episode will be joined by Oyama Botha, Davina-Mae Gordon and Zulaikha Patel. They will join Katlego Maboe and Kuhle Adams on Expresso and Palesa Tembe on Afternoon Express.

Week 4 — 'Skin care myth busters: Fake news debunked'
The episode will be joined by Dr Sindi van Zyl, Ody Flames, Brighton Ngoma and Sanele Xaba. They will join Katlego Maboe and Thabiso Makhubela on Expresso and Palesa Tembe on Afternoon Express.

For more information, visit www.camphorcream.com