The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cream

  • Before you apply that cream…

    Before you apply that cream…

    People go to great extent to look beautiful. They go as far as applying creams either locally or internationally made that can bleach their skin.

    It is amusing that people who are dark want to get lighter, those who are light want to get whiter and those who are white want to get tanned (darker).

    But, what is unknown to many is that, although such creams work but it might contain some harmful chemicals because the lightening creams use is quite cheap and produces fast result. These creams lighten the skin which glows for awhile and the end results are unimaginable

    Reports on websites like sciencedirect.com, southwark.gov.uk, dermnetnz.org shows that these creams use in lightening contains active ingredients like hydroquinone and mercury which can cause immediate lightening but dangerous.

    Mercury and hydroquinone could cause peeling skin, uneven skin tone, blotchiness, sun burnt skin, thickened skin. Large pores, itchiness, redness, dark patches, lines, wrinkles etc.

    Creams that contain mercury and hydroquinone to lighten the skin weaken the immune system and can cause irreversible damage to the skin. It penetrates the skin and can cause permanent damage to the brain, kidney and liver.

    Mercury is toxic and can also affect the life of an unborn child, if pregnant mothers should use it.

    Hydroquinone may cause cataracts, plastic anaemia and bladder cancer. Hydroquinone is a powerful chemical used in photo processing, rubber manufacturing and acts as an active agent in hair dyes.

    Mercury applied to the skin will react with the UV rays of the skin and re-oxidise, leading to darker and premature ageing when you continue to bleach the affected area.

    Countries like London, Australia, Malaysia has banned the sale of cosmetics containing mercury and hydroquinone as an over-the-counter (without prescription) ingredients. The European Union had prohibited the sale of such products and in January 2003, they forbade the export of the products.

    In United States of America, creams containing 2%hydroquinone and less could be bought over-the-counter and creams that contain more than 2% are sold under-the-counter, only if it is recommended by the dermatologist.

    In Nigeria, the sales of such products are not restricted, you could get it anywhere without restrictions. But, all the same, be careful of the creams or products you apply on your skin. You could also read product reviews online or the ingredients on the package.

     

  • D’banj doles out millions of naira as CREAM clocks one

    D’banj doles out millions of naira as CREAM clocks one

    IT was a successful entrepreneur that met with the press on Wednesday, outside of his personal musical accomplishment.

    Dapo Oyebanjo, otherwise called D’banj, oozes benevolence, grinning from ear to ear, ready to dole out millions of naira at the Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, last Wednesday, as the next set of beneficiaries await their rewards for participating in the Creative Reality Entertainment Arts Music (CREAM).

    It was the one year anniversary event of CREAM, his innovative digital talent hunt platform, in partnership with MTN.

    His excitement is understandable. Not only is he succeeding in the project that has boycotted the usual ‘godfatherism’ chain and lifted the talents of several youths across the country, who may not have the opportunity of being heard, D’banj took a loan of N50 million from the Bank of Industry, and paid back in less than one year. This was a record-setting feat to the DFI among other beneficiaries of its creative industry fund scheme.

    D’banj said he conceived the CREAM idea because “I was being inundated right, left and centre by people who wanted to ‘blow’. It was a time too that I wanted to reach out to those talents in Ogbomoso, Langtang and everywhere else who could not come to Lagos to achieve their dreams but have the talent and passion to do music.” He added, “I wanted a platform that can help find creative talent from anywhere in Africa and give them a fair chance of making their creative dreams come true, from the comfort of their homes.”

    CREAM, thus, started with a mission to offer a veritable platform for uncut musical talents across the country to have their songs recorded and released, shoot musical videos for deserving up and comers and help unknowns secure collaboration with established acts. At the outset in September 2016, there were only a few hundreds of tentative subscribers on the platform.

    By July 2017, D’banj sensationally revealed that the CREAM platform had grown into a staggering 2million subscriber base and is now worth an estimated $100million. While the first set of beneficiaries on the platform were Rayce, TK Swag, MKJ, Leke Benson and Legend Courage, the lives of many other subscribers have altered dramatically with cash prizes ranging from N50, 000 to N1million during the monthly draws.

    He also used the occasion of the anniversary to dispel insinuations that CREAM is a scam. “I have a great team of judges and A n R which includes Godwin Tom and Harrysongs, Ice Prince, Wande Coal, to help mentor the artistes we are bringing on board. So, it’s not a lottery platform, the lottery part of it is just an added incentive. The winners are usually chosen by judges so even if I help the artistes shoot a video, they still need to make money, look good and move around, and for those who have already received their money, they know it is not a scam.”

    Speaking on the challenge of the initiative, he said the widespread distrust in the country makes some winners doubt even their own winnings.

    “Some people have been registering on the CREAM platform and winning prizes ranging from a million naira to N50, 000, but I noticed that whenever we call the artistes to inform them of winning huge amounts of money, they become scared and don’t bother coming to claim their prizes, it is understandable because of the present situation of the country. They think it is a scam, they think it’s unreal, but I am here to tell you that it is not a scam, I have invited them here for you to see.”

  • Dbanj rewards Cream Lottery winners

    Dbanj rewards Cream Lottery winners

    Award winning entertainer, Dbanj has announced the first set of winners of Cream Lottery. This is coming after the September roll out of the platform.

    The announcement was made in the presence of top bosses in the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Delloite, Bank of Industry, MTN among others at Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos and had winners from a plethora of creative sectors in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

    Abuja based winner, Enoch Courage Stephen, also known as Pastor Courage, is a recording artiste, producer, pianist, voice coach and speaker. He was one of the lucky winners who won himself an all expense paid music video shoot and production with popular video director, Ruff Coinz and was styled by celebrity stylist, Swanky Jerry.

    “I am so grateful to the Kokomaster, Dbanj for this great platform. I heard about it and with faith, submitted my application and here we are today. We had an incredible video shoot for my song and I really appreciate this opportunity,” he said.

    Graduate of Pure Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi, Tokuma Davies Nyior, stage name, TK Swag also won himself an all expense paid video production with Mattmax as well as styling from Swanky Jerry.

    The Kano born artiste also shared his gratitude to the platform during the video shoot.

    The Cream platform, which is currently open to only MTN subscribers, will draw once every month and winners will emerge from five categories including Music, Video, Collaboration, Showcase and Showbiz. Talents will also be opened to DKM’s international A & R who would select additional talents based on merit.

    Participants can also take part in multiple categories to increase their chances of winning.

  • Tips on hair cream production

    Tips on hair cream production

    Setting up a successful hair business depends on a combination of factors – self-motivation, luck, good planning and effective implementation. These have helped Mrs  Nonye Kate Ezeagwu, chief executive, Neomal Global Ventures, to launch into hair cream production. She is among the new generation of micro entrepreneurs in the subsector. DANIEL ESSIET  reports.

    SHE is an entrepreneur who is inching fast towards success. It all started from a dream  where she mixed ingredients to make hair cream.

    Mrs Nonye Kate Ezeagwu  understands that hair is vital to women. Also, she is a believer in the saying that a woman’s hair  is key to her health and image.

    Buoyed by this, she established a micro hair cream business with N5,000 at her home. She named it Neomal Global Ventures.

    Through  inspiration, she has  found ideas on how to make a unique  product. Mrs Ezeagwu    mixed different ingredients until she chanced on the right formula. Initially, she gave her creams as gifts to her friends and family members to test. Satisfied by the responses she got, she started selling at a market, where it received acceptance, such that by the end of the day, she had sold out.

    Paying close attention to her customers’ complaints and suggestions, she ensured  they didn’t walk away from her shop annoyed. What is encouraging her is how fast good words are spreading about her products. Customers are happy with the products.

    While brands can be recognised by many things, for instance, the logo, colour and founder’s panache, in her case, it is the colour.

    The company is still based in Ikotun,  a Lagos suburb. But production has expanded. Though still a cottage industry, the business is on  course and that is  her creative force.

    For her, developing cosmetics is not about trying to turn copper into gold. Rather, it is about turning good chemicals into creams.

    On the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, she said it supports the needy and the church.

    For her, it is important that the public has a choice and she is   happy to compete with the quality of the products. She believes there is a need for people to understand there are alternatives.

    She,  however,  understands that  business can be incredibly cut-throat, high powered and difficult to break into. So, where does one  start if one has a dream of becoming a successful business man or woman?

    “One of the keys to success is having a clear goal and vision. One   must be incredibly focused and driven to make it in the business world,” she said.

    But she also hasn’t forgotten where she came from though. It makes her  more grounded and realistic. She believes in ‘longevity’ rather than the ‘one big cash-in’.

    Mrs  Ezeaqwu’s fortune was not made through a lucky lottery win, nor did he inherit his wealth. She   started from humble beginning. Determination and hard work pushed  her from obscurity to her present level.

    But she isn’t resting on his laurels. She is keen to find new pies to put her fingers into. Success breeds success seems to be her philisophy.

    Her plans, given  funding, is to bring high quality, luxury yet affordable beauty and comfort products to the market.

  • My man does not care to buy me ordinary body cream

    Aunty Deola, I am a girl 21. My man does not care to buy me ordinary body cream and when I make requests the reply is, “Do you love me because of my money?”

    My dear, how old is this your man? Maybe this person we’re talking about here is still a young man taking money for boxers from his parents and you want him to buy you body cream. I may not be right. But if I am, you should know that when a boy or young man is yet to find a good job and all he has is love, then you have to take him the way he is. He won’t break a bank to please you. You must have seen his financial incapability before you went into a relationship with him. Or may be like most women (young or old), you just assumed that since he’s a man and he was brave enough to talk to you, then he should have enough money to take care of your needs. Things don’t always happen that way. When a man says he loves you and he shows it, that is the first thing on his mind. He wants to show affection. It is after that, that others things follow.

    One thing I know is that even very stingy men want to look responsible to their women and so, when they have enough to spare, they spend it. Men however do not like women who make unnecessary demands. In fact, from my understanding of men, they want to give you without you asking, except for the occasional demands for important assistance. But by the time a girl gets to the point where she must get money for body cream and hair-do and she doesn’t have a job to unable her do these things on her own from time to time, men may get discouraged and may even feel used.

    As a young woman, you must learn to be independent and to love for the sake of love first before expecting to use the man at will. Men love women who are reluctant to ask; they are ever so willing to make those kinds of women happy.

    This is my opinion, but if you think otherwise, you may have a serious talk with him about your expectations – financial and otherwise – in the relationship. Take care!

  • ‘I started making body cream from my kitchen’

    ‘I started making body cream from my kitchen’

    THE Chief Executive Officer, Real Future Hope Industries Limited, Prince Saviour Iche, went into body care cream business when things were rough.

    But with tenacity of purpose, he pulled through.

    He started in 2006 by hawking his products at Oyingbo market in Lagos. Initially, his friends mocked him.

    But he was adamant and hopeful that things would change with time. Today, he is enjoying the friuts of his labour.There are many outlets selling his cream. There is a growing demand for them. As a result, he plans to open more sales’ outlets.

    With a capital of N20,000, which he borrowed from a friend in Onitsha, he started making the cream from his kitchen.

    Before then, he was involved in soap making.

    With more research, he was able to produce a low–cost soap that sold fast. However, he faced the challenge of inadequate capital to expand the business and give it a competitive edge.

    He had to quit when he could not cope. Part of the challenge was that he couldn’t pay for the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licence.

    Later, for some reasons he had to close shop, an experience he described as the darkest hour of his life. It was a major blow, he said. For a long time, he remained jobless. But necessity is the mother of invention. The light at the end of the tunnel was growing brighter. He had the idea to produce body cream.

    He started small and gradually built the business.

    Before long, Iche had established a factory and bought mixing and packaging machines to manufacture the body cream.

    Today, he is happy that small entrepreneurs are getting concessions from NAFDAC to do business.

    He employs 45 factory workers, with 5,000 marketers assisting him. He said his customers are warm and receptive to the product. He has learnt quickly that it is all about business, but relationships.

    The keys to his success? He has continued to stay focused. More importantly, he said the fear of God and sincerity with his consumers, have been his strength He tried to make sure the production is reformulated to make it safer and better. He has also re-packaged the product.

    Iche has surrounded himself with people who, he believes can be an extension of him as well as people who bring what he doesn’t have to the table in both business and his personal life.

    According to him, the economy is too sluggish in enhancing SMEs’ growth, despite the remarkable strides being made in other countries to promote the sector. While there are a growing number of SMEs, he said the environment SMEs are born into and nurtured, leaves much to be desired.

    Iche explained that the growth and development of SMEs is impeded by too many regulatory and institutional barrier, adding that this is affecting aspiring entrepreneurs.