Bathing was an uncommon occurrence in the 1500s. Forcleaner appearances, those belonging to the most privileged communities usedwhite powder.
This was the case for hundreds of years. Then, inthe early 20th century, fashion designer Coco Chanel soaked up thesun during a cruise. She returned with a tan, which the public began to embraceas stylish and attractive as there was little awareness of the dangers ofoverexposure to the sun, such as wrinkles, skin discoloration, and cancer.
Although bronzed skin is still viewed favorably inmany social subcultures, an appreciation for light skin has returned. This hasled to an affinity for glycolic acids. They are found in citrus fruits andsugar cane, and work by encouraging the top layer of skin to peel, revealingthe fresh skin beneath.