KM Viray
In April 2015, Marian Rivera announced that she was pregnant with her and husband Dingdong Dantes’s first baby. As is the norm with the local industry, her endorsement deals had to lie low for a while. But now that she is on her second trimester, Rivera just re-entered her engagement with the skin care brand Maxi-Peel.
During the press conference, Rivera cautioned her fellow moms-to-be about the use of the product. She noted, “Don’t forget to consult your doctor first, okay?”
This has raised questions as to Rivera’s reliability as an endorser. One of the active ingredients of Maxi-Peel is hydroquinone which is used mainly for skin bleaching. Hydroquinone is a pregnancy Category C ingredient. Category C means that the ingredient has been proven to cause birth defects in animals, but not conclusively in humans. The effect on animals includes stillbirth, deformities, and lower than average birth weight. While this so far pertains to animals, the risks hydroquinone can bring to a pregnant woman and her baby cannot be ruled out.
Likewise, women who are breastfeeding should also refrain from skin bleaching. Skin may not absorb skin bleaching creams 100%, which could mean the baby will ingest the hydroquinone. No studies have yet linked infant intake of hydroquinone to birth defects, but experts and dermatologists suggest breastfeeding mothers speak to their obstetrician or pediatrician about potential side effects.
According to the website Best Beauty Brand Reviews & Advertorials,
Any skin-lightening products containing hydroquinone would be considered new drugs, according to newly proposed FDA regulations. The products would require FDA approval before being sold to the public and would only be available with a doctor’s prescription. Maxi-Peel has not been put through any rigorous FDA tests, neither has it been put through any third party clinical or scientific testing that proves it is wholly safe for use. Given that it, also, does not offer its customers free samples, a money back guarantee, or solutions without Hydroquinone, we cannot recommend Maxi-Peel for use at this time. (read Maxi-Peel’s full review here)
Pregnant woman and lactating mothers, like most women, still want to look their best, but at what cost? According to the Babymed website, “There are too many risks outweighing the rewards associated with hydroquinone in pregnant women.”
So just where does Rivera’s influence come in? Pregnant and breastfeeding women who look up to the actress may trust her word–and assume she herself is using the product, being the endorser, even though she’s pregnant. What’s your take on her reminder, “Don’t forget to consult your doctor first, okay?”
Banner photo from Maxi-Peel’s Facebook page.
