Remember sitting in the classroom and asking your friend to pass the ‘skin colour’ crayon? Then proceeding to use a pale, slightly orange tone to colour in the face of your illustration?
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Well as we fight for adequate representation in the workplace, the sporting arena, award shows, and the beauty and modelling industry, there is definitely something to be said about the lack of representation in colour palettes for children trying to draw themselves, their friends or their family members.
Enter, CEO of MOB Beauty, Victor Cassal.
The ex-chief chemist and managing director of MAC, as well as co-founder of Cover FX, has partnered with Crayola to bring us the ‘Colours of the World’ crayons. The carefully curated range of 24 shades covers light and deeper shades, including pinks, neutrals and golden undertones.
“This is exactly the science and treatment I have used to create global shade palettes for the beauty industry,” said Victor.
And for those who are thinking 24 shades doesn’t even scratch the surface for complexion variation, Casale explains “when you apply a complexion product on your face, and you compare it to your skin – side by side – you have to be very precise.”
“When translating this knowledge and experience to support the colours of the world initiative, I felt it would be difficult for a child to notice the difference on paper.”
Working side by side with the research and development division at Crayola, instead of aiming for 50+ shades, the team and Victor enlisted the process of merging two similar complexion shades into one crayon.
And just like that, Victor and Crayola are doing it for the kids, and making a huge impact on our children feeling confident, seen and important. Bravo.
Had you noticed these colours were missing from your childs pencil case?
Love it!! What a cute thing to do everyone can have their skin colour to create their masterpieces.
Great idea! I’m going to get some of these for my nieces for their birthdays.
This is a really nice idea.
This is fantastic! Seems small but it’s a significant step.
But now what should we call that pale apricot shade?
What a fabulous idea and now children can colour in Skin Tones, with the help of Crayola Skin Tone Crayons.
About time. It was impossible to get the skintone right, blending…primary colours lol.
This is a great idea, especially for schools.
haha this is awesome!! such a good idea.
Gorgeous. Why didn’t someone think of this sooner!
That’s such a great idea, I love it!
How wonderful! Oh to be a kid again!!
very interesting indeed
Fantastic idea.
What a good idea 🙂
I just love this and how much fun, I’m a secret coloring in person !
Great idea!
Super cute and nostalgic
I would have loved these as a child!
Way cool, wouldn’t mind getting some for myself
Oh this idea is very exciting. I am sure children will enjoy this.
Finally. This is so about time. How awesome and im sure they will notice that they have great sales figures for these.
Cute, what a good idea. Pity I don’t have anyone to buy them for.
This is so cool. What a wonderful collaboration!
Woah! That is cool.
Back in the day (seems aeons ago, before internet)…we didn’t need any but basic colours (red, , blue, yellow) and a few extra thrown in (pure white aka no colour, black). So mixing and making new colours from those was all we needed to do. It was so much fun and creative. Now everything has to be instant. Quite limiting human brain.
Great idea!! Well done Crayola!!
Nice idea for mindful colouring
cool, eye shadows and lippies made easy
I love this idea and I’m surprised it wasn’t thought of years ago. When I owned my child care centre we had so many resources such as dolls, felt people, Duplo characters, books, etc. that showed different skin tones but when it came to crayons we had to mix colours which really wasn’t all that successful.
Can’t wait to get my hands on this for my nephews and niece!
Agreed and (as kids) we didn’t really care too much about the “skin coloured” crayon, most of the time it would be left unused in the box!
thats actually really cool
I’m not sure that kids really care that much. After all, most kids’ drawings bear no resemblance to reality anyway, so the fact that a genuine skin colour is not used is not that big a deal. I guess if there are artists who use crayon for creating this might be good for them.
I freaking LOVE this!!! How much fun is this!?!?!?
This is wonderful. Well overdue.
I’m surprised it hasn’t been done sooner. Great for artists young and old.
What a great idea!
This looks so great!
These look great! I would love to try!
Thats awesome, when i was a kid i use to melt my crayons and mix them with lip balm to make my own colored lid balm
Love this! Will be picking some up for my son
They actually look cute !
I desperately want a pack of these for my niece. She would love them. I’ve searched online and can’t find them anywhere. If anyone sees them, please let me know.
This is all sorts of amazing!!! This has made my day, I wish these were around when I was little. That peach-pinky tone we used to call ‘skin colour’ was never really quite the match for my skin!!
I always feel the absence of true skin colours in my kids pencil case.
The different skin tone crayons are a great idea for the budding artist. A great selection of skin colours to choose from.
Wish I had these as a kid- it sucked having to use such weird colours for skin, not that my drawings were ever in any way realistic!!
This is amazing. What a fantastic invention for the kids of today! Another step closer to inclusivity in our society. Bravo
Well done, but soooooooooooo looooooooong overdue
Very cool.