Beauty, Pride and Heritage are Top Words African American Women Use to Define Skin, According to New Survey

GREENWICH, Conn., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Skin is amazing. It takes life's bumps and bruises and always bounces back. It shows the world how we feel and lets us feel the world. Yet skin means different things to different people. To African American women, skin is a source of identity and pride, reveals a new Vaseline(R) Skinvoice Survey. The word African American women use most often to describe their skin is "beautiful" (59%), followed by "strong" (30%). Thirty percent say their skin is a source of their heritage and one-fourth say it's a source of pride. Almost half of African American women say their skin tells a story of who they are and identifies them.

What does your skin mean to you? That's the question being asked in Vaseline's Skinvoice Campaign, featuring award-winning actress and star of NBC's "Law & Order" S. Epatha (pronounced E-PAY-tha) Merkerson and music artist Kelly Rowland (formerly of Destiny's Child), which invites people to share their thoughts and join a dialogue at http://www.skinvoice.com/. At the site, people can also enter to win a chance to meet Merkerson and Rowland at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans July 5th through the 7th.

"There are times when people look at you and before you utter a sound they know what you're thinking," says S. Epatha Merkerson. "You get goose bumps when you're excited, you're clammy when you're nervous, and you're warm when you blush; your skin has a way of reflecting your inner thoughts."

Kelly Rowland advises, "Plenty of water, the careful amount of sun and great moisturizers are important. My skin houses my temple so it is important to me to give my skin the care it deserves."

Pride in Skin

Eighty-nine percent of respondents in the Vaseline Skinvoice survey say taking care of their skin is "very important." In fact, African American women rank "skin" as "most important to them" (49%) above their hair, figure, make- up and clothes. More than three quarters of the women surveyed (77%) report they are happy with the color of their skin and never wished they could change it. In fact, when asked what they love most about their skin, the number one response given was "its color."

Good News for Moms

When asked who has had the greatest influence on their personal standard of beauty, almost three-in-four African American women say their family over their friends (10%), community (9%), pop culture (5%) or the media (4%). Specifically, of those who say their family was their greatest influence, 76 percent attribute this influence to their mother or grandmother.

At Skinvoice.com...

Log on to http://www.skinvoice.com/ to read S. Epatha Merkerson's and Kelly Rowland's full stories and thoughts from other women across the country. Additionally at http://www.skinvoice.com/ people can enter the Circle of Friends Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for four to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans July 5th through the 7th where they will meet S. Epatha Merkerson and Kelly Rowland. The deadline to enter is June 8, 2007. No purchase necessary. Must be a legal U.S. resident age 18 or older. See http://www.skinvoice.com/ for rules. Void where prohibited.

When people register at http://www.skinvoice.com/ and share their thoughts, they will also be supporting Vaseline's donation to the Children's Defense Fund's Freedom Schools Program in New Orleans. The CDF Freedom Schools (SM) program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted by Questus among the ESSENCE Volume panel on behalf of Vaseline(R) from April 18-23, 2007. There are 1,476 respondents who participated in the survey; all of the respondents are female, living in the U.S. and between the ages of 18 - 64.

About Vaseline

Vaseline is manufactured by Unilever , one of the world's largest consumer products companies. With a 135-year heritage as America's most trusted healthy skin expert and more than 30 years as a leading hand and body lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion delivers products that meet the specific needs of consumers, no matter their lifestage or lifestyle. In addition to the Vaseline Intensive Care Lotions, the Vaseline family of products also features a complete line of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, bath products and lip therapy products. All Vaseline products can be purchased at supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchandisers and club retailers nationwide. For more information visit http://www.vaseline.com/.

About Unilever

Unilever , one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Knorr, Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 13,000 people in more than 60 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico - generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2006. For more information visit http://www.unileverusa.com/.

CONTACT: Smita Reddy Stacie Bright M Booth & Associates Unilever (212) 539-3272 (203) 625-1130 smitar@mbooth.com Stacie.Bright@Unilever.com