Antiracism Push Prompts Rethink of Asia’s ‘Beautiful White’ Creams

TOKYO—Global skin-care companies are split over a term commonly used on Asian antiblemish creams that means “beautiful white,” with Unilever PLC erasing it from products while Johnson & Johnson says it isn’t offensive.

The debate over the term, which is widely known among women across East Asia, reflects the fallout of last year’s antiracism protests. The demonstrations prompted many companies to reconsider product names and images seen as having origins in racist imagery, like the Aunt Jemima pancake brand that was retired by PepsiCo Inc.