By Bethsheba Achitsa
Published November 6, 2009

It appears there is growing insecurity among women in Kenya concerning the size and feel of their boobs, bums and private parts. Desperate not only for sex appeal but to perform better in the bedroom, they are falling prey to crutches that promise to enhance their beauty and sexual performance. BETHSHEBA ACHITSA reports.

In September 2009, Kenya’s Citizen TV aired a news clip about how women in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, were investing in The Bust Up Cream to obtain larger, firmer and more shapely breasts and bottoms. It was said that applying the said cream on the relevant body parts twice a day, the desired result (bigger and firmer boobs and bums) would take effect within a week.

Many public transport vehicles in Nairobi have posters plastered in them announcing to women what they can do to enhance their looks and femininity. They include but are not restricted to “Vaginal Tightening Serum for Women” and “Tite Viginity Tightening Anti-Fungus”. Many of them end with the rider, “Don’t Tell Everyone”.

Surprisingly African women, who are legendary for their eye-turning womanly curves, are also among those feeling insecure about their bodies hence the rush to use the incredulous Bust Up creams, the whitening creams and other fancy beauty products.

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With so many products promising to enhance the womanly curves on the market, one is tempted to think that suddenly the 21st century Kenyan woman is more worried than ever about the size of her breasts, buttocks and sex organ.

Perhaps it could be this kind of insecurity that has fuelled the numerous unrealistic or misleading beauty and skincare products advertisements that claim to do the miraculous but seem to leave women with no money in their pockets.

Few women either see the risk of using these “miracle-performing” products or question their ingredients. The ingredients that are said to enhance the body parts in the Bust Up cream, for example, are Pueraria mirifica extract, collagen protein, honey, ginseng root extract and royal jelly.

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Women use the whitening cream in the vain hope of lightening the arm pits and groin area. The product is said to “lighten” dark spots while removing dead skin cells gradually within four weeks. The promises get even more dubious when the ingredients listed (tamarind extract, emblic extract, ipomoea extract, aloe vera extract, vitamin E, squalene, and allantoin) are all fruit-based and are known for fighting colds. They have little to do with the lightening of the skin colour.

But while one may still be wondering about the skin-whitening cream, the “Vaginal Tightening Serum for Women” is more startling not only because of the ingredients therein but more so the application method. The method is so complex that even if the ingredients work magic, they would never get the chance.

According to the makers of this product, one should use the serum once or twice a day, morning and night after bath and 15-20 minutes before sex. Squeeze the dropper and release to extract the serum. Insert into the vagina and squeeze the dropper to let the serum in. Contract the muscle for a while to let the serum stay in as long as possible. No need to wash out before having sex. This is a logistical nightmare to anyone.

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Rarely does one find a product of such absurdity and genuine health risks as the vaginal tightening serum for women yet still get tempted to test out other products such as the Pinknipple Cream. According to the label the cream helps lighten dark spots while removing dead skins and revealing newer