Skin color is an important but understudied variable in the study of human appearance. Often considered a proxy for race, skin color has most often been studied in relation to objective indicators of life chances, with less research done on its relation to distress and appearance. In this article, first we review the research on skin color and appearance by examining the historical foundations of skin color and its relation to a host of contextual variables. Then, we examine the preference for lighter skin by examining in detail the phenomena of skin bleaching. Later, we conclude with a summary of problems extant in the study of skin color research, including the need to understand the association of skin color and appearance in the context of other variables.