Lighter skin in European and East Asian populations was in fact a SEPARATE and distinct genetic mutation.
In fact East Asians and Native Americans are genetically the most distant from Europeans. So the mutations which led to lighter skin in both populations were separate events.
This is around the natural skin color for East Asians:
I.e. Slightly tanned.
Compared to European skin, East Asians can get tanned MUCH faster and easier without getting sunburns. Another advantage is that we are much less likely to get skin cancer, due to the fact that we can tan without significant burns.