Skin care tips for African American skin are not always followed diligently. There’s this popular saying that “black don’t crack.” This saying is from the belief that black skin is less fragile than other skin types and therefore requires little care. You might scoff at natural skin care products as just another money making venture but the truth is that your skin, like every other organ in your body needs maintenance.
Pay attention to the largest organ you own and care for it because it’s the foundation of your appearance. As you mature, great skin becomes more and more important, use these easy skin care tips for African American skin and give your skin the love it deserves and see your melanin pop with very little effort.
1. Moisturize!
Daily moisturizing is a basic and indispensable aspect of natural skin care. Black skin that isn’t properly moisturized ends up looking ashy, dark and flaky. If you get out of bed in the morning with glowing skin, do not take it for granted. Your skin needs all the moisture it can get, not only to glow but also to keep it looking supple and soft to touch.
Ceramides which are waxy lipid molecules, are a great way to maintain skin moisture. If your skin is in desperate need of moisture, try using products that contain Ceramides. They replenish the natural lipids that are lost from exposure to harsh environmental factors, natural aging or products that dry your skin out.
The best time to apply a moisturizer to your skin is immediately after you shower or bathe. It is advisable to use a different moisturizer for your face and another for your body. Usually the moisturizers that are made for your body are too harsh for your facial skin. Also try using natural products like Shea butter and cocoa butter. They leave your skin feeling soft, supple and glowing.
2. Think Sun Protection
Yes, darker skin tones can afford to stay under the sun longer before they burn. Yes, melanin offers a protection against the sun rays and yes, we already have SPF 15 built in as a way of protecting our skin against the sun. But guess what? It isn’t enough. For your skin to maintain its supple softness, it is imperative to get an additional sunscreen in the form of SPF 30.
Focus on sunscreens that were made specifically for people of color and apply it every single day. Massage it into your skin in circular motions making sure that your skin absorbs it. Your skin will not only show great improvement but it’ll dazzle.
3. Wash Your Face Before Bed
After a day out and about, even if you stay home, your face like the rest of your body will get dirty. Don’t fall asleep without cleansing your face first. The dirt and bacteria that have collected across the surface of your skin will clog your pores and lead to break outs, black heads and pimples.
Get a facial cleanser and moisturizing facial cream to keep your skin in top notch condition.
4. Hydrate:
Moisture within the body is as important as moisturizing your skin. Drink about half your weight in ounces of water. Make a mental note to drink water or non-caffeinated drinks like herbal tea or natural juices through out the day. Hydrating your body gives your skin the perfect glow with very little effort on your part. Drink water!
5. Use Appropriate Make up Products
If you have oily skin, use a water based foundation. If you’re using an oil based foundation for dry skin try to moisturize properly before applying make up. Use products that contain natural ingredients or ones that would not irritate your skin. Pay attention to the make up products you purchase. They might be the reason you’re prone to break outs.
6. Never Go To Bed with Makeup On
After years and years of preaching this, it is important that you remember this. It doesn’t matter how much your make up is on fleek or how much you paid to get a face beat done, don’t go to sleep with make up on.
Nighttime is a great time for your skin to breathe and rejuvenate itself. Robbing your skin of that opportunity is definitely going to do more harm than good. Take your make off with a makeup remover or wash and moisturize your face for a greater looking skin.
7. Take it Easy on the Oils
It’s very tempting to slather your skin in hydrating oils. The point of a proper skin care routine is to glow up, not look like a beacon for airplanes to spot in sunlight. Slathering oils on your face and skin only clogs up your pores, instead stick with lighter oils like sunflower seed oils, castor oils, coconut oil, etc and only use sparingly. In the right amount, oils are a must have but don’t over do it.
8. Exfoliate
Dry skin cells can accumulate over time. Since black skin cells are more tightly packed more than most, women of color need to exfoliate. Use natural products or non-abrasive cleansers to garner the best results. Make sure to moisturize after exfoliation too for better results.
African American products for exfoliation include: oats, sugar, apricot seeds, lime juice, jojoba wax beads and even grape juice.
Exfoliating Skin Care Tips for African American Skin
• Exfoliate at night. Exfoliation increases skin sensitivity to sun and wind exposure. It’s safer to exfoliate at night when there is reduced sun exposure.
• Instead of using chemical peels made with harsh ingredients, exfoliate with natural ingredients like: lemon juice, sugar, apricot seed and milk.
• Don’t forget to moisturize after exfoliating to prevent dry cracked skin.
9. Examine Your Skin
Pay attention to your skin. Though the risk of skin cancer in people of color is significantly lower, regular checkups is still the watch word. Paying attention to your skin has the added benefit of letting you know what is working for your skin and what isn’t. It would also help detect black spots, breakouts and acne. Early detection makes you proactive in preventing spread.
10. Treat any Skin Irritation Immediately After It Occurs
Don’t pick at your pimples, ignore dark spots hoping that they’ll go away and don’t ignore break outs. Immediately after you spot any irregularities in your skin, go straight to an esthetician or dermatologist to clear it out for you.
With these skin care tips for African American skin, you are on the right path to making conscious decisions for healthy natural black skin. That’s it for this week. As always …
Dedicated To Your Beauty
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
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