Having melanin-rich skin comes with a host of benefits! That natural and magical pigmentation has been found to play a role in protecting against hearing loss, AMD, and yes, skin cancer. But wait, slow your roll! When it comes to your dark skin, it is more susceptible to some unpleasant skin issues.
Rest assured, however— with a few simple tips— healthy and fabulous skin can be achieved with surprisingly little effort.
Choose Products for Your Skin Type
Women with melanin-rich skin are more prone to hyperpigmentation, dark spots, rosacea, and other skincare concerns. This is true whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin. So, it's vital that you're choosing skin care products specific to your skin type. Additionally, products with antioxidants and natural ingredients like vitamin C will help keep your complexion even and glowing.
Keep Makeup Wipes Next To Your Bed
We all love to feel glamorous, but a night of heavy makeup can have a serious impact on your skin. Make your life easier with gentle cleansing pads on your bedside table. This way, you can be sure to thoroughly clean your skin before hitting the sack. Speaking of which, that satin pillowcase or headscarf is not only beneficial for your hair but your skin as well!
Exfoliate
Use a gentle cleanser when you moisturize that won’t clog your pores. You’re looking for something that says noncomedogenic. Exfoliating regularly helps remove flakes of bad skin. Moisturizing regularly helps you take those open pores and keep your skin smooth, soft and supple. There is research that suggests dark skin loses moisture faster than lighter skin tones, so make this a daily ritual.
Use Sunscreen
We know what you're thinking, but it’s a myth! Yes, you've been blessed with melanin which gives you a bit more protection. However, your skin still can and will become damaged without sunscreen. Though studies do point to fairer skin being more susceptible to skin cancer, black and brown skin is just as likely to burn. Skin cancer aside, sunspots and hyperpigmentation are more common, especially in darker skin tones. Use SPF daily and reapply every two hours for the best protection.
Take Care Of Your Makeup Collection
We all love a sporadic trip to Sephora. But sometimes, our makeup collection gets the better of us. Make a commitment to regularly clear out your makeup bag and bathroom cabinets. That means staying on top of expired bottles, and not risking bacteria that can impact your skin.
While you’re at it, make time every week or so to clean your blenders and brushes. This will also help you avoid any lingering bacteria that can cause breakouts, clogged pores or worse. Regularly cleaning out your makeup will also help you keep better track of what you use, and what you don’t use. That saves you money that you can spend on products you’ll actually use and love.
Take Care Of Your Body
Everything that shows up on your face isn’t just skin deep. There’s a reason so many of the top-tier skin products contain natural vitamins and minerals. To ensure those vitamins and minerals can do their work, make sure you take care of all of you. Avoid dryness and cracked lips by keeping yourself hydrated. Eat plenty of healthy fats and vitamins B, C and A, for healthy clear skin. Add in some protein for flexibility, to keep your skin looking young. It also keeps your energy which means no more looking tired. Enjoy a variety of foods, and stay away from processed fats and sugar, to give yourself the healthiest skin to work with!
Don’t Skip Steps
Surprisingly, it’s not always the skin on your face you need to worry about it. This tends to be the skin that’s most commonly cleaned, treated and pampered. But the skin on your neck is actually twice as sensitive, and often missed during your beauty routine. Don’t forget to exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturize the skin of your neck and clavicle to keep it soft, healthy, and supple.
Getting rid of hyperpigmentation and other sun damage can be a challenge. That's why prevention is key! Invest in yourself, invest in your skin, ladies. It is, after all, going to be with you for the rest of your life.
