The black or ethnic skin is thick and tonic. Its high melanin content slows down skin ageing and provides a natural barrier against the sun’s UV rays.
However, to keep it beautiful and radiant, it requires specific care.
Black skins have also a poor tolerance for temperate climates. To adapt to climate change, the cellular functioning of black skin has been disrupted.
The result: they suffer from drought, are more sensitive, rougher and very sensitive to external aggressions: lack of sunlight, hard water, cold, stress, pollution… tend to dry it out.
As a result, it is dehydrated and secretes excessive sebum that makes it shiny.
Here are the solutions.
1. Moisturize again and again
This is an essential step to follow when you have black skin. For make-up removal, use a mild milk or gel.
Black and ethnic skin is prone to blackheads, so it is better to “go to non-comedogenic products” when it comes to cleaning it.
Note that the shea butter and oils frequently used in the hydration of black skin are only lipid-replenishing and have no (or very little) water content. With this type of treatment, the skin is not really hydrated but just “greased”. “For facial skin, it is therefore necessary to regularly use mattifying moisturizers and serums during seasonal changes”.
A little tip: if your skin tends to shine too brightly during the day, don’t hesitate to use matting papers with a blotting effect.
2. Black skin: protect yourself from the sun
Contrary to popular belief, black skin also needs sun protection, especially for people who were not born under the sun.
As far as sun protection is concerned, I recommend choosing a treatment with a SPF between 20 and 50. And for the blackest skins, to avoid the unsightly grey appearance of some sun creams, “use tinted sunscreen”.
It is to be applied every two hours like all other creams.
3. Black skin: make-up removal
Rinse-off make-up remover gels will be your best allies to cleanse your skin.
“Black skin has a specificity: it can be dehydrated and at the same time continue to shine, while white skin that lacks water never shines.
There is no need to dry your skin. Prefer make-up remover milks and gels over soaps that are too lipid-reducing.
4. Limit scrubbing
Black skin is very sensitive. Women tend to ignore it, but it is important to use soft, non-abrasive scrubs. They are more effective and do not attack the skin.
And even if the black skin contains very dense dead cells that are difficult to clean, one gentle scrub per week is more than enough (this also applies to very oily skin).
Good hydration afterwards will help to get rid of the stubborn dead cells that cling to the epidermis.
5. You don’t touch your spots.
Black skin does not heal well. That’s why you shouldn’t squeeze your pimples at all. In case of an outbreak, use an anti-inflammatory or healing cream. If you ever suffer from severe acne, go to a dermatologist who will give you the right treatment.
6. Fight against dark spots
Black skin is prone to hyperpigmentation. Those that appear following the healing of a wound or pimple.
To avoid their appearance or to reinforce the pigmentation of existing ones, protect your skin from the sun with an effective protection factor, especially if you are undergoing antibiotic or contraceptive treatment.
The dead cells of black skin are loaded with melanin (which concentrates pigmentation). Result: Exfoliation should be performed regularly (once a week) to prevent dullness.
In addition, inflammation due to acne causes unsightly hyperpigmentation spots to appear. Once again, there is no need to dry the skin to remove your imperfections. Dehydrated skin makes the complexion even duller.
The solution is to use a purifying and soft absorbent mask that does not dry out the skin. Then, a serum or fluid must be applied to help remove dead skin.
Remember one thing, hydration is the key to beautiful skin. There’s no need to procrastinate. Even if your skin can cause you some problems, it generally ages better than white skin.