Tips for Darker Skin Types

Skin Guide
Tips for Darker Skin Types

Darker skin is melanin rich and is definitely less prone to skin diseases and ailments. But it’s important to preserve the smooth, rich tone of your skin. You can look after your skin with simple and safe skin care routine.

Cleanse your face daily

Clean your face once daily if you classify your skin as dry and up to three times if your goal is to remove excess oil. Gentle treatment is the key for any skin type. Avoid abrasive cleansers or irritating cleansing puffs or loofahs. Use moisturisers only if your face feels dry without it.

Guard against Skin Cancer Darker skin does provide some protection from the sun’s UV rays, but don’t count on it alone. Skin cancer is less common, but it can be more deadly in those with darker skin. Begin each day by applying a sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF 15 to 30. And reapply sun protection often while you’re in direct sunlight.

Avoid common Make-up Mistakes Match your make-up with your skin tone for a natural look. Make-up made especially for women of colour has come a long way.

Treat uneven skin Dark areas can often appear on African-American skin when scarring occurs. These dark spots and uneven skin tone (hyper-pigmentation) will usually fade over time. However, some ingredients can definitively help even skin colour and promote a smoother surface. Kojic Acid and Vitamin C are used regularly to fade dark areas and balance skin tone.

Make Shea your friend In winter, dark skin needs more moisture. A white cast (also known as ashy) is a tale-tell sign of your skin’s thirst for moisturiser. You need to quench it. To prevent drastic skin dehydration get into the habit of moisturising your entire body. The best time to apply lotion on your body is after bathing. This way the moisture from the bath gets sealed in. The best moisturisers for dark skin are cocoa butter, shea butter. Avoid products with perfumes; they cause more dryness.

Shea butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and essential fatty acids. Vitamin A and E are vital for a healthy and clear skin and are also widely used to prevent premature wrinkles and facial lines. The fatty acids are indispensable for moisturising and retaining the elasticity of the skin. Other ingredients include Allantoin & Kariten which even skin tone, reduce blemishes and scarring. All the more, shea butter has high level of Cinnamic acid, a natural sunscreen.

Homemade recipes You do not have to go broke buying expensive products. Try something that is already available in your kitchen or something that is available at your grocery store at a fraction of cost.

Oatmeal masks have been used for years for moisturising skin. Take quick cook oatmeal and put it in your coffee grinder. Mix with plain yoghurt and leave it in the fridge for 10 minutes. Apply on the face and neck and if possible the décolleté and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. Do it once a week. It works great for problematic dry skin.

Nutritious oils not only add taste to your food but are good for your skin too. Add flax seed oil to your diet. You can get it at any health food store and it works from the inside out to moisturise your skin.