Want glowing skin that’s flawless? We thought so. But sometimes skincare can seem so mysterious. Like, what’s the best type of sunscreen for darker skin tones? Or how do I handle discoloration from acne? We hear you and we got you, girl.
To help you navigate skincare’s tricky terrain better — and to give your beautiful skin the fuel it needs to flourish — we spoke to two skincare gurus. Here are their expert tips on how you can have the best skin of your life…
1. Get oil under control. Getty Images
“People who have darker skin tend to be a bit more oily, so they should use products that are non-comedogenic and won’t clog the pores,” explains board-certified dermatologist and founder of DermWarehouse, Alan J. Parks, MD.
Another great option is BlackUp Daily Face Purifying Gel. The French brand, which is also known for its range of foundation shades, offers skin-care products formulated to hydrate skin while simultaneously keeping oiliness at bay.
There are also some good drugstore options. Aveeno and Olay sell a range of oil-free acne washes that would definitely do the trick.
2. Seriously, stop popping your pimples.
It can be so damn satisfying to pop them. But since darker skin tones tend to scar easily, those popped zits can turn into dark spots that will take WAY longer to heal. “I always counsel my patients to avoid picking their pimples as much as possible,” says dermatologist and founder of Derma di Colore.
Rather than squeezing, soak a cotton swab in benzoyl peroxide and dab it on the zit. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, benzoyl peroxide can remove the bacteria that causes acne. Oh, and the idea that it can leave light spots on your skin is actually just a myth.
You can also check out zit patches, which work wonders. You just apply the patch over a cleansed pimple and leave it on overnight. Wake up feeling refresher with that zit totally gone. Sometimes, you might need to apply a patch for a few nights, but it does slowly flatten the pimple and make it appear a lot less red.
3. Sunscreen is a MUST.
According to Dr. Park, since people of color are more likely to have discoloration from old acne lesions and the sun makes dark spots darker, you absolutely need to be on top of your sunscreen regimen.
Seriously, don’t slack here. Just because your skin doesn’t get as noticeably red as someone with a lighter complexion doesn’t mean that harmful rays aren’t penetrating your skin and doing some serious damage.
4. If you tend to get acne on your forehead and temples, the problem might be your hair product.
There’s actually a name for this type of acne: Pomade acne. Sometimes hair oil can clog the pores in the areas around your hairline. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you swap out your haircare products for ones that contain water or glycerin (instead of oil).
Another good habit to pick up: Use hair oil only in the middle of your scalp and ends of your hair — that way it’s less likely to come in contact with your face. Also, ALWAYS wash your head scarf to avoid transferring hair oils and dirt onto your skin.
5. Give oil cleansing a try.
I know this might sounds super counterintuitive if you have oily skin, but seriously! Cleansing oils are based on the premise that like dissolves like.
What that means: an oil filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory properties will dissolve the occasionally pore-clogging oil produced by your face. Also, oil is very gentle on the skin (which is great if you want to avoid the trauma that can cause the dark spots mentioned above).
To oil cleanse, hold a warm water-soaked washcloth on your face for about a minute. Then, rub a dime-sized amount of the oil of your choice into your skin. Use the same washcloth to gently remove the oil. If straight-up oil cleansing makes you nervous, get your feet wet with an oil-based cleanser first.
Culled from https://www.seventeen.com/beauty/makeup-skincare/a47427/life-changing-skincare-tricks-women-of-color-need-to-know/
