Blog

Do women and men of colour need special skincare products? This is probably one of the most frequent questions we receive from you.

Skin is the body’s largest organ and we all want it to be in good condition and shape. When it comes to skincare needs, no matter what your ethnic background is, you need to nurture the skin, provide it with antioxidants, vitamins. However, depending on your skin colour, you may struggle with some of the skin issues more than with the others.

4 As

Whether you are white, have Asian or Latin roots or have dark brown or black skin, there are four main rules we always recommend to follow when creating your own skin routine.

We call those rules 4 As:

1. Always use a gentle cleanser. Add oil-cleanser or cleansing balm to your evening routine to ensure you remove all dirt and excess sebum from your skin.
2. In addition, always choose products that are appropriate for your skin type.
3. Always use products filled with skin-restoring ingredients. Every skin needs support.
4. Always use a sunscreen during the day. Yes, during rainy days as well. If you find the right sun cream, you will enjoy wearing it every day.

Going beyond

Not only skin type is important but skin concern.

For example, depending on your ethnicity your signs of ageing may differ.

White women and men usually fight with fine lines and wrinkles. While women with dark brown and black skin usually fight with pigmentation issues first.

Latin and Asian women and men, depending on their origins and skin tone may struggle with a combination of both skin concerns.

Top skin concerns among women and men of colour

Basic skin care needs are the same for everyone, however, there are some concerns that brown and black skin tones tackle.

Dehydration vs dryness

Dry skin lacks natural oils and lipids. Hence, it is skin type. On the contrary, dehydrated skin lacks water in the upper layer of the skin and is a skin concern easier to manage. How to tackle those? Use a gentle skin routine. Do not over-exfoliate and bring moisture to dry skin and hydration to dehydrated skin (consider hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan and glycerin).

Discoloration/hyperpigmentation/sun damage & dark spots

Darker skin tones develop age spots and dark patches. Dark spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation often occur after inflammatory acne and general injury to the skin. You may tackle those and make the skin heal faster. Read more about discoloration here.

Oiliness

Excess oil production can create skin imperfections. If those imperfections are not treated correctly will create PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and scarring. Oil-based cleansers oil-based cleanser followed with a water-based cleanser, hydrating toner and water-based, oil-free moisturizer to rebalance your natural moisture barrier. Use also no-clogging pores sun cream which will not leave a white cast on your skin.

What ingredients should women and men of colour use?

We always recommend multitasking ingredients and skincare products. Furthermore, it is important they are gentle on the skin and will support the natural skin barrier. They will allow to improve texture, even out complexion and encourage skin regeneration. Here are some of the best ingredients you want to add to your skin routine:

AHAs & BHAs

AHAs and BHAs are known anti-ageing ingredients that gently exfoliate the skin. This helps to even out tone and improve cell turnover to effectively treat pigmentation and scarring. Depending on the concentration of the ingredients, they will be suitable for acne-prone skin but also dry skin.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage. They delay signs of ageing and prevent inflammation. Their anti-inflammatory response protects the skin against sun damage and photoaging, preventing sunburn, dark spots and uneven skin tone. One of the best know antioxidants is vitamin C. It helps wound healing, boosting collagen production, brightening dark spots. Hence, it protects from UV damage and pollution. It helps correct dark spots and prevent future skin damage and discoloration.

Ceramides

Ceramides, which naturally appear in the skin are responsible for keeping skin plump and smooth. They maintain moisture levels and strengthen barrier function.

mBeta-Glucan

This is one of the top discoveries of recent times. mBeta Glucan has been recognised for its immunomodulatory, antifungal and antiviral activities. They are higher than those of any other glucan complex carbohydrate.