The In’s and Out’s of African American Skin Care

Oily, normal, dry, blotchy, combination, t-zone, black heads, white heads, scaring, sun burned or sun kissed. Ugh! Regardless of your race, skin care can be a major issue and complicated for women of color. In my last post, I wrote about the beauty in the different tones and hues of African American skin and how all shades of brown are profound. Well this post will focus on basic skin care and how to keep that beautiful coco brown skin radiant.

The first step in properly caring for your skin is to identify what type of skin you currently have. There are five major types of skin and the below test is your first step in proper skin care.

The Skin Test: Wash your face, pat it dry and take a few pieces of rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper and press on different spots on your face. If you can’t find rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue you can use blot sheets (for oily skin) from your local drug store. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick/pick up oily spots and become translucent. If the paper does not stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) then you have combination (or normal) skin. African American women tend to have oily skin. Some believe that our oily skin causes us to wrinkle less than Caucasian women but this is a myth. It’s primarily because the melanin in our skin acts as a natural barrier to the ultraviolet rays that cause wrinkling…and our good genes play a part too!

Here are the five different skin types and their characteristics.

Oily: Oily skin tends to be shiny with enlarged pores, and is prone to blackheads and blemishes. You might experience some tightness.

Combination/normal: This skin type has medium pores, a smooth and even texture, good circulation, healthy color, may tend toward dryness on the cheeks while being oily in the t-zone.

Sensitive: Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic and can be rashy.

Dry: Dry skin feels tight, especially after cleansing. You have a tendency towards fine wrinkles, flaking and red patches. In women of color, skin may appear ashy or dull from dead skin buildup.

Aging or sun-damaged: This skin also feels tight with visible wrinkles, slack skin tone -- especially around the cheeks and jawline -- with leathery texture and broken capillaries.

So now that you know what type of skin you have, you want to make sure that you buy the proper products for your skin type. This is important because buying the wrong products for your skin will do more harm than good. For example, if you have oily skin and buy a product for dry skin you will more than likely make your skin oilier and break out since products for dry skin tend to have heavier concentrations of oil in them.

Please keep in mind that proper skin care does not mean that you have to go broke to have beautiful skin. Regardless of your skin type, the cheapest yet most effective way to keep your skin healthy is water! Water hydrates and purifies your skin which is essential. Eight glasses a day are recommended but I like to drink more since drinking water has many benefits. Your diet is also key; so lots of deep green leafy vegetables and colorful fruit. Wash your face twice a day, when you wake up and before you go to bed. Right after if you play sports or exercise. Never use the same wash cloth on you face that you use to wash your body with. This can transfer bacteria and cause breakouts.

Finding the right products can take time. Ask friends who have nice skin what products they use and look online. I find a lot of my products by going on You Tube and seeing what other users think. If you don’t have a lot of money go to your local drug store and ask the clerk for assistance. I have oily skin and switch between the Neutrogena Acne Kit and Aveeno. You can find these products at Target or Wal-mart for fairly cheap. I also use blotting tissues to help keep the excess oil off of my face. I absolutely love The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil blots. The blots are $10 a pack and although they have different ones, I prefer the Tea Tree Oil ones since they help with acne. If you have a little more money to spend, you may want to go to your local mall and try Clinique or Origins to name a few. I have tried both and they are great!

When shopping for your products remember to get a good cleanser, toner (helps remove any excess dirt your cleanser may have missed) and facial lotion that has sun block in it, preferably SPF 30. Whatever skin regimen you choose, remember to be gentle. African American skin tends to be hyper pigmented which is a darkening of the skin in patches or all over. It is caused when the skin has undergone some type of trauma that cause inflammation like acne scars and burns. When the inflammation goes away the skin is left with a dark mark. Sometimes it goes away but it’s mostly a fading process that takes months to clear. Our skin is delicate so if your skin becomes irritated stop using the product immediately and see a doctor if need be.

Remember, beautiful skin comes from within…you are what you eat. So load up on veggies and fruits and drink plenty of water! Proper skin care is a process but you now have the basics to have beautiful radiant skin!

--Aleceia Kidd

Guest Blogger