Irrespective of your shade or culture, your melanin-rich skin will always be a drawcard. Having melanin-rich skin has exceptional benefits. Melanin increases the pigmentation of your skin, offers protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun, and wards off free radicals (aka skin aging agents). But as with other things in life, your beautiful melanated skin has its own challenges.
Deeper complexions may deal with a range of skin concerns ranging from dryness to dehydration, dullness, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. The good news is that you can keep your dark skin radiant and rejuvenated all year round even with these issues. The key to addressing these skin woes is by understanding them.
COMMON DEEPER SKIN TONE CHALLENGES
Below are the common types of challenges that affect darker tones and how you can manage them.
Dryness and dehydration
Darker tones battle with two similar issues; dryness and dehydration. If you’re dark skinned, you may notice your skin appears dry, flaky, itchy, “ashy”, and rough compared to your lighter skinned counterparts. Why you may ask? Melanin causes a drop in hydration and lower levels of natural lipids (ceramides) that strengthens your skin barrier.
Ceramides prevent dryness and keep your skin soft, smooth, and supple. Also, ceramides fend off dehydration by preventing loss of water from your skin.
How to deal:
Invest in products that contain ingredients that boost skin hydration and support ceramide formation. Examples include hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and squalane. Ingredients such as niacinamide boost ceramide production.
Hyperpigmentation/Dullness
As a person with melanin-rich skin, hyperpigmentation may be your greatest nightmare. Hyperpigmentation presents as melasma, dullness, uneven skin tone, sunspots/age spots, sun damage, dark spots, discoloration, etc .
Darker skin develops pigmentation disorders faster than other skin tones because of our overactive melanin cells. When our skin is exposed to sunlight, inflammation, or hormonal fluctuations, it produces more dark pigment which reaches the surface of the skin and triggers darkening.
How to deal:
Opt for products that contain safe and natural brightening agents that are safe for long-term use. Common skin brightening ingredients to look out for are licorice root, vitamin c, kojic acid, and niacinamide.
HOW CAN I MAKE MY MELANIN-RICH SKIN GLOW?
The easiest way to make your dark skin glisten is by adopting a melanin-friendly skincare routine. Select products that are specially formulated with melanocyte-inhibiting agents that will keep your skin luminous while boosting hydration and suppleness.
A highly recommended product for melanated skin is our “All Encompassing Serum.” This supercharged serum is a cocktail of ingredients that gently brightens the skin while leaving it hydrated and happy. Green algae and glycerin in this blend offer double dose of hydration, squalane and hydrolyzed jojoba esters safeguard the skin barrier while licorice root and niacinamide stop dullness in its tracks.
This versatile serum is “brighter skin in a bottle.”
P:S: Daily application of a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more is vital. Apply sunscreen every 2 hours especially when you’re outside.
Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your doctor first.