Detailed Tips for Clearer, Glowing Skin!

Clear skin is a goal we all have! There’s nothing worse than feeling insecure in your own skin, especially when your insecurities are on your face. Suddenly, eye contact becomes harder to maintain, you poke and prod at your blemishes and inevitably making them worse. This continues in a vicious cycle that seems never-ending. Your dreams of having velvety smooth skin that gleams and shines in the light seem like a stark contrast to your reality. We often forget that blemishes are completely normal! Uneven texture, acne, hyperpigmentation, etc. are common amongst all demographics because clear skin is dependent upon several variables. Genetics, skin routine, diet, etc. can prevent you from having the skin type you’ve always dreamed of. Some factors are easier to manage than others so there are several tips that we can give to guarantee a difference. Your confidence will bounce back and soon enough you’ll begin to feel and see a difference in how you shine!

1) Wash your face with warm to cool water! 

Washing your face with scalding hot water sounds soothing, especially during the Wintered months. Unfortunately, that is incredibly drying for your skin! Consistent use of hot water will destroy your skin barrier and increase the likelihood of unclear, bumpy skin. Your skin barrier is important because it keeps germs and irritants out of the innermost layers of your skin. Water loss is a direct result of a damaged skin barrier; thus, your skin feels tighter and flakier because it’s been stripped of its natural moisture. Plump, soft skin is a sign of a healthier skin barrier! Warm water is less damaging but just as comforting as hot water. Cool water is the best option to solidify moisture, but it’s understandable if it feels too refreshing. 

2) Melanin beauties NEED sunscreen.

Hyperpigmentation is the biggest foe for many melanated beauties. Once active acne spots begin to disappear, dark spots aka hyperpigmentation take their place for an even longer period! It requires lots of patience to not overwhelm your skin with fade creams to get rid of them. I’m here to tell you that sunscreen will save the day! I can confidently state that sunscreen will make a difference in preventing and eliminating your hyperpigmentation! No matter how many serums and creams you use, they do nothing without the application of sunscreen. If you don’t believe me, the best products to even your skin tone will always advise consistent use of sunscreen on their labels! Sunscreen protects against sun damage which worsens post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation. The sun is nothing to play with and it’s important that you protect your melanin! Black Girl Sunscreen and Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50

have taken social media by storm. They come highly recommended by estheticians and dermatologists who specialize in deeper skin tones due to their sheer appearance and affordable price! The application of sunscreen will amplify your beautiful complexion. It solidifies our skin thrives in sunlight, especially with the right protection!

3) R E S E A R C H! 

Before you spend your money on ridiculous amounts of products, it’s so important to research beforehand. Read reviews of the brand and their products, see if they’re compatible with your skin type and shade! Not all beauty products target and/or care about deeper skin tones so investigate the brand’s integrity and expertise in darker tones! If the brand lacks expertise, you can risk extreme lightening of the skin and damaging your beautiful skin shade! Take notes of what products did and didn’t work! Look at the ingredients on the label and research how they help with certain skin conditions. For example, hyaluronic acid and folic acid are typically beneficial for acne prone skin! Also, don’t be shy to consult an esthetician or dermatologist. There are several credited professionals available on social media who grant consultations and appointments. They’re also willing to offer advice and product recommendations! 

4) Establish a routine.

A routine will help optimize the benefits of skincare!

First, it’s recommended to oil cleanse or use micellar water before applying the cleanser. Oil cleansing and micellar water get rid of dirt and other pollutants that are deeper within your pores. Anything that’s harmful to your pores will inevitably lead to clogged pores, thus acne and texture differences. The Narloa Mandarian Cleansing Oil and The Butter Bar Skincare Grapeseed, Green Coffee & Moringa Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover are great cleansing oils to leave your pores fresh and primed to be cleansed with water!

Second, use a cleanser! During the cleansing process, we’re not cleaning as effectively as we think we are. It’s important to gently rub your fingertips in circular motions for at least 60 seconds. Cleansers such as the Urban Hydration Bright and Balanced Aloe Vera Leaf Face Wash and Nolaskinsentials Glycolic Cleansing Foam will rid your issues of texture differences, dark spots, and dull skin!

Note: Exfoliation can also take place during this step. If you’re using a scrub such as The Brown Butter Skincare Brown Sugar & Tea Tree Peppermint Acne-Fighting Facial Scrub and KAIKE Marshmallow Clay Mask and Scrub they should be used only a few times a week, not every day. It would be too abrasive to your skin barrier!

Third, tone. Toners such as the Rosen Skincare Gold Tides Toner, Bolden Brightening Glycolic Acid Toner, and Kyra’s Shea Medleys Rose Water will ensure all leftover dirt is erased. Use a cotton pad to gently wipe across your face to get rid of impurities. After all, dirt is removed, aka your cotton pad isn’t filthy, begin to pat access toner gently into your pores with your fingertips. This will leave your skin supple and ready to absorb the benefits from serums and moisturizers to follow! 

Fourth, use serums if needed. Serums solidify your skin is glowing and fighting against future damage. They also feel satiny smooth when you apply them! Apply them with gentle patting motions, the same as toning. It’s like a little piece of heaven for your pores. The Butter Bar Skincare Melanin Skin Nourishing Serum+ MPF is great for fighting acne, eczema, psoriasis, dark spots, and more! The Skin Scholars Thirteen Replenishing Facial Serum is great for cell turnover and strengthening the skin barrier! 

Fifth, use moisturizers. Moisturizers do just as they claim in their titles. They’re also beneficial to treating your skin condition so it’s important to again research how they can potentially benefit you! The Rosen Skincare Moonlight Moisturizer and GlowRX Skincare Sleepover Nighttime Face Moisturizer have ingredients that fight to ensure clear, healthy skin. 

5) Apply the product with damp skin!

Damp skin allows products to absorb into your skin barrier because it’s easier to penetrate. Think of applying styling products to your hair! It’s much easier to do so with damp curls! 

Essentially after cleansing, do not dry your face with a towel. Immediately go on to toning, use of serums, etc. to damp skin. Unless the skincare product says differently, damp skin optimizes their benefits because they’re fully absorbed into your pores!

5) Be cautious of your diet.

Food provides nutrients for our body. As a result, this can directly affect our pores and lead to congestion. What you’re eating isn’t the sole reason you have acne or texture differences, rather they exacerbate the symptoms of doing so! For example, if you’re lactose intolerant, you’re more likely to break out when you eat foods that have high levels of lactose in them. In the said case, you’re digesting and absorbing toxins that have a negative impact on your skin. 

For these reasons, vitamins can also be beneficial and/ or harmful. Again, dependent on your skin condition, vitamins promote cell turnover. Essentially the skin that’s on the surface is already dead so new cell turnover resurfaces “newer” skin underneath. It’s important to be wary of how much biotin and collagen are in your vitamins. Yes, they’re great for fighting acne and promoting cell turnover for the face and scalp, but if used excessively you’ll experience breakouts. Take note of how your skin reacts to certain amounts! The Hydratherma Naturals Hair Growth Plus Vitamins and Hairfinity Damage Defense Collagen Booster can be great for both your skin and hair growth!

Clear skin is not impossible to have. It’s a journey with lots of twists and turns but I promise that the smallest differences can make a huge impact! The tips I’ve shared will most definitely help elevate your skincare game! If you need additional consultation, please consult an esthetician or dermatologist that specializes in black skin tones. Melanin is beautiful so we must treat it as such!