When it comes to all things skin care, your skin type determines which steps should be in your daily regimen and which ingredients or formulas should be nourishing your skin. But as it turns out, there is one other factor you need to consider to make sure your skin stays in fighting form: Your skin tone. And while plenty of products are designed to work for all skin types, those with deeper skin tones may have specific needs that require special attention.
“Women of color will face different skin aging concerns than lighter skin types. For instance, one of the first aging concerns of women is usually lines and wrinkles, but this is not necessarily true for skin of color. Women of color generally worry about pigmentation issues, and Latina and Asian women—depending on their skin tone—might be concerned about both,” explains cosmetic chemist Debbie D’Aquino.
Top Concerns for Skin of Color
If you have a deeper skin tone, the excess melanin can help stave off the appearance of crow’s feet and laugh lines. This, however, does not exempt you from a host of other concerns that are unique to your skin tone nor does it lend credence to the myth that it lowers your risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, according to the experts at Epionce, those with skin of color—generally falling under Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI—are likely to experience the same concerns and challenges as lighter skin types but may require a more targeted approach when it comes to maintaining skin health.
D’Aquino agrees and adds, “Although basic skin care needs are the same for everyone, there are some concerns that deeper skin tones are more likely to experience, such as ingrown hairs, certain depth and types of uneven skin tone, darkening of skin, stubborn marks and raised flaws that stand out from a person’s natural skin color.” To know more about the best skin care for women of color, below is a list of the most common skin concerns of deeper skin tones and how to address them. Read more
