21 Skincare Red Flags for Black Skin | Part One
We’ve seen and heard it all when it comes to Black skin; certain attitudes and practices are so dangerous to skin health we’re calling time on them and waving our red flag.
Let’s dig in!
Believing Vitamin C alone will solve hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant, but isn’t strong enough to clear dark marks on it’s own. It’s more of a supporting ingredient in the fight against hyperpigmentation.
Not using a pigmentation serum
Black skin should incorporate a hyperpigmentation serum into daily skin; the best way to prevent discolouration is to actively guard against it by using skincare ingredients such as alpha arbutin, hexyl resorcinol and liquorice extract.
Overdoing retinol
Too much of a good thing will end up causing you problems. Retinol (or retinoids in general) are a skincare ingredient best used slowly, building up your frequency over time. If you use too much, too quickly, your skin will become irritated and sore.
Thinking Black skin is tough and resilient
A rookie error; increased melanin levels actually make Black skin quite fragile and easily marked with hyperpigmentation and dark spots when it experiences any type of trauma. TLC, please.
Going straight in for the highest strength ingredients
High strength doesn’t always mean fast or better results. Most times this will result in skin irritation and hyperpigmentation because the barrier is shocked and damaged. Low, slow and steady will always win the skincare race.
Sleeping in face beat
No matter how flawless the make up is, don’t be tempted to sleep in it to show off at church of Sunday. You won’t get any praise from us because you’re storing up bad habits and skincare problems like congestion and breakouts for the future.
Chopping and changing your skincare products
Indecisiveness and impatience are the enemies of healthy skin. Enough said.
Doing bootleg professional treatments at home
We get it that professional treatments can be costly, but there’s a reason why they are only for professionals because of the skill and expertise needed to use properly. This is why Black Skin Directory is a treasure trove of information to help you look after your skin without breaking the bank. And if you do need to see a professional, we also have you covered!
Believing skincare has to be painful
Believe us when we say, you can make skincare gains without pain. Some ingredients like glycolic acid or retinol can feel spicy at first use but this should dissipate. If some ingredients make you feel like your face is on fire each time you use them, walk away. It’s not worth it.
File this under - Black people do not have a higher than average pain threshold.
Falling for skincare hacks
The internet is full of hacks to flawless skin and you know what they say about using short cuts - can take you twice as long to get to your end goal. Black Skin Directory has your back - that’s why we spend a lot of time busting falsehoods and myths.
Skipping sunscreen
The quickest way to undo all your handwork in looking after your skin and speed up premature ageing is to forgo sunscreen. Everyone needs to use sunscreen, even if you’re Black. Check out the SPF Hotlist.
