I’m going to christen the brand new SCforM with a highly recommended post today, skincare for darker skin tones!

In general, skin is basically structured the same across the board but there are  few extra things you’ll want to keep in mind if you have dark skin. Now, just for clarity, by ‘dark skin’, i’m mainly talking about black skin since that’s probably what most people are referring to when they email me.

Read on for tips and recommendations!

So, what do you have to keep in mind when you have dark or black skin?

Thick skin – Black skin, in general, tends to be slightly thicker on average. The upshot to this is that the skin tends to age very well in comparison to lighter-toned skin. However, the downside to it is that you need stronger concentrations of product to penetrate your skin and you’re more likely to have problems with ingrown hairs if you wet shave.

Hyperpigmentation – Though your darker skin protects you from the sun a little more than your paler skinned counterparts, it can also lead to problems with hyperpigmentation. That means you’re more likely to develop darker patches on your skin from acne scars, ingrown hairs.

Oily skin – Like Asian skin, darker skin tones tend to be slightly oilier. Again, this is something that keeps dark skin looking younger for longer but nobody wants to look shiny, do they?

So, bearing that in mind, here are a few key products that you might want to look into if you have dark skin.

More product recommendations at the end!

BHA products.

BHAs are great because they help to unclog pores and prevent ingrown hairs. Try using formulations with a 2% concentration like the ones from Stridex, Paula’s Choice and Neutrogena.

AHA products.

AHA products help any product you apply penetrate further into your skin,

perfect if your skin is thick. Try using an AHA product like the ones from MD Forte, Alpha Hydrox, Avene or Paula’s Choice at night over your BHA treatment for optimum results. Not only do AHAs increase the penetration of your skincare, they help to exfoliate the skin and (coupled with sunscreen) will fade away any uneven patches on your skin like acne scars. Go for concentrations at or above 6%.

Sunscreen.

Even the darkest, ebony-black skin only has an in-built SPF of about 8. You may not burn easily but that doesn’t mean your skin isn’t becoming sun damaged or that you can’t get skin cancer. If you have problems with discolouration on your skin (hyperpigmentation, acne scars etc) – you need to be using a good sunscreen. Go for SPF30 formulas as they’re less likely to look white and ashy on your skin. Another option is to buy something like the Clinique for Men Bronzing Gel and mix a tiny amount with your sunscreen to take away any white/ashy cast on your skin. It won’t add any colour or coverage to dark skin, it’ll just balance out the white of the sunscreen.

Shaving

When shaving your skin, make sure you’re shaving in the direction of growth. Double check areas like your neck where hair tends to grow in more than one direction. Don’t shave against the grain, don’t pull at your skin and use a clean sharp blade every time you shave. It might be worth investing in a Razorpit, your skin will thank you for it. Follow up with a BHA product to prevent any ingrowns and you’re good to go!

Tone Correctors

Tone correctors are very important in your skincare regime if you have darker skin since your skin is more likely to have discolouration (or uneven skin tone). Using a tone correcting treatment like the Kiehl’s Line Reducing Concentrate or Dermaquest Skin Lightening Serum will help to even everything out, fade dark patches and generally make your skin look bright and healthy. Again this works best when using a sunscreen alongside it in the day. You can use them during the day under sunscreen and at night over your AHA or BHA (or both!) product.

And that’s it! Just a few key products you might want to add to your skincare routine if you have a darker skin tone. As for things like cleansers moisturisers, keep them very gentle and simple – you’re using some very good (yet slightly harsh) skincare so balance it out by keeping the rest very gentle.

If you’re looking for more product recommendations for any of these products, I highly recommend having a quick read through these articles where you’ll find plenty!

How to get a bright and even skin tone. – For recommendations on sunscreen, AHAs and tone correcting treatments.

Argh, first wrinkles! – For recommendations on sunscreen and Vitamin C serums.

How to treat minimal to mild acne. – For recommendations on sunscreen and BHA treatments.

Oil control products – To fight that shine!