How do you imagine that African-American women ever thought that their skin was different from everyone else?  How many of us remember the concern for ‘ashy’ skin.   As young girls African-American girls learn to ‘lotion-up’ their skin .  How many of us remember ‘Jergens’,  and that wonderful smell in the morning before you put your clothes on?  Well it turns out that training we received from our parents, cousins, grandmothers,  has proved to give many of us beautiful skin late into our older years 🙂

The truth is African-American skin is no different from other skin-types, except that we have more melanin. And, having more melanin means that you will have darker skin.  Darker skinned ladies will have better defenses against the sun, but they still have to protect their skin from the sun.  This is very important to remember.  We all burn in the sun.

Below are some tips I found for you to help you take care of your skin.  When you find the time, read the full article, and learn about the many care steps you can take to stay beautiful !

What You Must Know

• Always use a gentle, water-soluble cleanser (avoid bar soaps; they are too drying, can clog pores and cause skin to look ashy and feel dry).
• Always choose products that are right for your skin type (i.e. gels and serums for oily or combination skin; creams and lotions for dry skin).
• Always use a well formulated sunscreen during the day (the most typical cause of uneven skin tone for women of color is sun damage).
• Always use products loaded with state-of-the-art ingredients including antioxidants, skin-repairing ingredients, and cell-communicating ingredients.

via Skin Care for Women of Color: Basic Skin Care Tips: Skin Care Advice: Cosmetics Cop Expert Advice.

Winter Skin Tips for Everyone

• Add humidity to your home. Portable humidifiers or those that work with your heating system put moisture in the air that will be absorbed by your skin and hair.
• Use an oil-based moisturizer. Ointments or heavy creams seal water in the skin and preserve moisture better when the humidity is low.
• Slather on sunscreen. Before heading outdoors, apply a moisturizing, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to any exposed areas. Sunscreen protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
• Clean up the right way. Frequent bathing or hot showers or baths can strip your skin of natural oils. Avoid deodorant bars, antibacterial soaps, perfumed soaps, and skin care products containing alcohol. Instead, use warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap or moisturizing body wash. Limit your showers or baths to no more than 10 minutes, pat dry, and moisturize while your skin is still damp.

via Fighting Dry Skin: Beat the Itch of Winter.