Black is beautiful, but you still need to give it a little touch up sometimes. Don’t think you don’t need skincare routine because you are not susceptible to UV damage and anti-ageing. Or even think that you don’t need a customised skincare routine because you are a man. African American men skincare routine is not such a huge task but very beneficial.
Black men skin are susceptible to excess production of melanin as well as a higher rate of skin cell turnover, which prevents ageing signs. Coloured skin faces challenges of Ingrown hair, razor burns, acne, hyperpigmentation and dryness. So, you will need a routine and perfect products to maintain grooming skin.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR AFRICAN AMERICAN SKIN?
1. Know your skin type
Getting clear and smooth skin is not so difficult. You just need to be sure of your skin type, so you know where to beginning. There are five types of human skin types which include normal, dry, oily, sensitive and combination skin. When you are sure of your skin type, you will be able to customise your skincare products according to what suits you.
- Normal skin – A normal skin is not too dry, oily or sensitive.
- Dry skin – If your skin mostly looks scaly and dehydrated, it means you have a dry skin type. It gets tight easily and can also be very sensitive.
- Oily skin – This type of skin does produce lots of oil and also prone to breakouts or acne.
- Sensitive skin – This type of skin reacts to everything like sun exposure, skincare products, or soaps. If your skin dries out or becomes itchy with bumps after being exposed to any of these, you have sensitive skin.
- Combination skin – if you look at the mirror and your forehead and nose seems oily, but other parts of your face are dry, then you have combination skin.
If after reading you are still not sure of your skin type, you can see a dermatologist for further clarification. But, you must be sure of your skin type before going ahead to purchase any African American skincare products.
2. Cleanse
Cleansing is the first step in any skincare routine. It is vital but must be done only twice a day which is morning and night. Some experts recommend that for oily skin, cleansing should also be done mid-day. But if it’s not convenient, twice a day is perfect. Use a face wash and keep the bar soap away. Deodorant soaps and even natural soaps may be suitable for other parts of your body but not your face. Get the right face wash from the store and was your face with lukewarm water.
Shower time should be limited to 15 minutes so that your face won’t be too dry. Apply your cleanser and rub it on your face with your finger moving in small circles. Do this for about 60 seconds and makes sure your fingers touched every area of your face.
Best African American Face cleansers
This face cleanser is suitable for oily and sensitive skin types. It washes off excess oil, dead skin cells and unclogs your pores to make you look fresh. The face cleanser is fragrance-free, paraben-free and vegan. It contains kaolin clay, glycolic acid, volcanic ash and many other skin-nourishing ingredients.
This eight-ounce face wash is very acceptable for getting dirt out of sensitive, normal, dry and combination skin types. With twice daily usage, you are sure that it will do some deep cleaning to clear pores or bacteria, dirt and other irritants. The face wash contains olive oil for excess oil removal, jojoba oil for protection and aloe Vera for moisturising.
3. Exfoliate
Washing removes dirt and impurities but not all. Once in a while, you need some extra work on your face, so all deeply embedded dirt will be taken out. This is where exfoliating comes to play but should be a weekly routine. Exfoliating involves scrubbing, which may be too harsh on your skin if you do it daily. Make it twice a week so good result.
This step helps to unclog your pores to reduce acne and blackheads. It also makes ingrown hair more visible, thereby reducing razor burns. Exfoliate before or after shaving to loosen your hair follicles and prevent the hair from curling back into your skin. Get a face brush, face scrub or face mask for this routine. If you are using a scrub or brush, make sure your rub it gently. Doing otherwise may result in irritation, puffiness, inflammation, and skin damage.
Best Exfoliants for Black Skin
This charcoal scrubs remove unwanted toxins, dirt and pollution from your skin. It is infused with collagen and stem cell to eradicate ageing signs and suitable for normal skin type. This scrub is a blend of special ingredients to reduce acne and blackheads. It contains dead sea salt, aloe vera, coconut oil, jojoba oil, activated charcoal and many others.
This organic scrub clears off unwanted dead skin cells, dirt and impurities from all skin types. It is vegan, non-abrasive and also comes in a very presentable pack. It contains matcha tea for fighting acne, sugar for exfoliating and removal of dirt, lemongrass to purify the skin and many others. This Scrub also gives you long-lasting hydration and is equally, chemical and fragrance-free.
4. Tone
Don’t be surprised that even African American skincare routine also includes toning. Many men think toning is for women who aren’t true. Don’t attach gender to skincare because we all need to take good care of our skin. Toning helps you remove leftovers from your face. So the residues that remain from shaving or exfoliating is cleared off entirely by using a toner. It also removes excess oil or dead skin cells that may be clogging your pores. This is necessary because when your pores are clean, you are less likely to have breakouts.
Toning also shrinks your pores, helps you maintain a balanced pH level and keeps your skin hydrated. Before applying a toner, make sure your skin is freshly cleaned and dry. Then, rub the content on your skin gently reaching all areas and let it dry. Your choice of toner must be suitable for your skin type.
Best toners for African American skincare
This is a swiss formula that helps improve stem cell growth on sensitive, oily, dry and combination skin types. It is gentle and made from natural ingredients like lavender, tea tree oil, green tea and edelweiss. Geneva naturals clarifying face toner is sulfate-free and paraben-free.
InstaNatural Vitamin C Facial Toner rejuvenates, clarifies and exfoliates your skin. It is produced from natural ingredients witch hazel, aloe vera, lavender tea tree oil and many others. It is also suitable for all skin types and provides the most soothing, toning and moisturising effect on the skin.
5. Moisturize
Your face has to remain hydrated all the time. Many black men are used to having their skin completely dried out. If you are one of those, you need a good moisturiser in your African American skincare routine. It will make your skin soft and reduces flakiness and wrinkles to make you look as young as possible.
Again, choose your moisturising product according to your skin type. For oily skin, you should seek oil-free moisturisers. But, if you have dry skin, avoid moisturising products with alcohol. Moisturising is essential and must be added as a daily routine.
Best Moisturizers for Black Men Skin
It is suitable for all skin types and very effective for maintaining hydration on the skin. With the perfect blend of green tea extract, willow bark extract, passionflower and dead sea algae, this product hydrates the skin with no greasy feeling. It is lightly scented with a balance of aloe and citrus at the top base then the woody base.
This product can be applied in fifteen seconds, but it provides twelve hours long hydration on the skin. It is made from organic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe Vera, jojoba oil, shea butter, green tea and plant-based botanicals. It is soothing for aftershave to nourish your skin from within.
Your face is the most exposed part of your body, so it needs extra attention. Starting a daily routine is the most recommended way to care for your skin. So, while applying this African American skincare routine, bear in mind that exfoliating is not a daily affair. One day you won’t be exfoliating, use your cleanser, toner and moisturiser. But if you will be exfoliating, use your cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser.
Seek medical advice from your dermatologist if you are still unsure.