Aside from shaving basic skincare is a great start for initiating self care. Basic skincare for black men just isn't enough because clean skin isn't the only concern black men have black men want clearer skin. Therefore, advance skincare goes beyond the basics inclusive of treating specific concerns black men face daily.
Although black men are equal all skincare is not! Its believed brands are aware of what black men need for their skin by showcasing images of black men holding skincare products highlighting a few key points grabs your interest. Some black men have taken the liberty to video themselves using products to identify with the black men looking for gender specific skin care products. Both are quite persuasive and there's nothing wrong with either however its tricky for the novice buyer who's in need of skincare products to help with a skin issue.
Not Sure What to Look For?
When you're not sure what to look for beyond ads or influencers building their social audience research to find out more about its owners. Looking into the owner's expertise will help you get to know who's behind the brand and help you gain trust based on creditability. Although basic skincare is a great starting point is should not be the only end to your skincare regimen. Over descriptive labels or in your face messaging is reasonable point of references but it not justifiable cause that the skincare product or skincare is not enough to determine if the products tailored for skin concerns black men face. However, other than melanin black skin may appear different than other skin tones yet it requires more active ingredients to be effective for optimum results.
Black Men Skin Need More
Melanin gives the skin its pigment therefore, the darker the skin the more melanocytes the skin produces. Visually the skin appears thicker in texture because of its pigment seemingly black men skincare needs is a concern black man have when deciding which products are best suited for melanin skin and tailored to address the needs of a black man’s skin.
Melanin varies with pigmentation due to ethnicity, race, and gender however, the physiology of a man’s skin is the same but the texture, tone and type appears indifferent for black men. Needless to say, every man can benefit by following basic skincare routine cleanse, exfoliate, and stay hydrated daily to encourage maintain healthy skin.
Considerably there is a slightly different texture for men with darker skin and depending on his skin type need more advance products to help with issues such as hyperpigmentation, folliculitis, and acne. Believe it or not, a man's skin is more sensitive than a woman’s skin because of his hormones. Due to his daily shaving regimen, a man needs skincare products to accommodate his shaving routine and black men need more care in his skincare to address concerns that differ from nonblack men such as ingrown hairs, blemishes, and oiler skin types.
Regardless a man's skincare regimen should cater to his grooming routine as well as his skincare needs to maintain immaculate skin and an impeccable appearance. Usually, black men deal with multiple skin problems at one time therefore, finding the right skincare products that understand such issues and capable of targeting specific issues directly.
The Best Skincare for Black Men
Active Cleansers
Using a facial cleanser daily is a great way to maintain clean skin it washes away dirt, debris, and environmental pollutants. Men find it easier to cleanse their skin while in the shower using soaps, body bars, or body washes because it's efficient however using products specifically for the face is ideal. Finding the best products that understand the needs of a black man’s skin and that are more advanced is limited. Of course, the basic cleanser will serve the purpose for most men yet for black men require a little more than basic cleansing to achieve the best results for their skin. Foaming cleansers are great for all skin types especially oily skin because it helps minimize the production of oils and clogged pores due to over action oil glands. For oilier skin, it is suggested to cleanse both day and night however over washing the skin can cause the skin to produce more oil, therefore, it’s important to pay close attention to your skin’s reaction. It is important to stabilize the oil rather than drying out the oils of the skin. For combination or dry skin cleansing at night is suggested and using warm water in the morning and apply an oil-free hydrating gel for oily skin and an active moisturizer for dry skin.
AHA's Exfoliate
Some men may think there’s no need to use an exfoliating because shaving daily removes most of their dead skin cells however using exfoliating products to lift away access dirt and oils that may block pores causing blackheads, gets rid of dead skin to encourage new skin. Face scrubs are great however can be a little abrasive for newly shaved skin therefore, using an enzyme or natural chemical exfoliant is best. Additionally using natural exfoliates or exfoliating cleansers serves as a better purpose due to its continuous benefits for the skin. Scrub exfoliants are a good choice but it takes several rinses to remove the beads the residue often remains days however using a chemical exfoliating is better for black men. Chemical exfoliates not only eats away dead skin cells it also helps with hyper-pigmentation and prevents problematic skin caused by oily skin. Some facial scrubs can be drying to the face and absorb the skin’s natural moisture.
Hydration vs. Moisturize
The final step in a basic skincare regimen is hydrating. Some believe oily skin does not require moisturizers and I will agree due to the ingredients in most moisturizers yet all skin needs hydration. Some of these ingredients may clog the pores, don’t penetrate the skin, or sit on the skin causing it to appear oilier. The biggest problem that most skin especially black men lack hydration, not moisture. Sebaceous glands, oil glands are in our bodies regardless if we’re oily or dry we all have them. Our oil glands produce oil for oilier skin the glands are overactive due to diet, hormones, stress, or genetics. Hydrating the body both inside and out will keep the skin youthful and resilient. Dehydrated skin or superficially dehydrated skin is the most common issue seen with black men skin. Gel moisturizers are hydrating and work well as an aftershave to soothe and protect the skin acting as an anti-pollutant fighting against free of free radicals. Lightweight lotions and oil-free moisturizers are a great alternative if the skin is considered dry. Please note, skin can appear dry if its lacking water, meaning dehydrated skin additionally superficially dehydrated is skin that has a build-up of dead skin cells with a slight sheen of oil in the forehead area but feels tight.
To take the guessing out of skincare choosing a multi-functional skincare product that caters to a man’s skin and tailored to his needs serves as an all-in-one option for men. The best skincare for black men should be pure, natural and clean but effective.
It may be a tedious process or may cost more than you want to spend but your skin should be an investment you shouldn't compromise because it's the only skin you'll have for a lifetime.