I’m sure you’ve heard it before: “Black don’t crack, girl! I don’t need no sunscreen! I have extra melanin in my skin!” I must agree there is some truth to that: melanin DOES provide darker skin tones with a natural sun protectant; however, this does NOT mean you don’t have to do anything to create and maintain flawless skin. With just a few simple steps, you can be sure your black doesn’t crack:)
In both the morning and especially at night, be sure to wash your skin with warm water and a facial cleanser. With so many cleansers on the market, it can be hard to choose which one works best for your skin type. I highly recommend using a skincare system; this means to use all of the same products from the SAME product line. Sometimes if you use a variety of products from different product lines, the ingredients may counteract and ultimately do more harm than good. Products developed in a system are formulated to work together, delivering more benefits for your skin.
After you’ve washed with the perfect cleanser, follow with exfoliating at least twice a week. This helps to slough off any dead skin cells and will both polish and brighten your skin tone. Do NOT sleep on this: I’m telling you that after years of following this practice, my skin has never looked so good. In fact, I notice a dull tone and rougher texture if I forget to do this. EXFOLLIATE!
This is one of my favorite facial scrubs.
Now, around the delicate eye area, be sure to use an eye cream. This will fight off the signs of aging. I love the Even Tone concealer by Black Opal because it has a built-in agent that helps to both reduce eye swelling and to even skin tone.
It is often said, if your skin is in great condition, you don’t have to wear lots of makeup. I could not agree more with this statement; if you have beautiful skin, there isn’t much to cover up. To help further protect your investment, though, make sure you use a moisturizer. And if your moisturizer does not contain SPF, be sure your foundation does.
To create this look I used BO Even True Foundation & Concealer. My secret is to apply makeup only on the areas of my skin that have an uneven tone. I like to use my fingers to blend foundation because the warmth from my fingertips helps the makeup glide onto my skin.
In the summer, you may experience more oil production from your pores. Try using an oil-blotting serum under your makeup to help stop shine before it starts. I also carry a pressed powder around in my purse to help absorb oil and rid my skin of that ever-present midday shine.
Once you’ve created a flawless canvas, you are ready to add a little color. Why not start with your lips? Afterall, who doesn’t love a great lip gloss? Check out the new Color Statement collection from BO.
Have more questions about skincare? Join me this Thursday for a Twitter Party with Black Opal.
