The best skincare for black men
Your skin type is how your skin would behave if you did nothing to it. It’s the type of skin that you're born with and will play a big part in how you take care of your skin and the products that you use. Here’s how to recognise your skin type:
There are some skin concerns that are more common in men than women and there are some skin concerns that are more common in darker skin tones. Here are the ones you need to know about when you start to create your skincare routine:
If you have dry skin - either from shaving, the weather or your natural skin type - then you might find that your skin looks dull, flakey and ashy. One of the key things for ashy skin is to keep your skin hydrated, with a daily moisturiser like the Melyon Day Cream. If your skin’s really dry then you can use a facial oil, or a heavier night cream for and extra boost
Exfoliating your skin regularly is important when it comes to dry skin. This removes the dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, banishing flakes and ashiness. Use a gentle exfoliator once or twice a week to keep your skin flake-free. Regular exfoliation is also great for ingrown hairs too!
Scars, skin damage, sun exposure, inflammation and ingrown hairs can all cause patches of darker skin to form on the face. This is known as hyperpigmentation. The best thing is to avoid skin damage in the first place, but if you already have hyperpigmentation on your skin, you can treat it with gentle exfoliation using the Dr. Barbara Sturm Darker Skin Tones Enzyme Cleanser.
Always treat your skin gently, and go easy with any exfoliators or treatments if you’re prone to hyperpigmentation. You should always wear sunscreen as part of your daily routine to protect your skin from hyperpigmentation and serious conditions like skin cancer - the Ultrasun UV Face and Scalp Mist is perfect for protecting your skin from sun damage.
Men are more likely to have oily skin, which can lead to breakouts and blackheads. If this is something that you struggle with, and you have melanin-rich skin, then finding the right skincare products for black men is a really important part of the process.
You want to use a gentle daily cleanser that will clear away dirt, sweat and pollution without stripping your skin of it’s natural barrier. The Melyon Milk Cleanser is ideal for keeping your skin clear as it contains salicylic acid (an ingredient known for it’s acne-fighting powers). Regular exfoliation and a gentle toner can help you to rebalance your skin and deal with breakouts too - be gentle on your skin and avoid causing damage to your skin through picking or using products that are too harsh.
Black men are more prone to razor burn, bumps and ingrown hairs because of the curl pattern and texture of their beard hair. This can mean that the hair curls back in on itself and gets caught under the skin, causing an ingrown hair. This can be painful and lead to scarring, inflammation and irritation.
Prevention is the best option when it comes to shaving. Try not to go over the same area repeatedly with your razor, use a sharp razor, shave in the direction of hair growth and don’t shave too quickly. If you don’t need to shave every day, then skip it as it can irritate your skin and dry it out.
Gentle, regular exfoliation can help to stop any ingrown hairs and to gently ease them out from under the skin, and keeping the skin clean is important too. The bea Skin Care Acne Hydrating Serum contains salicylic acid and mandelic acid to help to gently slough away dead skin and help with ingrown hair. Keep the skin under your beard hydrated, healthy and fresh after exfoliating with the Superfood LX Hair, Skin and Nail Oil.
Head over to our For Him section to find some of the most effective and best skin care products for black men, whatever your skin type or concerns. We’ve also curated hair and body care products to help you look and feel your best too.
All of our products have been created and sourced with darker skin tones in mind so you can be sure that our skin and body care ranges all work for melanin-rich skin. We also seek out black-owned brands wherever possible, so you can be proud to support black business owners who have created the best skincare products for black men.