Embrace Natural Beauty: Simple DIY Face Care Tips

• So, what's the big deal with darker skin? It's all about the melanin party! Darker skin has more melanocytes throwing a fancy melanin shindig, which is basically what gives us our fabulous colors. Who knew science could be so stylish?

• Now, let’s talk about that skin barrier! It can be a bit of a drama queen, prone to throwing tantrums due to trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). It’s like, 'I’m dry! I’m rough!' But fear not, because when picking your moisturizers, go for those natural moisturizing factors (NMF) or products screaming "barrier repair" or "ceramide" like they're on a skincare reality show!

• Here’s a fun fact: melanin grants your skin a natural SPF of around 13.3, which is way better than white skin's 3.4 SPF! But don’t get too cozy; that doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen! Even if your skin is a melanin powerhouse, remember: YOU DO need your SPF like you need your morning coffee!

• Rumor has it that the stratum corneum isn’t thicker on darker skins, but it is more compact. This means your skin is strutting its stuff with impressive elasticity and tone—it’s basically the supermodel of skin layers!

• But here’s the catch: darker skin tones can be party crashers when it comes to hypertrophic or keloid scarring—thanks, excess collagen! It's like a bad guest that leaves behind raised scars. No invites to the scar party, please!

Very few of us have what is termed "normal skin", which is why I find it odd that there's a skin type called "normal". It’s like calling a unicorn common!

For most of us, there are multiple issues to contend with: pigmentation, rosacea, dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, dehydrated skin- you name it, you probably have at least one of them. It’s like a buffet of skin issues where you can’t just take one.

What if you have more than one? What if you have three skin issues? Or four? At this rate, we should just start a support group for our skin!

Normal skin is far from the norm for most people. It's not uncommon to see dehydrated hyper-pigmented, sensitive, aging skin with hormonal breakouts. If normal skin were a celebrity, it would have left the building and pursued a career in a reality show!

2. Tackle dehydration. Dehydrated skin drinks anything you put on it, like it’s at an all-you-can-drink buffet, but you have to hydrate it repeatedly: your anti-aging serums just end up filling a gap in your skin like a bad game of Tetris, rather than actually doing their job.

If you are dehydrated, you can leave the house in the morning looking like a superstar, with perfectly hydrated, bouncy skin - only to have it betray you and resemble an old raisin by mid-morning! No matter what magic potions you sprinkle on your face, how many candles you light, or what your age is, it's like waking up and being given a surprise gift of dehydration. Treat hydration like it's your long-lost sibling; give it a hug and make up for all those times you forgot to drink water!

Products to use: During the magical toning phase—where we transform into skin care wizards—use both acid and spritz, much like a potion master! Start with acid on cotton pads to gently strip back the skin like a magician revealing their tricks, then spritz with a mist containing hyaluronic acid and glycerin (or both; we believe in versatility, after all) and finish up with a hyaluronic acid serum. None of these should irritate any other issues, unless your skin starts demanding a standing ovation!

3. Now you can be more general. Just remember, as long as you keep your redness under control and your skin hydrated, you can tackle anything – even that weird look your cat gives you when you're in your pajamas at 3 PM!

Products for skin types:

Dry Skin: Facial oils and oil in products including balm cleansers (no foam). Because what’s better than slathering your face in delicious oils? It’s like giving your skin a luxurious spa day at home, minus the cucumber slices on your eyes!

Aging Skin: Targeted serums (retinoids and peptides). Because aging gracefully is so last season; let's age fabulously with our secret serums like it’s a Hollywood red carpet event!

Pigmented Skin: Serums for pigmentation, retinoids and SPF. Think of these as the stylish cover-up artists, making sure your skin looks like it just walked out of a magazine, not a haunted house!

Oily Skin: Acid toners and suitable serum and moisturizers. Because if your skin is going to be shiny, it might as well be the kind of shiny that says, ‘I just got back from a tropical vacation’ rather than ‘I just ran a marathon!’

Acne: Acid toning and moisturizer. Think of these products as your skin’s cheerleaders, shouting ‘You got this!’ in the battle against the occasional unwelcome breakout!

Melasma and pigmentation are different things, much like cats and dogs – both can be adorable, but one definitely leaves more fur on your clothes!

Pigmentation can be caused by sun damage, acne scarring, picking spots or inflammation, and can normally be treated with topical products. ( glycolic, ionic and azaleic acids, retinoids, and licorice).

Melasma can be triggered by the same things that cause pigmentation, but it’s also linked to hormones, just like chocolate cravings during a full moon!

Best products: laser treatments, supportive products for pigmentation, and sunblock. Chemical peels can help, but if you want it gone, you need the laser. Bad news is that even if you stay out of the sun and wear sunblock, it will probably come back like that one friend who just won’t take a hint. It is also heat-triggered, so good luck planning your summer beach parties!