When 75 black women were questioned about their experiences in finding a skincare professional astute with black skin, a shocking 92% of the respondents said it was a challenge to find and access a skincare professional that could meet their needs.
Luckily, one woman decided to come to the rescue – by launching a company to make it easier for women of colour to connect with skincare professionals in the UK.
Black Skin Directory founder and Aesthetician, Dija Ayodele, notes that black and ethnic skin needs even more consideration due to its propensity for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and keloid scarring. So, she created her directory, especially for these women.
GLAMOUR UK asked Dija to share her best beauty tips for women of colour – and she came up with some gems.
1. Dark skin can be prone to dark marks from hyperpigmentation, so remember colour correctors are your friends – especially caramel, toffee and orange tones. MAC Conceal and Correct Palettes are aces, as is House of Glamdoll GlamWheel Base 2 and Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Concealers.
2. For flawless coverage, make sure your foundation formula works for your skin type. My personal favourite foundation brand is Laura Mercier because they really get that skin type matters by providing a wide range of shades in different finishes – oil-free for oily skin and moisturising for dry skin types.
A post shared by Dija Ayodele (@dija_ayodele) on Feb 1, 2018 at 6:25am PST
3. If you’re prone to acne breakouts, try medical grade foundations like Oxygentix Oxygenating Foundation. The gel formula is extremely lightweight and doesn’t suffocate the skin. The shade range is ever-improving but for now, their Coco, Chakra, Ebony and Mahogany work well for darker skin tones.
4. Never buy foundations in the shop on the day you try them, ask for 3 shade samples to take home and try in your own time. I have a habit of carrying sample pots in my bag, the £1.25 ones from Muji just in case.
5. Less is more. Always. Apply makeup sparingly and blush and blend to sheer it out so you don’t get a caked looked. On dark skin, browns, dark blues and purples, rather than black shades, are more flattering for adding depth and definition. I really like the Charlotte Tilbury eyeliners and if you’re buying online, she also has a skin tone guide so you can see how it looks on dark skin.
6. Dark skin usually isn’t all one tone; you are normally lighter in the middle of your face and darker at the side. It’s a good idea to have a few different foundations in graduated tones. To save costs, mix and match high-end and high street. I have foundations ranging from Laura Mercier and Giorgio Armani to Maybelline and Black Opal.
