Skincare is always the first and last part of my day. As a young girl, before my mother would even consider allowing me to wear makeup, she insisted I learn how to properly clean my face. Why? Because my mother thought selling Mary Kay products was next to being a dermatologist. As I got older, a warm towel quickly became a thing of the past and bottles and jars of cleansers and moisturizers began to consume the little counter space I shared with my sister.
Today, I wear my skin proudly and want to ensure I look my best no matter what comes my way. Now fifty-one years later, as a professional medical esthetician, I have learned skin care for women of color has significantly changed. So many of my women of color tell me how their mothers and grandmothers used nothing but water, a cleansing cream, and maybe witch hazel as a toner and vaseline as a moisturizer. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers dare not think about sunscreen or exfoliating. They wore big sunhats, drank water, ate what they had left after feeding the rest of the family and eight hours of sleep was not heard of.
Making time to take care of our skin is an important way to put ourselves first every day. Because of the melanin in our skin, women of color have skin concerns that others might not experience as aggressively, including hyperpigmentation, overactive sebaceous glands, larger pores, and chronic or cystic acne. Along with those concerns, our skin is actually more sensitive to various ingredients and the sun. Cleansing, moisturizing, and treating our skin protects it from harmful effects. Creating a skincare routine can be overwhelming and confusing, but the best treatments and products yield the greatest results. Please know it’s not the cost of the products or the name on the box but the quality of the ingredients and how they are used that gives true anti-aging results. When it comes to skincare, consistency is key to seeing results.
I created My Skin My Way to do just that. You determine how you feel about yourself, what you see in the mirror, and how hard you do or don’t work on looking and feeling your best. The products took time and belief that I could create a skincare line that I knew would work for all women, but address specific skincare challenges for women of color that other lines have only addressed on a superficial level. I challenge you to begin today. Start with the skincare basics and create a signature skincare ritual unique to you. And why not use our skincare solutions? Commit to healthy skin that will serve you well for a lifetime. Enjoy the benefits and share that legacy with other young women the way my mother did with me.
TIPS TO GET STARTED
REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP
We have all heard it umpteen times! Always remove your makeup at the end of the day. Leaving makeup on for prolonged periods of time clogs your pores. Constantly leaving makeup on adds an average of seven years to the skin’s surface. Taking the time to remove your makeup will help keep your skin healthy. There are a multitude of products that can do the trick, but keep in mind, removing your makeup before treating it with cleansing creams and treatments allows for better penetration of other products. Simple things like makeup wipes and micellar water before beginning your anti-aging routine will not only help in saving on your other products but will also yield better results.
PRO TIP: Keeping your makeup brushes clean will prevent the build-up of bacteria and dirt on them. Experts suggest washing your makeup brushes every week. Having clean makeup brushes gives a better makeup application as well! Use a simple gentle cleanser or baby shampoo to clean brushes.
STEP ONE CLEANSER
Cleansing creates a clean and clear skin canvas. This step is essential if you want your skin to soak up all the love and hydration you give it. When choosing a cleanser, opt for one that addresses your skin concern or preference. Based on your skin type, you may try a gentle cleanser, oil-control, or hydrating cleanser. (My Skin My Way Green Tea Moisturizing Cleanser) great for transitioning from topical store products to pharmaceutical or medical-grade anti-aging products.)
EXFOLIATOR
Exfoliating the skin 1-2 times a week starting out gets rid of dirt build-up, dead skin cells, and blackheads. There are many products and ways to exfoliate the skin. You can even exfoliate every day with the right product for your skin. Make sure to do a nightly routine because the skin cells turn over at night. This is the best treatment for having your skin look and feel like a newborn baby. (My Skin My Way Glycolic Pads and AHA Pads are excellent exfoliators based on skin type and condition of the skin.)
TONER
Toner is an essential step in any skincare routine, even though some women leave it out. Toner cleans out trapped dirt and oils and balances your skin’s pH. Toner can as well be used as a hyperpigmentation treatment and to even skin tone, depending on its active ingredients. (Phytomer Rosee Visage is perfect for all skin types as a toner but also works as a make-up remover.) We do love a multi-purpose product!
SERUM
Serums are the granddaddy of skincare products. Serums can be targeted for specific treatments such as skin discoloration, acne, anti-aging, hydration, or moisturizing the skin. Please note there is a difference between being dehydrated and being dry. If your skin lacks water, it is dehydrated. If your skin lacks sebum, a natural substance created by sebaceous glands in the skin, you have dry skin. When applying serum, pat the product into your skin for the product to fully absorb and enjoy the full benefit. (My Skin My Way Vitamin C or Hydrating Serum works perfectly for discolored or dehydrated skin types)
MOISTURIZER
Moisturizers lock in all those great products you just applied to the skin while keeping it moisturized and hydrated. Hydrating the skin is important for all skin types. During morning use, try using a lightweight moisturizer that contains SPF to prevent damage to the skin and from becoming oily throughout the day (more on sunscreen later!) Using heavier creams at night allows time for maximum absorption, hydrating, and rejuvenation so you have healthy skin the next day. Some skin types are dryer than others and may require a heavier moisturizer for both morning and evening treatments. (My Skin My Way Fractioned HA Niacinamide Nourishing Moisturizer for discolored and dry or dehydrated skin.)
PRO TIP: Take into consideration the climates and seasons when considering what moisturizer would be best. Some climates are drier or more humid than others. These conditions play a role in your skincare choices.
EYE CREAM
Eye cream is essential to tackle everyday issues such as puffy eyes and dark circles while also delaying advancing signs of aging. The under-eye area is sensitive and prone to fine lines and deeper wrinkles. The skin around the eyes is thinner than on the rest of the face, so be gentle when applying your eye treatments. (My Skin My Way Advanced Retinol Eye Repair)
PRO TIP: When applying eye cream, use your ring finger for the least amount of pressure to prevent tugging the skin. Also remember to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before applying any skincare product to prevent re-introducing germs back onto the skin’s surface.
SPF
Women of color often hear the myth that our skin does not burn. While we may not always see the damage to our skin, it is there! Sunscreen is a must-have product in your morning routine. Sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays that cause sunspots, aging, and wrinkles. There are several easy ways to add SPF into your routine. Try using a moisturizer with SPF or a lightweight SPF. SPF is your friend! Many women of color do not like the way SPF makes their skin feel. It is many times tacky, heavy, and greasy, and most of all, makes their skin appear gray or faded. This comes from a product in most SPFs called titanium dioxide. I made sure when formulating my SPF to make them all hydrating, moisturizing, and non-have harmful ingredients. (My Skin My Way has many formulas based on skin type but our newest is a 50 SPF that moisturizes and hydrates without being heavy even in Louisiana summers.) Aging well starts with making time for yourself and learning how to love the skin you’re in. Taking care of yourself is a choice. Now how, if, why and when is all decided by YOU!