Healthier Skin of Every Color

Shared with permission from Naturoli

Healthy, radiant and clean-looking skin is your right regardless of color. Albeit this is an easy statement to make, we drilled deep to discover the true nature of skin color differences. Our results make for an interesting read and hopefully some changes. The reality is that, at first glance, the details of skin care for people of color is not nearly as different from Caucasian skin as first believed. All of the standard factors apply:

- Healthy diet: more green vegetables, lean meats and fish, less fatty foods and sweets.

- Minimal intake of alcohol and tobacco.

- A sensible, consistent sleep schedule. - The recognized daily minimum of 8-10 glasses of water per day.

These are all basic to long-term overall health and good skin care. Routine exercise also helps your body and skin expel unhealthy toxins. A good standard multi-vitamin intake, daily moisturizing, and a generally healthy lifestyle will lead to noticeably healthier and more youthful skin.

However, there are some very distinct differences when evaluating the needs of healthy non-Caucasian skin. Black skin (Native African, Native Australian, African-American, Caribbean and other Pacific Island people) is darker than northern European skin because of the increased amount of melanin (pigment) in the skin. The skin's Melanocytes are the cells that produce pigment (or melanin), which darkens the skin's color. Melanocytes produce granules known as melanosomes and its these granules that deliver the color to the skin.

Different ethnic groups have different sized melanosomes. Melanin is a naturally secreted pigment in all people that protects the skin from sunlight. The darker the skin color, the heavier the melanin content will be. As a general rule of thumb, melanin keeps darker skin looking younger than lighter skin.

The melanin pigment protects skin from sunlight and slows down the aging process. Yet, as Black people age, their skin often becomes irregularly pigmented, showing up as dark patches on the skin. Irregular pigmentation can also be caused by inflammation, insect bites and overexposure to UV rays. These discolorations or blemishes can take months or even years to fade - all the more reason to do everything possible to achieve optimal skin maintenance and health.

Black skin care is easy once you learn what works best to make darker skin radiate with natural beauty. Black skin needs direct nourishment from Vitamins A, E and F. Vitamin A and E are vital for healthy, clear skin. Vitamin F acts a skin protector and rejuvenator. It soothes rough, dry or chapped skin and even helps soften dry or damaged hair.

Below are common characteristics unique to darker skin color:

- More melanin, or brown skin pigment, resulting in a warmer skin shade.

- Greater natural protection from the sun and lower risk of skin cancer.

- Fewer visible signs of aging, such as deep wrinkles, fine lines and sunspots.

- Potential problems with pigmentation, or uneven darkening or lightening of skin color.

- Greater risk of keloid (raised, often large scars) development.

- Problems with hair growth and ingrown hairs.

When it comes to caring for Black skin, moisturizers are a must. Darker skin has a tendency to appear "ashy" when it's not well lubricated. Cremes and lotions are best applied immediately after showering when skin is slightly damp and better able to hold in moisture.

Some women have dry skin, some have oily skin, and others may have a combination of both. Remember, gentle application and natural ingredients should be the order of the day when applying anything to the face. Dry skin tends to do better with less "soapy" soaps since commercial soaps can have a very drying effect. Oily skin typically prefers deeper cleansing, and such cleansing can be achieved naturally without drying the skin.

High quality natural soaps, washes and exfoliators are a must. Use clean hands to wash your face. If you prefer washcloths or sponges, these items must be washed or replaced frequently to prevent an overgrowth of germs and bacteria, which can lead to many unwanted skin problems.

For Black skin, and indeed, any men or women of color, all NaturOli skin care products will - by their very nature - lead to healthier, more vivacious and more radiant skin. Keeping your skin healthy and attractive is a choice. Your lifestyle, diet and skin care routine can either enhance or harm your complexion.

At NaturOli, we strive to offer every one of our customers the opportunity to use healthier, more effective natural skin care products comprised of genuine natural ingredients that are carefully formulated to give our customers of color a greater opportunity to discover healthier and more youthful skin that will last a lifetime.

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