The Ultimate Skin Care Routine for African Skin

For supple, glowing, and more even-toned skin we recommend a daily skincare routine for African skin. It is best to repeat the routine twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before bed. Do avoid skipping your night-time routine as skin enters a restorative mode at night. Repairing the damage done from a busy day of sun exposure, air pollutants, makeup, and dirt.

STEP ONE: Cleanse
Start by cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser. Choose a cleanser that removes makeup but does not strip your skin of its natural essential oils. If you are acne-prone, cleansing your skin of this daily build-up will keep pores clear and prevent further damage. Massage the cleanser in gently and rinse with warm water. Avoid using abrasive facecloths or sponges, as scrubbing will cause irritation.

STEP TWO: Tone

Once your face has dried you can apply a toner. Toning is often a skipped step, but it is most important as it prepares your skin to receive serums and moisturisers. Toners balance your skin’s PH level which leaves it vibrant and smoother. It also prevents oiliness and infection. 

STEP THREE: Treatment
If you struggle with uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation you should incorporate a skin tone treatment into your night-time routine. Apply to problematic areas before applying your night-time moisturiser.

STEP FOUR: Moisturise

African skin is prone to dehydration and thus needs to daily moisturising. There are various contributors to this, the main being that darker skin has a lower quantity of ceramides. Ceramides are fatty acids which create a barrier in the skin layer. This barrier locks moisture into the skin and prevents irritation. To manage this, we recommend applying a modified moisturiser that nourishes skin while sealing the moisture in.

STEP FIVE: Sunscreen
Having darker skin may reduce your risk of developing skin cancer from excessive sun exposure, but you still need daily UV protection. Sun exposure, throughout the year, can still cause damage to your skin and will encourage dark spots to develop. Most moisturisers contain sunscreen but if not, be sure to choose an SPF 30, broad-spectrum sunscreen which protects against UVA and UVB rays.

STEP SIX: Facial Mist
During the day, especially if you have very dry or dehydrated skin, we recommend that you use the 06 Active All Day Mist 2-3 times or as needed to replenish moisture and keep the skin glowing. The more you use it the better! Personally, I use it about 4-6 times a day. 

Tip: Use one product range at a time to avoid confusing your skin. Each brand has a unique blend of ingredients and technologies that when used together, deliver specific results. If mixed up, these products will not be effective and may have adverse effects on your skin.