Sorry for the jump scare, but I thought it would be appropriate to start off with you seeing my skin in all its imperfect glory!!
Ladies (and gents if you’re in here), let’s talk about skincare. When YouTube was at its height, my subscribe list was full of makeup artists and enthusiasts like most other millennial women my age. They brought Black skin and makeup to the forefront and fought legacy brands (think Loreal, Estee Lauder, etc.) to see us a valued customers and challenged them to develop more inclusive shade ranges that cater to our more melanated skin. These girls were fun, skilled and had us breaking the bank at Sephora like never before. After some time, I realized that having a full coverage, beat face was not practical for me every day and although I enjoyed that content very much – I needed a reprieve to find something that worked for me and my lifestyle.
I took all the things that I learned from my makeup big sisters and started building my makeup arsenal. While I was figuring things out, I discovered some things. Not only do I not want to wear a full coverage beat on the daily, I also don’t like strip lashed, glitter, or cut creases. Also, even as an oily girl – I don’t like the look of a completely matte face – I like a some natural glow.
While I was figuring out my makeup lineup – I saw a video that talked about how taking care of your skin actually makes your makeup look better. As I was consuming all this makeup content, I realized all I was doing was masking my skincare problems and it had never crossed my mind that I could work on healing my skin issues instead of just concealing them.
The women who taught me the most about makeup were 2 sisters from the UK, Samantha and Nicola Chapman from Pixiwoo. These women are not Black – but they were relatable and phenomenal makeup artists who taught technique and I loved them both. They introduced me to the skincare QUEEN, Mrs. Caroline Hirons. Caroline was funny, real, she cared about inclusivity in the beauty industry and she was passionate about debunking industry speak and teaching women about the ingredients list on their products to make sure you knew what you were buying. Caroline was my kind of girl – she had decades of experience working in retail on beauty counters and consulting with brands and she didn’t faff around. She was a boss in every sense of the word and she still inspires me on how to move through this world as a smart, fearless wife, mother and business woman. I was OBSESSED with every one of their posts and I would literally watch my phone for post notifications from these three women’s accounts so I can see what they had to say and how I could apply it to my life.
Now that we’ve gotten that out the way…as a dark, brown skinned girl who has oily skin, I suffered with acne and acne scarring. I am an unashamed pimple popper/picker! If I see or feel a bump, I will not stop thinking about it until it ‘handled’! It’s so bad, I have a magnifying mirror and a pair of tweezers in my home office so that when I feel it coming on, I have the tools I need to nip it in the bud with the quickness! Well, as you may know popping and picking leads to scarring and for me very dark spots and scars. This is what made me super insecure about not wearing makeup and I was determined to fix my issues with the advice and guidance from one, Caroline Hirons.
I’m going to share what I learned and my daytime and night time skincare routines. Before we get started, a disclaimer: everyone’s skin is different. What I am going to share is somewhat broad the some things are going to be catered to what works for ME. I don’t have any allergies that I’m aware of and I’m not particularly sensitive. My skin is oily and I tend to have congested potes, my acne includes whiteheads and under the surface pimples. I have hyperpigmentation around my mouth and I have dark spots from my popped pimples. Also, after birthing my beautiful babies, God (and my hormones) blessed me with super dark and coarse hair growing out of my chin and jaw and sometimes when I pluck, I’m not that careful and I break the skin.
Now, to the good stuff! To my Black folks reading this – I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: 1. Black can crack (especially if its dehydrated and dry), 2. Wear sunscreen – we still need protection from the sun especially if we are using products that resurface the skin.
Building solid skincare routine does not need to break the bank and it doesn’t have to take you 30 minutes to complete. There are many good, affordable drugstore brands that get the job done and do it well. My favorite drugstore brands are LaRoche Posay and Cera Ve. Cera Ve is a great option for people sensitive skin. Luxury/prestige brands I love are Clarins, Sunday Riley and Tatcha. Mid-range brands I stand by are Clinique, Kiels, and Ole Henrkisen.
Since I said it’s so damn easy, let’s build a quick routine.
| Morning Routine | Product | Evening Routine | Product |
| Cleanse | Gel (oily/combination skin) or Cream Cleanser (all skin types) | *Remove Makeup | Oil-based cleanser or Micellar Water |
| Tone | Acid Toner or Witch Hazel | Cleanse | Gel (oily/combination skin) or Cream Cleanser (all skin types) |
| Treat (depending on skin issue/needs) | Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic Acid, etc. | Optional: Tone | Acid Toner or Witch Hazel |
| Moisturize | Light Moisturizer (can include sun protection) | Treat | Retinol/retinoid, Vitamin C, Lactic Acid, etc. |
| Sun Protection | Sunscreen for the face (before makeup) | Moisturize | Rich moisturizer or same one from the morning |
Based on that chart above, here is my daytime routine:
- Cleanser: LaRoche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
- Toner: LaRoche Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution
- Moisturize: Sunday Riley CEO Protect + Repair Moisturizer
- Sunscreen: Kiehl’s Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50+
Some insight on why I chose these products – This cleanser helps to clear my pores and makes me feel clean but not dry; Effalar Clarifying Solution is my GOAT product to really get in those pores and clear out the congestion of oil and dirt. This product significantly reduces my breakouts even around my period; This Sunday Riley moisturizer satisfies my Vitamin C needs for brightness and it’s rich enough to give me the glow I like but doesn’t make me feel oily; finally this is a new sunscreen that I’ve been loving. It protects my skin from the sun (especially because I use salicylic acid and vitamin C) and it helps even my skin tone.
My evening routine includes a double cleanse if I need to remove makeup. Then I go in with my gel cleanser and carry on with the rest of my routine. The evenings are when I do most ‘intensive’ treatments like my stronger Salicylic Acid and Retinol.
- Remove Makeup: Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
- Cleanser: LaRoche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
- Treat: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution
- Treat: Retinol 0.5% in Squalane (mid-strength Retinol – if you are starting out, use a lesser dose or use 1-2 times a week)
- Moisturize: Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer (There’s also one with sunscreen in it)
- Bonus: Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution – this helps to calm inflamed skin when I have a breakout.
My skincare is a part of my overall health regimine and while having great products that work well with your skin type is important, also understand the hard truth that the root of gorgeous skin begins within. What you eat and drink absolutely affects how your skin looks. Lots of sugar, heavy fats and alcohol contribute to poor skin conditions. Keep that in mind.
If you want to begin improving your skin, start building your skincare routine in addition to drinking more water, eating a balanced diet (meaning eat your vegetables and cut down ultra-processed foods) and reduce your alcohol intake.
Well, that’s all folks! If you have questions for me or products you recommend leave me a comment on this post.
xo, Siara
