The Best Skin-Care Products for—And By—People of Color Inline
Photographed by Norman Jean Roy, Vogue, July 20081/9
Photo: Courtesy of shen-beauty.com2/9Created in collaboration with actress Angela Bassett, the Darker Skin Tones offshoot of the Sturm brand utilizes ingredients like vitamin C to help combat hyperpigmentation and excess oil—two concerns that people of color disproportionately face. A few drops of water transforms this cleanser from a fine-grained powder to a soft, enzyme-rich foam that gently cleanses and buffs skin to remove dry, rough spots and reduce sebum.
Sturm SOC Enzyme Cleanser, $77, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of theafrohairandskincompany.co.uk3/9Scars left behind by skin inflammation, sometimes caused by irritants such as added fragrances in skin-care products, are much more apparent on deeper complexions. This serum combines healing English blackcurrant seed oil with organic ylang-ylang flower, a balancing floral oil, to keep both flare-ups and oil overproduction at bay.
The Afro Hair + Skin Co. Flow Perfectly Balanced Face Oil, $25, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of lelandfrancis.com4/9Fading stubborn dark spots and balancing out blotchiness can be especially difficult for women of color. This hydrating blend contains evening primrose oil and argan oil to promote cell turnover, bringing fresh, new skin to the surface and lessening hyperpigmentation.
Leland Francis Luxe Face Oil, $98, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of farsali.com5/9This mild cream cleanser contains a cocktail of ingredients specifically helpful in combating inflammation, uneven tone, oiliness, and enlarged pores. Milk thistle extract, a flowering herb native to Mediterranean countries, gently breaks down dirt and oil, while seven other plant-based extracts, such as chickweed extract and slippery elm, work to cool inflammation and soften and smooth uneven skin.
Farsali The One Gentle Cleanser, $25, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of etsy.com6/9Prickly pear oil, derived from a cactus, contains 150 percent more vitamin E than argan oil and is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, both of which stimulate collagen production. This fast-absorbings oil is also packed with vitamin K, known to brighten dark circles.
Folie Apothecary Prickly Pear Face Serum, $76, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of unsuncosmetics.com7/9When Katonya Breaux couldn’t find a mineral sunscreen that didn’t leave behind a white or gray residue, she decided to make her own. Formulated with all skin types in mind, this lightweight broad-spectrum blend, which contains ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and coconut oil, comes in a sheer bronze tint that easily blends into even the deepest skin tones.
UNSUN SPF 30 Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, $29, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of umaoils.com8/9Frankincense—sometimes referred to as “nature’s retinol,” due to its ability to speed up cell turnover—is a healing resin known to fade discoloration and scars; it appears in this Ayurveda-inspired blend with a dash of lemon oil, a potent repair agent, to help all skin tones look their best.
UMA Ultimate Brightening Face Oil, $150, Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of bloomsbury-sq.myshopify.com9/9This Castile-based blend is simultaneously moisturizing and oil-controlling. Hydrating ingredients like coconut oil and rose geranium are combined with astringent rosemary extract and pine oil to penetrate pores and clear away dirt and debris while bringing skin and its oil production into balance.
Bloomsbury Sq Quench Face Wash, $25, Buy it now
