Finding make up to suit Black and Asian skin types are usually quite difficult for many women. Even in this day and age where the market of make up brands is exhausted, many women of colour still get frustrated when looking for the "perfect foundation" to suit their complexion.
As a Make up Artist, I am continuously get asked by my clients, which is the best make up for black skin, asian skin, chinese skin, believe me, I've heard a lot in the 6 years that I have been working in the make up industry.
I usually start by asking my clients, "what is your skin type"? by skin type, I mean, is your skin mainly dry, normal, combination, or oily. Surprisingly enough many women don't know what their skin type is like as they've never really thought about it. Some even go s far as saying "awful" which is more of an explanation of how they feel about the state of their skin rather than their actual skin type. So let me break it down for anyone who would like to know the differences between these skin types.
Dry Skin
This type of skin does not produce much sebum (oil) naturally and has a tendancy to be a bit flaky on certain parts of the face. A dry skin person will ofsten need to moisturise their face with a rich moisturiser, meaning a moisturiser that is quite creamy and will keep the skin hydrated and free from dryness.
Normal Skin
A person with normal skin does not have any trouble with having very dry or flaky skin neither do they suffer from excess oil build up. Even after moisturising their face, any normal skin person will find that their skin will absorb the moisturiser well and have a balance of oil distribution on their face.
Combination Skin
This skin type has what is called the T-Zone shine, where the forehead, nose and chin areas produce a lot of shine but the rest of the face is fairly normal. This skin type is very common amongst Asian and Black skin types as their skin tends to produce more oil. Drinking plenty of water will help to disperse oil more evenly.
Oily Skin
Women with this type of skin are likely to produce a lot of oil on their faces even without applying moisturiser. This skin type is often subjected to spots, and blemishes as excess oil and dirt on the skin is likely to cause pimples to appear. The best way to manage this skin type is to drink plenty of water i.e 2ltrs daily and maintain good hygeine like cleasing off make up properly. Avoid going to bed with make up on. Using cleansers and toners to refreshen skin and use oil-free products.
There is one more skin type that is rarely ever talked about, yet many women have this skin type. It is the DEHYDARTED Skin. Many women that say they have combination skin sometimes actually have dehydrated skin instead. A dehydrated skin person will have parts of their face very oily and other parts very dry. They are most likely to produce a lot of oils on the cheeks as well as T-zone whilst be flaking around the mouth and are dry under the eyes. Women with dehydrated skin need to drink more WATER. This will definately help even out the skin. Also women who work in highly air conditioned offices tend to get very dehydrated.
For all skin types, it is important to maintain a good regime to get overal healthy skin. The following tips will help you to have good healthy skin whatever your skin type.
* Drink plenty of water, at least 1.5 ltrs daily
* Always wash off all your make-up properly before going to bed
* Adhere to the use by dates on your beauty products
* Use a daily moisturiser. Ask a beautucian to help you pick the right one for your type of skin
* Cleanse and tone skin daily to refreshen skin before applying fresh make up
* Exfoliate face every 2 weeks to remove dead skin cells.
Hope these tips were helpful,
Renee