These Are the Best
Exfoliants for Brown
Skin, According to
Dermatologists
We’re never done waxing poetic about the long-lasting
benefits of chemical exfoliation. Not only does it accel-
erate the skin’s natural cell turnover process; it’s also
the best way to combat a handful of common issues
that may otherwise take longer to heal, such as acne or
discoloration.
While the degree of an exfoliant’s effectiveness depends
on a person’s skin type and lifestyle choices, there are
certain ones that produce better results in brown skin.
More specifically, they gently tackle the conditions that
affect us most without altering our skin tone or causing
irritation.
The Primary Concerns
Generally speaking, there are a lot of skin issues to
unpack, whether it’s the result of genetics or our ev-
eryday habits. For Black women, the most prominent
concerns are usually uneven skin tone, hyperpigmen-
tation and textural changes. The reason these affect
brown skin more frequently than Caucasian skin is
that melanin-rich skin has more reactive melanocytes.
“Melanocytes are the cells that make pigment,” says
Specific Beauty founder and board-certified dermatolo-
gist Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd. “Any irritation, such as
a pimple, turns on those melanocytes and produces a
dark spot.” And while fairer skin also experiences dark
spots, the problem appears more prominently in dark-
er shades. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle
Henry agrees, noting that hyperpigmentation is one of
the primary complaints she receives from Black wom-
en in her office. More often than not, she’ll recommend
dark spot correctors, such as SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 or
antioxidant-rich products like the SkinMedica Lumivive
Kit to protect against blue light and free radical damage.
However, regular chemical exfoliation promotes lon-
ger-term results and over time can altogether reverse
the effects of discoloration.
Kojic Acid: Glo
Skin Beauty
Brightening
Polish
Salicylic Acid:
Sunday Ri-
ley U.F.O. Ul-
tra-Clarifying
Face Oil
ISSUE 49 - 2019 January