Top Skin Care Tips From Black Dermatologists

3. Address skin changes and adjust accordingly.

None of us is spared the inevitability of aging, but there are steps you can take to maintain your melanin’s glow — just as long as you’re ready to embrace its changes. Take it from Patterson: “Accept that your skin may have different needs in this season of life and be open to adjusting your skin-care routine.” For instance, if dry skin is now a concern, Patterson recommends moisturizing creams that contain ceramides, shea butter or glycerin. She also credits plain petroleum jelly for its hydrating benefits, gentleness and affordability. Additionally, products with squalene can help lock in moisture, according to Spearman.

4. Trust the pros.

One of Spearman’s go-to facial cleansers is  SkinCeuticals’ LHA Cleansing Gel ($38, skinceuticals.com) which helps control acne and hyperpigmentation. She also uses SkinCeuticals’ Silymarin CF ($182, skinceuticals.com), a vitamin C serum that helps keep acne at bay and smooths out her skin texture, and SkinCeuticals’ Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 sunscreen ($42, skinceuticals.com).

(From left) Image Skincare’s AGELESS+ Retinol Overnight Masque 0.5% Retinol, RoC – Line Smoothing, Daily Cleansing Pads, 28 Ct

AARP (Image Skincare, Target)

At night, she reaches for ROC’s Line Smoothing Daily Cleansing Pads ($19, target.com) to gently exfoliate and remove makeup as well as SkinMedica’s Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads ($60, skinmedica.com) which she says are “super crucial” to treating hyperpigmentation and even helps with acne.

If her skin is feeling extra dry, she’ll apply SkinCeuticals’ Hydrating B5 Gel ($90, skinceuticals.com) , a serum formulated with hyaluronic acid that she typically uses during the day. To maintain that youthful glow, she uses Image Skincare’s AGELESS+ Retinol Overnight Masque 0.5% Retinol Complex ($96, imageskincare.com) , as it offers a sufficient amount of hydration, while strengthening the skin barrier and visibly plumping the skin, she says.

(From left) Fresh’s Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence; Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion with SPF 30; Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Face Night Cream

AARP (Kohl’s; Target, 2)

Some of Patterson’s picks include Fresh’s Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence ($39, kohls.com), which is rich in antioxidants to safeguard her skin from pollutants, SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Cream ($92, dermstore.com) to reduce dark circles and Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion with SPF 30 ($21, target.com). At night, she applies a prescription topical retinoid to reduce acne and signs of aging, as well as Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Face Night Cream ($21, target.com).