A ‘chocolate skin’ refers to a person whose skin has a dusky or light brown pigmentation. It’s a beautiful brown skin tone similar to a chocolate color, hence, it is known as a chocolate skin.
Yes, indeed, “chocolate skin” is that beautiful, radiant, melanin-rich skin tone many of us Africans proudly carry.
It’s not just a skin color, but a blessing, a natural protection against the sun’s harsh rays, and a mark of beauty and strength. But having chocolate skin doesn’t mean you can ignore skincare.
In fact, because melanin-rich skin is prone to dryness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven tone if neglected, you must give it love and intentional care.
Nothing good comes without some effort. To make your chocolate skin continue to glow and pop, you need to take care of it the right way. This involves doing things that would keep your skin healthy and avoiding anything that might ruin your skin.
Without further ado, let us look at some of the things you can do to maintain healthy, chocolate skin.
Moisturise Properly
The last thing you would want is for your skin to look or feel ashy. To prevent that, make sure you moisturise your body very well.
Capture the whole of your body, from your head to between your toes. Your wrists, heels, and other places should be properly moisturised.
Moisturising would also help to keep your skin smooth, soft, and prevent dermatitis.
The perfect time to moisturise your skin is right after you have your bath, as your body would still be wet, allowing your skin to lock the moisture in.
Use A Sunscreen
As a person with chocolate skin, using sunscreen is very important. Sunscreen prevents the skin from wing damaged by ultraviolet rays from the sun. UV rays can lead to premature ageing, causing the skin to start showing signs like wrinkles. It is also one of the causes of skin cancer. Sunscreen also prevents hyperpigmentation.
Wearing a good sunscreen would keep your skin well-protected against damage from the sun. Just be sure to get sunscreen with SPF 30 and above.
Take Care Of Acne Early
Acne, or pimples, can affect the look of your chocolate skin. This is more obvious when you keep picking the pimples, as this could lead to scars or dark spots.
As a rule, you should avoid touching your face. This would help prevent you from picking the pimples. Next, develop a daily skincare routine involving gentle products. These products would help to treat pimples without leaving spots.
Make sure to get the products from a reliable vendor and apply as it prescribed. If your acne problems seem too serious for basic skincare products, then you should consult with a dermatologist for steps to take.
Natural Oils are Gold
Olive oil for glow, jojoba for balance, coconut oil for sealing, oils are like food for your skin.
Apply them on damp skin so they trap water inside.
Exfoliate Your Skin
Skin exfoliation is a necessary part of maintaining a healthy skin. It helps to get rid of dead skin cells and also cleans the pores. After every exfoliation session, your skin should be feeling fresh.
Exfoliating can be done in two ways: mechanical or chemical, depending on your skin type. Mechanical involves using a brush or sponge to remove the dead skin cells.
The chemical method involves using AHAs like glycolic, lactic, tartaric, or BHAs like beta hydroxyl and salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells.
