Natural Glowing Skin: We Got Your Latina Skincare Guide

The beauty trend of now and forever: Natural Glowing Skin. Lucky for us Latinas, we already have the “all natural” glow and that is oily-skin. However, if you are anything like me, you have probably found yourself blotting away your forehead and nose crease oil every other hour. 

Rewind five long years – as an 18-year-old just beginning to find my way – and the only assurance and encouragement I had was knowing that there was the possibility that myself, and the plenty of other girls in a similar situation, may achieve younger looking skin in the future.

The amount of times I had to or thought about how I needed to reapply my translucent powder throughout the day was too many to count. Fast-forward to now and achieving that “natural glow” is at the forefront of many people’s minds – and at the top of our feeds.  So the real question remains, how do we prevent those excess oils from resulting in breakouts or worse, hyperpigmentation? Lucky for you, I’ve learned a few things along the way. 

(Read through to find some of our Latina-Founded skincare brands).

According to Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, best known for diagnosing and treating skin conditions for ethnic skin types, including those specific to Latina skin, “Sebum levels tend to be higher in Latino skin, leaving it more vulnerable to breakouts. Pimples can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.” With that being said, it is important to find the right skin-regimens that will not leave our skin vulnerable to hyperpigmentation. 

WHAT IS HYPERPIGMENTATION?

Hyperpigmentation occurs when patches of the skin become darker as excess melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin. As Latinas, we are genetically predisposed to above average levels of melanin – providing us with an illustrious shine but also leaving us susceptible to the dangers of its overabundance. 

Let’s take a moment to think about the s**t our poor skin endures. The sebaceous glands in the skin are producing too much sebum, resulting in OIL! Don’t get me wrong, sebum is amazing for healthy looking skin but too much…¡no es bueno! 

Likewise, as a result of more melanin comes more oil glands, hence the typical oily skin in Latinas! You know what that means, more oil, more clogged pores, and here comes the double punch… breakouts and hyperpigmentation. 

GO TO THE SOURCE

Now, let’s get to the root of the issue. Inflammation. This is detrimental to our skin health (fine lines, breakouts, hyperpigmentation), and can be caused by a myriad of things such as; sun exposure, stress, hormones, lack of sleep, boozy brunches, food sensitivities, etc. Let’s not forget that on top of all these triggers, Latinas also struggle with excess sebum production in the skin, another factor leading to overall poor skin health. 

Two easy solutions, SPF and anti-inflammatory ingredients. We have been led to believe that just because our skin is darker, sunscreen is optional. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that is simply not the case. Sunscreen is intended to be preventative and will help to protect your skin from the sun. When our skin is exposed to the sun,  dark spots can become darker as the melanin absorbs the energy of the sun’s harmful rays, exacerbating the issue. That being said, we must be proactive in order to achieve any sort of progress. Make sure to check that the SPF is broad spectrum (ie. it blocks both UVA and UVB) and might as well add a baseball cap to be extra careful. 

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WHAT’S THE FIX?

If you already have hyperpigmentation, don’t panic – it’s possible to diminish the look of those annoying spots, also known as melasma. Chasing that perfect glow can be achieved by finding the ideal skin regimen that is right for you – topicals, botanicals, chemical peels, laser therapy or all of the above. 

Firstly, always ensure that your products do not include any harsh ingredients and toxins. Skin is the largest organ and absorbs 60-70% of what we put into it. Hence the importance of finding clean, anti-inflammatory skincare products. Look for a Vitamin C serum to help even out skin tone and/or a strong moisturizer with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to help protect your skin’s natural barrier. Another depigmenting agent known for its benefits in treating melasma is hydroquinone, a stronger therapy.

A more natural remedy would be botanically derived antioxidants and natural extracts. These botanicals are frequently used for skin lightening due to their skin brightening and anti-inflammatory effects. Aloe vera, boswellia, niacinamide, ascorbic acid and extracts of coffeeberry, green tea and licorice are some of the more common agents seen in cosmeceutical products, just to name a few.

Learn more here: Skin Therapy Letter

Some our favorite skincare brands include:

• Brutija Skincare (Holistic) – Latina Founded
• Skinergy (Shop Dark Spot Correcting Cream here) – Latina Founded
• Overt Skincare  (Shop Vitamin C Serum here) – Latina Founded
• URJA Beauty (Targets Inflammation)