Best Facial Moisturizer For Black Skin in 2022

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There are a lot of choices for a facial moisturizer in today’s marketplace. But for our skin specifically, skincare products formulated for melanin are far and few. With melanin-rich skin, a good moisturizer should include some key ingredients that assist with evening skin tone and help prevent hyperpigmentation. The best facial moisturizer for black skin should include active ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, amino acids, and peptides. More importantly, the moisturizer should also include some natural ingredients that stimulate collagen production and encourage cell turnover.

The beauty industry often misses the mark when it comes to creating formulas for darker skin tones. Most products address lighter skin tones and neglect women of color. We know that our skin has unique needs, and it is important to address those concerns with products designed for black skin.

Focusing on your skin health goes a long way in overall wellness. While there isn’t a cure-all moisturizer, finding one that addresses your specific skincare concerns is an important step in looking and feeling your best. While everyone has unique skincare needs, there are some key elements and issues that are common.

Common Concerns for Brown Skin

The best moisturizer for African American skin needs to address a few skin conditions and issues that are common with melanin skin like:

Uneven skin tone

Hyperpigmentation is common for many people with dark skin tones. This is caused by hyperactive melanin and can make dark spots appear on our bodies and face. The best facial moisturizer for black skin should contain ingredients that help reduce hyperpigmentation.

Dullness

Melanin is great at protecting our skin from the sun, but it also can cause our skin to appear dull. Dullness is usually caused by uneven skin tone and/or dryness. The best facial moisturizer for black skin should include ingredients to help with the appearance of dullness.

Excess oil

Oily skin is a common problem for many people with dark skin, with melanin skin usually being more on the oily side. This means that you should look for a moisturizer with light and oil-free ingredients.

Sun damage

Contrary to popular belief, darker skin tones can burn in the sun. A good moisturizer for black skin should be one that offers sun protection. To help with UV rays, you should look for a moisturizer that has SPF in it. Skin cancer is also much more common in people with dark skin tones. The best moisturizer for black skin should provide daily sun protection.

Effectively addressing all of these concerns requires a well-thought-out skincare regimen. The best facial moisturizer for black skin is just one part of an entire skincare routine that is specially tailored for black skin.

Active Ingredients For Brown Skin

In order to find a well-formulated moisturizer, it’s important to understand the active ingredients and how they affect your skin type. Knowing more about ingredients can not only help you in choosing the best moisturizer but can also prevent you from developing allergic reactions or issues like fungal acne.

Hyaluronic acid – is useful for keeping skin hydrated and moisturized.
Zinc oxide – this ingredient is great for evening out skin tone. Zinc oxide helps to block the secretion of melanin, which reduces hyperpigmentation.
Salicylic acid – is a common active ingredient in many moisturizers. Salicylic acid can help reduce acne and blackheads, control oil production in the skin, and unclog pores.
Vitamin C – is a common anti-aging ingredient found in many facial moisturizers for black skin. Vitamin C can help to fade discoloration and even out skin tone. It also increases collagen production to help fine lines and wrinkles look less visible.
Vitamin E – is another commonly used ingredient that benefits skin health. Vitamin E can help with collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and helps protect the skin from free radicals.
Glycolic acid – is an ingredient that can also help fade acne scars and discoloration, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and even out the skin tone.
Kojic acid – is an ingredient that is naturally found in the fermentation of rice. It works by inhibiting melanin production to help with hyperpigmentation.

Other important ingredients to look for are fatty acids found in natural oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and even shea butter. It’s also important to avoid ingredients like mineral oil as it can clog pores and worsen acne.

Best Facial Moisturizer For Black Skin By Skin Type

Knowing your skin type is a great start in choosing the best moisturizer for you. If you’re unsure, you might want to consider consulting a dermatologist or skincare professional.

Now that you know the common issues to address and active ingredients to look for, here are some of the best moisturizers I have found by skin type (based on user reviews and my own personal experience).

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin usually requires calming and soothing ingredients. Sensitive skin can also be very dry, so it’s important to make sure that the hydrating ingredients are nearly equal in the moisturizer to soothe and repair. This delicate skin type is at a higher risk for developing irritation and allergic reactions so you’ll want to be extra careful when choosing the best moisturizer for your sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin also requires something that is free of fragrances and dyes. It’s best to go for naturally soothing ingredients like green tea, oatmeal, honey, aloe vera, chamomile extract or lavender oil.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

Oil-Free Face Moisturizer with Sunscreen | Non-Comedogenic

Ceramides are found naturally in the skin and make up 50% of the lipids in the skin barrier. This facial moisturizer is formulated with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier. Fragrance free, oil-free, non-comedogenic, paraben-free

Dry skin

The dry skin type usually requires intense hydration. The best moisturizers for dry skin contain humectants like glycolic acid to attract water and keep moisture in the skin. However, it’s very important to make sure the moisturizer is not too heavy for dry skin. Hydration is essential for dry skin types, but if the moisturizer is too thick and oily, it can cause breakouts. Water-based moisturizers can be best for this type of skin because they absorb easily and won’t block pores.

Buttah Skin by Dorion Renaud

Oil-Free Hyaluronic Gel Cream, AM & PM Daily Moisturizer – Hyaluronic Acid for Deep Hydration

Melanin-loving moisture for days! Incredible ingredients like DuraQuench IQ have been shown to act beneath the skin’s surface to reinforce your natural skin barrier to help regulate moisture loss, support deep hydration, and lock in lasting moisture. Meanwhile, Exo-H is known to rapidly boost natural hydration to keep skin feeling replenished.

Oily Skin

Oily skin types usually require moisturizers that are more on the mattifying side. The best moisturizers for oily skin should be lightweight and non-comedogenic which means they should not clog pores. Most people think that oily skin does not require any hydration, but in fact, it can still benefit from a good moisturizer. When skin is oily it actually means that it produces too much sebum and the oil creates a barrier over the top layer of the skin.

Acure Incredibly Clear Mattifying Moisturizer For Oily Skin

This moisturizer balances and improves the appearance of skin’s texture and tone with the rejuvenating hydration and moisture of lilac extract and chlorella. Argan oil and safflower oil offer lightweight hydration, while liliac extract balances and minimizes blemishes.

Combination skin

The best moisturizers for combination skin should have a mix of hydrating, soothing, and mattifying ingredients to address the issues of all skin types. Combination skin usually requires a light moisturizer that can hydrate the skin without making it feel weighed down. It also needs a moisturizer that can manage oil without over-drying the skin.

Alaffia Neem Tumeric Day Cream

Replenishing marshmallow, harmonizing yarrow, balancing turmeric and protective shea, supports recovery and hydration while keeping your skin safe from environmental toxins.

Acne-prone skin

Acne-prone skin types usually require lighter moisturizers with no comedogenic ingredients. When choosing the best moisturizer for acne-prone skin, it’s important to make sure that there are not too many active ingredients or oils as these can cause more breakouts.

Era Organics Tea Tree Oil Face Cream

Soothing & Nourishing Non-Greasy Botanical Facial Moisturizer with 7X Ingredients For Rosacea, Cystic Acne, Blackheads & Redness

Most acne treatments are too harsh on the skin, leading to irritation, redness, or dry skin that needs support. This is formulated to soothe, provide nourishment and balance oily skin, dry skin, or combination skin to support your treatments in fighting blemishes.

Normal skin

Normal skin types usually require a moisturizer that is lightweight and won’t clog pores. The best moisturizers for normal skin should also have a mix of hydrating, soothing, and mattifying ingredients.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen

This Aveeno moisturizer is oil-free and powered by Total Soy Complex, which helps to even skin tone and texture, fight early signs of skin aging, and improve the appearance of skin dullness and dark spots to leave skin glowing.

It’s important to remember that moisturizing is just one part of skincare. You also want to make sure that you protect your skin with sunscreen and avoid using scrubs or abrasive products that can damage the skin’s protective barrier. To ensure you have a complete skincare routine use a gentle cleanser and a hydrating toner. You can also follow up by applying a serum or high SPF moisturizer for best results.

Other considerations

When searching for a daily moisturizer it’s also important to also assess your weather conditions as well as your skin’s needs. The perfect moisturizer might not be the same for different seasons. For example, in winter you might need a richer moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated while in summer you might want a moisturizer with an SPF.

It’s also important to consider the moisturizer’s texture, which you can usually determine by the ingredients. For example, if your skin is oily it might be best to look for a lightweight gel-like texture while dry skin types will most likely prefer creamier textures.

Time of use matters too. In the evening you may want to invest in a night cream to provide deep hydration overnight while using a daily moisturizer for the morning. When you’re sleeping skin is repairing itself and taking care of any skin damage it has sustained. There are even some moisturizers that you can use as a treatment mask for 10 or 15 minutes to boost hydration as well as address other skincare concerns. No matter what type of moisturizer you choose, remember that hydration is vital for healthy glowing skin so make sure to moisturize often throughout the day.

Lastly, choose a moisturizer that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Don’t forget that skincare is supposed to enhance your appearance not make you self-conscious every time you step out with bare skin. For some women, this might be an expensive department store product while others are on a tight budget and would prefer something on the drugstore shelf. You can also check out e-commerce sites or even look for samples at Sephora or beauty stores to find the best products for your skin type.

Moisturizing doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated! The best thing you can do for your skin is taken into account your specific needs and choose a moisturizer that will address them. Whether you’re looking for something to soothe acne, calm hyperpigmentation, or replenish dry skin it’s important to make sure you know what ingredients are most beneficial before choosing the right one for you. By stocking up on these 5 essentials (cleanser, toner, serum, sunscreen, and daily moisturizer) you’ll be able to keep your skin healthy all year long.