It’s mid-week and we want you to get smart about your skincare. This means being completely critical about the products you use - are they made for your skin tone? How much do they cost? Thinking about skin tone, price and accessibility is important because your choices need to work for your lifestyle (not the other way around).
So today, we are bringing you a special feature from one of the most beloved brands for people of colour: SheaMoisture. With a new facial skincare range for darker skin tones that has every product under US$16, SheaMoisture is making melanin-rich skincare more accessible. Keep scrolling for a deep dive into the products.
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For a long time, SheaMoisture has been a staple in the personal routines of many people of colour, and now, the beloved brand has released a range of skincare products created for darker skin. This is SheaMoisture’s Nourished & Radiant facial skincare line, and we’ve gone behind the scenes to find out all about the science behind its promises for melanin-rich skin, all from the Head of Research and Development for SheaMoisture, Tiffany Yizar.
The Product Range
Melanin-rich skin reacts to harsh weather conditions or irritation with tell-tale signs like hyperpigmentation, acne, or dryness. That is why SheaMoisture sought to create a range that targets these concerns quickly and efficiently.
The range features elderberry complex, niacinamide, and pro-ceramides like glycerin and stearic acid, which restores hydration to promote healthy, balanced, even toned skin. There are six products in this range, all under $16: a gentle face cleanser, an even tone serum for correcting dark spots, a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, a night repair cream, a salicylic acid serum for acne, and a more specialised face cleanser with exfoliating acids.
The Science behind the Range
What were the factors specific to melanin-rich skin you had to consider when formulating the products?
Black women experience different face care issues and needs based on the biology of their skin. The SheaMoisture Nourished & Radiant line provides broad benefits for even tone, moisture, and barrier repair, paired with complementary offerings for targeted needs such as acne, and oil control.
What was the innovation that went into these products that make it more suitable for melanin-rich skin?
SheaMoisture Nourished & Radiant products are made with premium skincare ingredients that deliver deep moisturization and more. The Even Tone Serum is formulated with 3% niacinamide along with a pro-retinol, clinically proven to visibly reduce dark spots and even skin tone in eight weeks. And to make sure it worked for our consumer, we clinically validated by testing on melanin-rich skin participants of FitzPatrick skin types 4–6, and it is dermatologist tested.
The range has one face lotion with an in-built sunscreen. Why is this product effective for melanin-rich skin?
The Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 Face Lotion is formulated with chemical sunscreens that blend in seamlessly, leaving no white cast on darker skin tone.
In addition to providing broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, the product is also formulated with niacinamide and pro-ceramides which provides additional skincare benefits like even tone and strengthening skin barrier against external aggressors for healthy resilient skin.
Our favourite product is the night repair cream. Why is this product important for melanin-rich skin?
Our night repair cream is formulated with niacinamide and pro-ceramides. Niacinamide provides skin care benefits like even tone, visibly reduces dark spots, preventing moisture loss and reducing the appearance of fine lines. The pro-ceramide technology strengthens the protective skin barrier to replenish radiance while you sleep.
