How To Look After Black and Brown Skin During The UK Heatwave

The last thing you want to worry about in the sweltering heat is breakouts, dry or oily skin or hyperpigmentation – yet black and brown skin is more prone to these issues. Here are my five top tips on how to look after your black and brown skin during the UK heatwave.

1. Keep your skin hydrated, hydrated, hydrated
Now, this may sound like common sense, and something you’ve been told time and time again by your parents when you were younger, but drinking plenty of water has been proven to keep your skin hydrated as it helps maintains your skin’s elasticity.

Black and brown skin tends to become more dehydrated in the heat because our skin doesn’t retain moisture as easily as lighter skin tones. As well as drinking lots of water, use direct skin-hydrating products including hyaluronic acid, glycerin or aloe vera to retain moisture and hydration.

2. Give your hairline extra TLC with exfoliation and double cleansing
Black people predominantly use oil or hair products to style or moisturise their hair more than their lighter skin counterparts. The heatwave can bring out more acne on your hairline or forehead due to our hair products transferring to our skin from excess sweat.

To avoid this, keep your hair tied up away from your face as much as you can and exfoliate your skin twice a week, especially targeting around your hairline. And ALWAYS remember to double cleanse.

3. Wear SPF every couple of hours to reduce hyperpigmentation
The biggest risk factor for skin hyperpigmentation is you guessed it – sun exposure. Sun exposure and inflammation can both increase melanin production, causing hyperpigmentation, also known as dark spots.

As black and brown skin contains more melanin (colour pigment), we are naturally more vulnerable to PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). To reduce dark spots, ensure you wear a decent SPF – at least SPF 30 – every couple of hours to reduce the risk of skin hyperpigmentation.

4. Do your SPF research – lightweight and hydrating is best
Choosing the right SPF is one of the most critical parts of your black and brown skincare routine. Black skin gets much oiler in hotter conditions due to us having larger oil glands, so make sure you choose an SPF that is both lightweight and hydrating to avoid producing surplus oil.

Everyone’s skin is different so you may need an SPF that is specific to dry skin conditions like eczema or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Most importantly: don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the other key areas of your skin like your ears, neck, lips and feet. They are just as crucial!

Avoid sunscreen containing oxybenzone octocrylene and homosalate as they have been linked to hormone disruption by numerous studies.

By keeping these four top tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to happier, healthier skin and be prepared for any future heat waves. Think of this as your summer skincare toolkit that you can keep coming back to. And be sure to share it with your friends.