I’m white(according to Hakim, I am a POC because I’m half Irish, half-Russian lol jk), pasty white. So that means when I’m in the sun, which happens quite a lot since I do manual labor outside, I burn not only quickly but harshly too. A few weeks ago I decided to suntan and used sunspray instead of lotion, the spray was so inconsistent and concentrated only in the center of the spray, so I have large swaths and splotches of sunburn. Worse things have happened but it sucks. It looks like I had a red body that someone spray painted white in a few seconds lol. So that point aside, I’ve been trying to take better care of my skin, and I figured I’d ask y’all since I trust you to not just try selling me expensive skincare products and stuff lol. I currently just use some facial wipes to prevent acne (idk if it makes a difference, I’ve never had acne besides like a few rogue pimples) and Aloe Vera just because I heard it’s good for burns and because it sounds good for skin in general. I obviously shower but I think my soap is not really skincare, just regular soap
I only use moisturizer since I’m pigmentally endowed
IIRC that is sadly a myth 😢. Skin cancer was just less reported on in colored communities.
[ACCEPT THE SPF I AM HANDING YOU] [Y/N?]
Wtf
Myth: Skin Cancer in People of Color Is Less Common
Fact: It’s true skin cancer is more common in those with lighter skin. But people of color are more likely to die of the disease. That’s because they often don’t get a diagnosis until it’s at a later stage.
I’ll spare you the website, it’s very flashy
Yup, this 100%. Even if it’s only a lower 15 or 30 SPF you should still slather some sunblock on when going to be outside for longer periods. And cloud cover doesn’t matter much. I’ve gotten burns on cloudy summer days. (Then again my skin is practically transparent)
Yea unfortunately it’s something that is not talked about nearly enough in medical communities and also because (not justifying it, just explaining) it’s tougher to see certain skin cancers on darker skin, my old Slavic grandparents have had several skin cancers removed and luckily they were all easily visible on their pale skin
Always wear sunscreen 💯
If you want some beauty skin care tips I can offer only a few but the best skin care routine is a healthy diet full of veg and minimum alcohol consumption and using a loofah to exfoliate and make sure your skin is free of shite when you bath/shower.
Loofahs are awesome, not to get gross but who tf wants to touch every square inch of their body with their fingers? 1.) That’s gross no matter how much soap you need, 2.) it’s faster to use a loofah, 3.) the exfoliating effect is awesome. I fucking Love me a Loofah.
Loofah are great but it’s your body, don’t be grossed out by it, you’re stuck with it for life after all.
At most, you just need a good sunscreen, cleanser and moisturizer. I used to really like Paula’s Choice for my needs, but lord it’s expensive now.
Sunscreen I usually like the non greasy type. The OTC brands are so icky. They have that slime feeling. I like something oil free and thin. Try around and see what’s out there!
Cleanser, I like Burt’s bees :).
Someone told me that when it comes to skincare, you want “artificial ingridients”. Natural ingredients are unpredictable and can have a different reaction each time.
That being said, I have some natural soaps that I do use for my body. Quite nice :)!
I’ve heard Korean sunscreens (TIL it’s sunscreen) are non sticky and non greasy
YES! I used to get this one brand in this little blue bottle, but I ended up settling for one I could pick up from a local store. The transit times were so long for ordering it (it was at the height of the pandemic), and it would sometimes get lost.
Nivea Sun Super Water is the name!
You should definitely protect yourself against sunburns, so I really recommend you use sunscreen. When I have to go out and take the bus in the sun, I always put sunscreen (this post reminds me I have to buy another one, but I always forget). Not only to avoid the danger of cancer, but because it really bothers us when we get sunburns, especially if you do manual labor in the open.
If by skincare you are talking about beauty products, they’re optional and unrelated to your health, so unless you wish to use it for aesthetic purposes, don’t bother. I don’t use them because my reasoning is that I am getting older each day, and using beauty products is just swimming against the inevitable current of old age
If you wanna fully dive into the dignity and acceptance of aging gracefully, be my guest, but I wanna look hot, lol jk Im sure you look great, do your thing, nothing wrong w that
“But I wanna look hot”
Mood
I use face cream daily. I apply it after a shower. Preferably one with SPF in it to protect your face from the sun (in combination with sun cream).
I never wash my face with soap or anything really, and it works for me. You might try that.
When I shave, I clean my blade every three strokes maybe with hot water. This will clean your blade better than cold water. I also use a safety razor with one blade. It takes some getting used to it, but it’s not only cheaper and eco friendly, it’s much better for my skin as well.
I only drink water and coffee during the day really. I almost never drink anything other except for beer or wine every now and then. My diet also consists of mainly plant based stuff, so lots of veggies and healthy things.
Apart from the occasional spot I have a really smooth skin, to the point where people regularly comment on it. So see what you can do with my advice.
I may try the one blade, I wanna save a bit of money and electric razors are nice but not as close of a shave. And diet changes are always good so long as it changes for the better. I’ve been trying these juice blends recently that’s just watermelon crushed strawberry and lemon juice and pith. I like it bc it’s like a smoothy but without any added 110% daily sugar intake
I use a safety razor, too. I’ve had two. One had these clips over the top to hold the blade in. That didn’t last long, maybe four months. Then I couldn’t be bothered with it and just clipped my beard for years. But I switched back about three months ago. My new one screws together at the bottom and is entirely brass (painted blue); it seems much studier. I’ve used it for a few months now with no signs of wear.
It’s worth watching some videos first and it takes a couple of weeks to get used to. Wet the face first with hot water, preferably after a shower / bath. Small strokes. Let the weight and sharpness of the blade do the work. No need to add much pressure except to keep the blade on the skin. Lots of lather with a brush. I use the cheapest shaving ‘bars’. Change the blade after 3 to 5 shaves. Three passes: down; across from inside to out; then across from outside to in. Never against the grain. Rinse with cold water. Apply an alum block. Rinse off with cold water after 20+ seconds. Pat dry. Moisturise.
I use the cheapest sensitive moisturiser, but the problem with shaving rash, etc, tends to be from the shave more than the moisturiser. All these sensitive products, to my knowledge, exist to solve a problem that only exists because of the huge market in cartridge razors, which are terrible for skin.
In fact, with hot water and a brush, I can get away with making a lather with an ordinary bar of soap with no obvious adverse effects so long as I follow up with the alum block.
I cannot use cartridge blades at all, as they ruin my face. Electric razors seem to do the same, but I never tried an expensive one.
Skin care is pretty much non-optional for me as I have long-term atopic dermatitis (under eczema), that on occasion flares up on my entire body.
Considering that insurances rarely cover skin care products except steroid creams/tablets, and the exorbitant prices that skin care companies charge on their products, it really is an expensive illness to have.
Well, atleast in the global south because they charge the same prices as in the West with <50% of the median income.
That fucking sucks, there was a girl I talked to for a while (dodged a bullet shes FBI now) who had really bad eczema, she had to buy like big tube of lotion every week and yea you’re right most medical care in the US doesn’t really pay enough attention to skin conditions like that, especially in minorities unfortunately
Smh I hate when my love interests become fbi agents 😒. Was she aware of your politiks?
nah lol it was HS and I was a SocDem. Our first argument was actually over whether the Queen of England was a sweet old grandma or a conniving asswipe. So at worst she thinks I’m a Bernie bro who hates the Queen, not risky
Your skin is the largest organ you have and is mostly neglected by a large portion of the population. Daily showering does a number on your natural oils so use some moisturizers. It doesn’t take much either. You aren’t trying to baste yourself. A few drops goes a long way. One drop of moisturizer is all you need for your entire face after a wash to replace the stripped oil. Or use less hard, moisturizing soaps with 5% or more superfat. Like I said it doesn’t take much.
Wear sunscreen if you don’t want skin cancer
I try to avoid the sun when I can, sunscreen or long sleeves (assuming it isn’t like 1234 degrees outside).
I use moisturizing lotion on dry spots, use a more generic one for less trouble spots. A nice lil towel (or loofah as others said, I wish they sold the squash loofahs on a stick around here) with a little texture too it but not too much helps for showering, gets all the stuff in your pores out. Imo hot showers are drying, so I’d try to avoid doing that a lot. Extra moisturizers for the season if you live in a place with harsh summers/winters.
I have a rollercoaster love hate relationship with cold showers. Sometimes it’s great and gets me going other times I feel like I’m punishing myself unnecessarily
