Tip: How to keep your black skin glowy

Natural skin care for any skin tone, including black women, is no further away than your kitchen. Black skin has distinct characteristics and typically benefits from extra moisturizing in the form of natural, emollient-rich oils. Those with black skin should wash their face twice daily with a gentle, natural cleanser and never go to sleep with makeup left on their skin. Natural toning face masks will help your skin remain clear and develop a healthy glow.


Here are some steps you could follow:

Step 1
Soak a wash cloth in hot water and place the wash cloth over your face for several minutes or until it cools. Do this first thing in the morning before washing your face to help open your pores.

Step 2
Wash your face with a natural, organic cleanser. Natural cleansers can be found at a health food store or in many chain drugstores. Look for a cleanser with a glycerin or castille soap base that cleans without stripping the skin's protective acid mantle. Other ingredients that are soothing and cleansing include essential oils, coconut, aloe vera, chamomile and oats.

Step 3
Apply a natural toner made from lemon juice and water. Fill a water bottle or other container with one part freshly squeezed lemon juice and five parts filtered water. Apply the lemon juice toner with a cotton ball and do not rinse off.

Step 4
Massage your face with nourishing oils -- sweet almond, coconut, olive and jojoba oils are good choices -- before going to bed. Black skin tends to be on the dry side, so allowing oils to soak into the skin overnight can contribute to glowing skin in the morning. Apply the oil to the skin using your fingertips. Use caution when massaging the sensitive tissues around the eyes.

Step 5
Apply a homemade, natural face mask once or twice per week. Mash one ripe banana with one egg white and coat your face, neck and decolletage with the mixture. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.

Extra tips:
•You can help your skin develop a glow by consuming a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Also consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily to keep your skin hydrated.

•Avoid harsh cleansers and soaps, which can strip your skin of necessary oils. Among the ingredients to avoid are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which are foaming agents, and alcohol, which can be extremely drying and irritating to the skin. Joni Loughran in "Natural Skin Care" recommends investing in a cosmetic ingredient reference book so you can look up which chemicals to avoid and their effects on the skin.

Things You'll Need
-Oils, such as sweet almond, coconut, olive or jojoba
-Egg
-Banana
-Wash cloth
-Lemon
-Water bottle
-Cotton balls

Reference:Livestrong