9 Skincare Routines from Black Women

They clearly know what's up.

August 24, 2016

Why is it that the road to clear, glowing skin seems to always be paved with inconvenient breakouts, crazy beauty hacks, and far too many trips to Sephora? While many of us can barely remember to exfoliate once a week (preferably with this guy), there are a few skincare goddesses among us who seem to have it all figured out – enter your 9 new BFFs. Not only are these women killing when it comes to their careers, they’re self-made women each making a name for themselves in everything from music to beauty, but they also have skincare routines that put even the best of us to shame. And if that wasn’t enough, these ladies embody the meaning of #blackgirlmagic; they’re true to themselves and won’t let anyone or anything stop them from achieving their dreams.

Since sharing is caring we’re letting you in on all their glowing secrets. You can thank us later! From only using all-natural products to slathering on coconut oil these ladies know how to keep their skin radiant. So if you’ve been trying to up your skincare game (who isn’t?) then pay close attention because these ladies will have your skin #flawless in no time!

1/11
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/aurorajames
2/11
Aurora James, creative director Brother Vellies
“I start every day with a liter of water. Staying hydrated is definitely my skin’s biggest ally. Shortly after I will use Aesop's Fabulous Face Oil or Argan Oil and really let that soak into my skin. Before I go outside (even in winter) I will apply Origins A Perfect World with SPF. For the rest of my body I use coconut oil, virgin and organic. I'm a minimalist for sure, but I do not play around with moisturizing. Oh, and getting 8 hours in the holy grail!”

Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/kittycash
3/11
DJ Kitty Cash, DJ/influencer
"The three products I couldn’t live without are:
-Aloe Vera: the actual plant. I leave this on my face sometimes like a mask and then wash it off; it helps with blemishes and dark spots. -Vitamin C+E face serums keep my skin feeling smooth, bright, supple, and hydrated. -For the colder months I splurge on Creme de La Mer. I just love this cream! My skin dries out easily during the fall/winter and this cream is everything, it's super moisturizing and hydrating."
Photo: Terry Gates
4/11
Cipriana Quann, co-founder/EIC of Urban Bush Babes
“Skincare secrets? I have three. First, WATER! Water is really one of nature's best tools in flushing out toxins and keeping your skin hydrated, clear, and refreshed. Second, consume less or low levels of sugar and salt. As good as it tastes, too much sugar and salt can increase the activity of unstable molecules known as "free radicals" within your body, causing cell damage or slow cell repair, inhibiting the body to heal itself properly...and premature aging. Last but not least, exercise is so important to maintaining or improving the skin's health.”

Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/stbeautybrand
5/11
Alex & Isis of St. Beauty Band
“If we could only use three products for the rest of our lives, it would have to be Cetaphil face wash; the Clarisonic because it gets all the dirt out of the pores which is so important; and activated charcoal soap because it really gets your skin glowing and smooth. And if there’s one thing we swear by, it’s keeping your hands off your face for amazing looking skin!”
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/kaiaventdeleon
6/11
Kai Avent-deLeon, owner of Sincerely Tommy
“I’m all about organic, plant-based products – I don’t really like anything too chemical-y. I love to use body scrubs, my favorite is Frank Body Coffee Scrub, to get my skin super soft and then follow up with tea tree oil; I pretty much use this for everything! Oh and I can’t live without my Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.”

Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/dverdejo
7/11
Desiree Verdejo, owner of Vivrant Beauty
“I try to keep things simple and stick to what I know works for my skin type.
Right now I’m loving:
-Ren's No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm. I believe in double-cleansing at nighttime and this balm easily melts off all of my makeup. -Indie Lee's Clearing Mask. This clay mask gives an amazing deep-pore cleanse and has glycolic acid which also leaves your skin glowy. -Foreo Luna. Great for a gentle, thorough cleanse and I love that you can clean the silicone brush without worrying about changing the brush head.”
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/celialeeroach
8/11
Celia Roach, fashion editor and founder of Needle and Thread
“The one thing I would tell my younger self is to always wear sunscreen. I started developing beauty marks and moles rapidly throughout my younger years from sun exposure. I love them because they're unique, but I am more aware of the negative impacts sun has on aging the skin, and my goal is to keep my skin as healthy and youthful as possible.”

Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/hellolaurenash
9/11
Lauren Ash, founder of Black Girl in Om
“When it comes to skincare, I'm definitely a minimalist. That being said, I’ve gotten more preventative so I've added more moisturizing masks and gentle exfoliants into my weekly routine. Washing your face before bed is important, I make sure my head doesn’t hit the pillow without some skincare love. I saw too many mascara-stained pillows when waking up during my college days.”
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/saada___
10/11
Saada Ahmed, founder of Everyday People
“My a.m. skincare routine consists of washing my face with Glossier Milk Jelly Cleanser, and then after I shower, I apply Aveeno Positively Radiant or Kiehl’s Ultra Facial moisturizer since they both have SPF in them. I never ever leave the house without sunscreen!”