If you are curious about skincare and beauty, you’ve probably heard the word melanin before. You might know that people with deeper skin tones have more melanin in their skin — you might have even heard your friends with darker skin refer to themselves as melanin goddesses. But what exactly is melanin? Does it impact how much time you should spend in the sun?

The name “MELANIN” comes from the ancient Greek melanos, meaning “dark,” and according to Borovansky, the term was probably first applied by the Swedish chemist Berzelius in 1840 to call a dark pigment extracted from eye membranes. However, first references of human skin pigmentation and somehow to the existence of melanin without using the current name are very old. Pharaonic medicine in the Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC) described some diseases affecting skin color, and one of them was probably vitiligo, although that term appeared much later, derived from the Latin word “vitellus” meaning “veal” or pale pink skin. The first relatively detailed written description on skin pigmentation in mankind came from Herodotus in Greece, who described the darker skin of Persians, Ethiopians, and Indians in relation with Greeks.

Melanin definition
Our skin color is determined by a pigment called melanin, and while everyone has melanin (both fair and dark-skinned people), it comes in different forms and ratios. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light-skinned people have. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes. It provides some protection against skin damage from the sun, and the melanocytes increase their production of melanin in response to sun exposure. Freckles, which occur in people of all races, are small, concentrated areas of increased melanin production.

However, if we all belong to the same species, shouldn’t our basic skin color be the same? Why are some people fair and others dark?

The two forms of melanin are called eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin comes in primarily brown and black hues, while pheomelanin appears as red and yellow hues. It is produced by a specialized group of cells called melanocytes.

Biologically, our bodies evolved to produce more melanin when people were living in climates where they were getting a lot of sun exposure (like Africa) to protect our skin from the sun.
On the other end of the spectrum, skin conditions like albinism and vitiligo occur when melanin is entirely, or almost entirely, missing from the skin.

How does my body know to produce melanin?
Melanin is thought to be a UV ray blocker. If you go into the sun to soak up some rays, The UVA and UVB rays are damaging to your skin’s natural barrier. So when UV rays from the sun hit your skin and attempt to cause damage, it stimulates melanin production within your body. Basically, it’s your body’s natural way of warding off some of the more adverse effects of those UV rays. And this melanin production is what changes your skin color — your skin will tan, or it will burn.

So if I have more melanin, do I need to wear sunscreen?
It’s correct to say that people with darker skin tones have more melanin. If melanin helps us not get a sunburn by protecting us from UV rays, then people of color shouldn’t need sunscreen, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong.
That natural protection from melanin can only go so far. UV rays also can cause your skin cells to mutate, and that mutation is what causes skin cancer. So even if you’re not seeing a burn, those harmful UV rays are permeating the deeper layers of your skin, causing cell mutation, and possibly skin cancer.
Sun exposure can also intensify the color of any dark marks you already have on your skin. In other words, those dark marks from your old breakouts that you’ve been dying to get rid of (what dermatologists refer to as hyperpigmentation) will just get darker when you go out and sunbathe.

Makeup on dark skin can be appealing but a lot of things can go wrong. Here are some quick facts to note about melanin makeup for dark skin;
• Applying the right product to suit the skin tone is always paramount.
• Moisturize: Those with dark skin, especially with dryness problems, tend to look ashy if skin is not moisturized properly.
• Sunscreen: Just because you have a darker complexion doesn’t mean your skin won’t get affected by the harmful UV rays. This is a common mistake that many dark-skinned beauties tend to make. Choose your sunscreen depending on your skin type.
• The right foundation: Foundation acts as a base for your makeup. Always make sure that the foundation matches your natural skin tone. Look for a shade that is just right for you and evens out the discolorations. Avoid using transparent powder – it can give your skin a grayish tinge.
• Concealer: To counteract the stubborn blemishes under the eyes, apply a concealer along the tops of your cheekbones towards the tip of your eyebrows. It’s more or less like drawing a triangle. This shape not only conceals dark circles, but it also instantly helps attract the light by bringing warmth to that area
• Blending should also be done properly without leaving any harsh lines.
• Accentuate facial features without applying too much makeup or giving the cakey look, the skin has to feel almost like skin.
• Eye makeup: Eye makeup is something that highlights your eyes and enhances your looks. For a casual daytime event, it’s best to avoid vibrant or bright colors and opt for subtle shades like browns, pinks, and gray eyeshadows, complemented with loads of mascara. For an evening event or a formal occasion, try shades like blue, purple, and greens and also shades like burgundy, copper, and browns. These colors look amazing on dark skin and are sure to make you look like a diva! Be experimental and play with colors.
• Lipsticks: Selecting colors for dark skin tones is a big task. Use lip colors like beige, coffee, chocolate, soft pink, plums, berry, burgundy, and gold. Stay away from lipsticks with a frosty finish or ones that are too glossy.
• Blush: Shades like dark peach, bronze, deep orange, coral, wine, rose, and gold, and any darker shades of blush will complement your skin best.
• Bronzer: Literally a staple diet for all beauty lovers, a bronzer can make your skin look fresh, glowy and sun-kissed even when the temperature is soaring high for that perfect bronze look. I suggest go about two shades deeper than your color, and make sure you don’t dust bronzer all over the face. To create a neat look, apply the bronzer with a sculpting brush on in a C formation. That means, start it at the temples and flick lightly along the sides of the face, forehead, nose, and chin for a more refined look.
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to wear bold colors! Just because you have dark skin, doesn’t mean you can’t rock a red lip or blue eyeshadow – just not at the same time!

*Additional Tips*
• Wear a blush to add a flush of color on the face. Use warm colors like bronze or deep pinks.
• Darker skin tends to be oily, so opt for powder-based products.
• Try to keep your makeup minimal; simply enhance your natural tone so that the skin looks more healthy and glows.
• Try colored eyeliners in the shades of blue, green, purple, and deep browns for night-outs. This will accentuate and enhance your eyes dramatically.
• Highlight should reflect when light hits the highlighted areas ( forehead, cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of the nose) .
• Less is more when applying makeup on a very dark skinned person

Dark skin is absolutely gorgeous. Just keep these tips in mind the next time you are getting ready.

We need to start paying attention to the things we eat and the food or vitamins deficient in our bodies. Makeup can only conceal flaws for a while but eating the right food would clear off those imperfections on the skin naturally without any reaction.
They say the eye is the window into the soul; but our face is one of the colossal indicators of what is going on with our bodies when it comes to nutritional deficiencies, stress or hormonal disruptions. There are numerous complaints about eye bags, dry lips, acne, dry flaky skin but have you thought just maybe, you eat the wrong food and no amount of beauty or makeup products would completely treat these problems if we don’t also eat right.
-When your skin looks dry and flaky or wrinkles out of nowhere, it’s a good sign that your diet is lacking in essential fatty acids. To ensure you’re getting enough of these healthy fats, make sure you include avocado, fish and nuts in your diet. Also, invest in a good moisturizer, increase your water intake and drop alcohol consumption.
If acne is an issue for you, then take note of where its projecting. If it’s on your forehead, then it might be the products you’re using are clogging up your pores. It might also mean your diet is poor and lacking essential vitamins and minerals. If your acne is primarily on your cheeks, then it could be your digestive system and an indication of a leaky gut. A leaky gut is a digestive condition in which bacteria and toxins are able to leak through the intestinal wall. Consider following a diet that would help nourish and repair your gut lining. Acne on your jawline signifies hormonal imbalance, but you can further investigate if its a bother.
Cracks around the mouth can be a sign of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency. Riboflavin serves as a molecule that works with other B vitamins to release energy from nutrients in your cells; as well as assisting in the growth and production of red blood cells. Foods rich in riboflavin include almonds, leafy greens, eggs, fish, milk and avocado.

Take fruits like oranges, broccoli, water melon, pineapple, leafy greens to boost Vitamin C levels

Frequent bleeding gums is a sign of Vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is needed for growth and repair of tissue throughout the body and a persistent lack of Vitamin C leads to a disease called Scurvy. Take fruits like oranges, broccoli, water melon, pineapple, leafy greens to boost Vitamin C levels.
Eyebrows that are thinning at the outer edge can be a warning sign of an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism). Thyroid is a system that helps the body use energy. It produces hormones that control the speed of your metabolism. What you need is a lifestyle that would help reduce stress. If you have issues with your eyebrow growing back full and strong then rest often to reduce stress and meditate more for relaxation.
Colouring at the lower eyelid is a common sign of iron deficiency. Your body needs iron to make haemoglobin in red blood cells which helps carry oxygen around the body. Low levels of iron make the blood less red, causing the skin to lose it’s healthy colour. If you pull your lower eyelid down and it isn’t red, you lack iron.
If you have dark circles under your eyes even after getting enough sleep, it could be a sign of food responsiveness. Dark circles can also be caused by dehydration, allergies, iron deficiency and excess salt consumption. Indefinitely, it’s not just about getting beauty or makeup products to cover up the dark circles or eye bags but also paying close attention to how we eat, what we eat and also don’t eat.
To be free from eye bags, dry lips, dry skin, dark circles, wrinkles, acne and thin brows naturally then you have to constantly consume nutrients like fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water daily and exercise more often. Then you would be able to see good results from the beauty products you apply.
Simple steps to eliminate sunburn

• Apply moisturizers containing aloe vera or soy because it helps soothe the sunburned skin.
• Use hydrocortisone cream because it treats redness, swelling, itching and discomfort of various skin conditions. (Can be purchased in pharmacies)
• Do not use lotion or cream containing petroleum, benzocaine and lidocaine. Things with petroleum trap the heat in your skin. Benzocaine and Lidocaine can further irritate your skin.
• Take care to protect your skin while it heals by wearing clothes that covers that area when outdoors.

Thanks for reading!
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