Indian skin tones have a wide spectrum from fair to dark brown. Every skin tone has its own demand for care. It is not uncommon to come by questions like what is the best day cream for oily skin, or what to apply on ultra dry skin cream.
Typically, Indians have melanin-rich skin. The beauty and skincare market has been replete with products. But, the products in the market have been manufactured to serve the needs of primarily white skin tones.
Now, as there is more research is going on in dermatology, experts are also recognising problems affecting skin tones that are not white. Greater awareness is also bringing new solution to market that are tailored to our needs. Brands, home-grown or international, alike are now more eager to offer solutions that directly address your problems.
In this article, we address some questions about skin care for Indian women and how you can take care.
Indian skin is different
On Vogue a celebrity dermatologist says “Indian skin is much thicker than that of people from other regions of the world. Compared to Caucasian skin, it is more prone to tanning but less prone to getting sunburnt.”
Darker colour also signifies the presence of a higher amount of melanin, which means your skin is comparatively less sensitive to UV rays than whiter skin.
Factors affecting your skin
UV exposure:
Pollution: Some of the Indian cities have become a byword of pollution, not just within India, but worldwide. Pollution may contain many allergens (allergy-causing substances). Prolonged and repetitive exposure to can cause the skin to age faster, pigmentation, cancer and other severe skin diseases.
Humidity: Humidity may be good or bad for your skin. But here we will look at only the negative effects of humidity.
High humidity can cause an increase in sebum production that can hold excess moisture on your skin. This excess can block pores that can cause acne and blackheads.
Low humidity can slow down exfoliation (skin-shedding) giving a dull appearance to the skin. Preventing exfoliation accumulates dead skin, which prevents skin from absorbing moisture, causing drier skin. If you live in low-humidity regions, try ultra-dry skin creams to compensate for moisture loss.
Excessive heat: India’s climate is predominantly hot. Profuse sweating can cause greasy skin and rashes. Fortunately, Ashrein can offer you one of the best day creams for oily skin.
Chemicals in soaps and cosmetics: Several chemicals may treat skin problem, but they are not without side effects. If you are using these products, and the chemicals have no use for you because you do not have that problem, it may harm you skin. Compounds like triclosan, formaldehyde, paragons, benzoyl peroxide may provide some relief to your problems, but they can adversely impact you skin too.
Water: Hard water may harm your skin. When concentration of calcium, magnesium and other minerals are found in significantly higher concentration (more than 50 mg/litre) in water, it is called hard water.
When soap is used with hard water, it leaves residues, which can block pores on your skin. Blocked pores can result in acne or eczema. Hard water can also take away the natural moisture leaving you skin dry.
Common skin problems
Melasma: It is a common skin problems in women. Melasma is characterised by dark grey or brown patches on the skin. Various factors are responsible for it such as pregnancy, genetic predisposition, exposure to sun, and skin colour.
Lighter skin tones where exposure to sun is prolonged, may be the most affected. Malfunctioning melanocytes (the colour making cells), which causes overproduction of colour can cause this problem.
Periorbital melanosis: Dark circles under or around the eyes is called periorbital melanosis. Various reasons such as genetics, perio-orbital edema, fatigue and stress, exposure to sunlight, and alcohol/smoking.
Ingredients to look for in your skin care product
Humectants: Humectant are water-absorbing substances. They bind water easily. That’s why humectants are used widely in skin and hair care products.
In skin care, they attract water from the deeper layers of the skin. Additionaly, humectant draw water from the surrounding to skin. You would like to look for two humectant in your skin care products:
1)- Hyaluronic Acid: This substance is already found in our body, but depletes as we age. Hyaluronic acid hydrates skin by drawing water up to the outer layer from the deeper layers of the skin, and makes the skin soft and plump. That’s the reason it become a primary ingredient in many skin care creams.
2)- Glycerine: Glycerine is like glycerine- it absorbs water and retains it in the skin, that make skin look fresh (hydrated). It draws water from deep layer as well as the environment (when it is humid enough), and prevents your skin from becoming dry.
Ceramides: Ceramides are naturally found in the skin cells as they bind our cells, and make up 50% of our skin’s outer layer (epidermis). Therefore, their maintenance is crucial for the well being of our skin.
Research suggests, dry and damaged skin may be because of low ceramide levels. Lack of ceramides also make skin more susceptible to damage from dirt, pollution and other irritants.
Petrolatum: They are derived from petroleum, and protect and smoothen the skin. They mainly work by preventing water loss, that keep skin hydrated and look fresh.
Dimethicone: A type of silicone, it help to make rough surfaces smooth. Dimethicone sits on the outer layer of skin which forms a temporary barrier. This barrier helps prevent irritant from entering the skin. This property also helps to fill in pores and fine lines on the skins, creating a smooth skin.
By forming the barrier, it also retains water in the skin as it doesn’t allow water to escape.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A help to speeds up the cycle of skin cells that means skin cells generate and die at a faster rate. This replenishment of cells is called turnover. A faster turnover rate replaces skin quickly, hence shedding dull and dry skin skin faster.
CoQ10: An antioxidant, it is found in human body, but depletes with age. Decreasing CoQ10 means reduced production of collagen and elastin. These two elements are essential for younger and healthier looking skin.
Vitamin C & E: These two vitamins help to nourish the skin and also act as antioxidants. As oxidants, vitamin C&E protect from environmental exposure such as uv and pollution.
Found mostly in anti-ageing creams,
Retinol: Retinol is derived from vitamin A. It is primarily used as an anti-ageing ingredient in skin care cream. Benefits of retinol are not limited to anti-ageing, they include acne, unclogging pores, and prevents formation of acne scars
Retinol increases cell turnover, stimulate collagen and elastin production, fade hyperpigmentation, and help skin stay hydrated and glowing.
Ashrein can help you
Although various products are available, you would need solution that would suit your skin and environment. Our products can help you in various ways. Depending upon what kind of skin problem you have, we bring face care regimens that are made to serve Indian skin type.
Our skin care products with natural ingredients with the right blend of other essential elements to replenish you skin with required nourishment.
Sorting through multiple ingredients can be daunting. Especially, when you want to get the right blend to give your skin the best care, and most of the skin care products are not oriented towards your skin type i.e. they serve a wide variety of people with various problems.
Awareness of what kind of problem you are facing, and could be a potential cause for this is the first step towards getting the right solution.
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