Caring For Black Skin in Your Diet and Skincare Regime

Special Skincare Treats for Black Skin

I've often wondered if black skin benefits from different skincare ingredients, after all skin is skin, right? Well, yes but as well as using products for your skin type you should ideally look for skincare ingredients that are more beneficial for your skin colour.

Personally, my black skin responds best to nutrient rich paraben free, natural and organic skincare products as these products that do not contain chemicals such as sodium methyl paraben which can cause de-pigmentation in darker skin, or petroleum jellies which can cause hyper-pigmentation. Both of these conditions result in an uneven skin tone which is likely to be more apparent in black skin.

It was Mother's Day in the UK recently and I was talking to my mother about skincare products. I was complimenting her on her wonderful, spotless, even and smooth skin. She replied that from an early age she used coconut oil on her skin, to wash her hair and in her diet. Her mother use to make virgin coconut oil from coconuts picked daily from the trees on their land. Our family have used it throughout our lives as a skincare and cooking ingredient.

So,what is so special about coconut oil as a skincare ingredients and why is it so good, in particular for black skin? Well, it's skincare benefits are endless. It wards off sun damage, prevents premature aging, reduces age spots, soothes chapped lips, heals hard skin on the feet and is high in anti-aging anti-oxidants. I could go on forever about how wonderful coconut oil is - no wonder the coconut tree is called the 'tree of life'! It's numerous properties make it a highly compatible ingredient for black skin. 

Thea Skincare Super Nourish range is packed with coconut oil alongside other moisturising natural oils such as Jojoba and Palm oils. These combined with other natural ingredients such as organic Aloe, Vitamins A and C and avocado make it the perfect range for black skin.

Another favourite ingredient of mine is avocado, I just love it. It's taste, colour and cooking flexibility make it an awesome ingredient both for the skin and for the diet. Avocado originates from South America and is a fantastic skincare ingredient for black skin. It helps to protect your skin from the sun, has superior moisturising effects and has excellent skin regeneration properties. The South Americans called it the 'Alligator Pear'. It's also a rich source of Vitamins A, B, D and E and contains more potassium, known as the 'youth mineral', than the banana. It's just a wonderful and rich ingredient that's really great for black skin.

Papaya, papaya, papaya! This is one of my all time favourite fruits. It's taste is amazing and is one of the most beneficial skin care ingredients that I have come across. It's rich in antioxidants and also contains enzymes called Papain which have a natural exfoliation and skin brightening effect on the skin. This fruit is better than gold for me and it helps to produce wonderful clear skin. Papaya is a must have ingredient for black skin. Thea Skincare products include an organic papaya and pineapple exfoliation face mask which is excellent for getting rid of those dead, dull skin cells and promotes natural skin renewal.

As well as feeding your skin from the outside you need to nourish it from within too. Here's one of my favourite summer recipes using my favourite skincare ingredients, go on try it - a healthy, balanced diet full of nutrient-rich, natural ingredients is essential for healthy, glowing skin.

Avocado and Papaya Salad Recipe

It's so simple!

Mix herb salad leaves with wild rocket in a salad bowl

Peel and cut a fresh ripe avocado into cubes and add to the leaves

Peel and de-seed a ripe Papaya and cut into cubes

Add to the leaves and avocado and toss all the ingredients

Drizzle with Virgin Coconut or Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Serve with crusty organic bread, Ciabatta or Pitta bread.

Delicious - enjoy!!

Natural Exfoliators - Get Rid of Dead Skin Cells for Smooth, Beautiful Skin

Shed dead skin cells to resurface your natural beauty!

When I visited Malawi last year, I stayed in an Africa Village where I had to be part of their natural daily routine, living as they did in a mud hut without running water or clinical sanitation as we know it in the West. I woke up early every morning to the warm sun and fresh air from the Lake, but the strangest part was that despite the primitive conditions my body was healthy and I had smooth and clear skin.

Malawi is a landlocked country on the Eastern side of the African Continent. It is a beautiful country that runs through the entire length of the inside of the country. Most of the villages are near the lake as it's their main source of living - fishing, washing, cooking and bathing happen at the lakeshore each day. It was there that I started to think about making natural skincare products and where I came up with the concept of Thea Skincare being totally natural, organically enriched with ethno-botanical ingredients.

One day, whilst I was sitting enjoying the sun and watching the fishermen and people coming and going with their goods, a group of women arrived and started to get undressed. They then started to rub sand all over their bodies and were happy enjoying the experience. I learnt later that this was a weekly ritual, it was their pamper afternoon! I was asked to join them but being from the West and being quite reserved I declined, but sat there instead and observed with pleasure this simple body exfoliation process. These women were using nature to look after their bodies. They were removing their dead skin, washing it away in the fresh water from the lake and using the breeze and light sun from the lake to dry and condition their new skin.

I started to think about body exfoliation and how important it is to remove the dead skin from our bodies to rejuvenate the skin and bring nutrients and fresh blood to the surface. Thea Skincare products have natural exfoliation properties. One of my favourite body exfoliators is the Walnut and Chamomile Body Polish which, when you rub it in it, creates a natural sandy foam that seems to just melt away all the dead skin and leave you with silky, smooth, clear and totally rejuvenated skin. I use a body exfoliator 4-5 times a week and start to panic if I think I'm going to run out at home.

The Thea Fruit and Spice Purifying Spice Body Scrub has a powerful combination of Tumeric, Mustard and Neem Oil combined with natural sea salt and a blend of skin cleansing essential oils. Tumeric has been used in Asia for many centuries for both health and skin problems. It is said to purify the digestive system and aids skin problems such as acne and breakout spots, plus it has natural sunscreen properties. Mustard combined with Neem Oil complete the skin cleansing, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of this luxurious and spicy body scrub - the perfect festive treat this Christmas (and all year round!)

What is Ethno-Botanical Skincare?

Thea Skincare 100% natural products

Ethno-botanical Skincare.. what exactly does it mean?

I remember the first time I ever went to the Caribbean to stay with my Grandma... it was a revelation. Different climate, fascinating culture, a laid back way of life... it really intrigued and excited me. I suffered terribly from the sun, though. I was not used to such a hot climate and came out in a heat rash all over my body.

My grandmother noticed straight away and brought a green plant with fleshy, spiky leaves into my bedroom. She cut one of the leaves open - it was a soft green colour inside and lots of clear juice poured out. Rubbing the juice all over my body, my burning skin was instantly soothed. I asked her what is was and she said "Single Bible", in other words Aloe Vera juice taken directly from the Aloe plant. "Single Bible" has long been used in the West Indies as a natural sunscreen and to treat burns and spots – it even makes a great hair conditioner! So when I was deciding on formulations for Thea Skincare products, I wanted to include Organic Aloe Juice extract as one of the main ingredients due to its amazing natural moisturising, healing and rejuvenating properties.

Whilst researching natural and organic ingredients for the Thea Skincare ranges, I started to look at different cultures and how they used natural plant (botanical) ingredients for their general health, well-being and skin. For centuries, many cultures have been blending plants and plant extracts to produce highly effective skincare products. I have now visited several indigenous communities across the world to discover their skincare secrets and learn from their deep knowledge and wisdom.  

The term used for skincare that incorporates plant-based ingredients proven to be effective by different cultures over many years is “Ethno-Botanical” skincare. Thea Skincare is an ethno-botanical brand.

There are many ethno-botanical ingredients used by ancient cultures that are grown completely naturally. I’ve told you about Aloe Vera – here are a few more:

ROOIBOS TEA
I have a friend from South Africa who introduced me to Rooibos Tea (African Red Bush Tea) a few years ago. I loved the colour and my friend started to tell me how she had grown up drinking this bush tea; her grandmother use to give it to her all the time as she said it was good for her body and skin. So, I started to delve further into this ingredient and discovered that Rooibos has powerful health benefits – it’s packed with natural antioxidants which have dramatic anti-ageing properties found in ranges such as the Thea Age Revival which contains natural Rooibos extracts.

GREEN TEA
The Chinese have been drinking and using Green Tea herbs for hundreds of years. I love Green Tea - it's refreshing, soothing and full of goodness. It's also wonderful for the skin because it is rich in natural antioxidants and has remarkable skin rejuvenating properties. Green Tea is regularly used by many cultures as a treatment for skin conditions, such as acne and psoriasis.

VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
I have used Extra Virgin Olive Oil in my cooking for years and no other oil will do! The Egyptians, Romans and Greeks have historically used Olive Oil for their skincare products and body treatments (such as massages and facials), either on its own or blended with herbs or fruit extracts. Olive Oil is packed full of Vitamin E and is fantastic for lightening age spots and smoothing ageing skin. Some of our products have a concentrated blend of olive oil and other ethno-botanical ingredients that smooths fine lines.

SHEA BUTTER
A friend in West Ghana introduced me to Shea Butter when I first visited the country a few years ago. It is a lovely rich cream which I fell in love with instantly. For many years, I used Shea Butter on my body, especially in the winter months but also in the sun as it helps protect my skin from the heat when I'm in Africa. This butter from the Shea Nut Tree has been part of Western African indigenous lives for many centuries. Shea is a wonderfully nutritious, rich moisturising butter that reduces wrinkles and makes any skin type more supple and healthy. My African friend showed me how to blend Shea Butter with oils.

BLACK WILLOWBARK
I could go on forever, but here’s one more ethno-botanical ingredient, just for luck! Black Willowbark is a natural extract used by communities in eastern parts of North America, Asia and Europe. Black Willowbark has natural anti-ageing properties and is an amazing anti-inflammatory. It is in several Thea Skincare products.

Without ethno-botanical ingredients, the Thea Skincare ranges would not be nearly as remarkable as they are. Ethno-botanical products can dramatically improve the texture and appearance of your skin – proven already by different ethnic communities and ethnic groups from around the world. I have fallen in love with ethno-botanical skincare products as the ingredients are rich in nutrients, 100% natural, very moisturising and they have excellent anti-ageing and rejuvenating properties and they really do enhance the overall quality and condition of the skin as you age. No matter what skin type or colour you have, using ethno-botanical products gives long term benefits for healthy looking skin.

The Cultural Skincare Debate - Is Black and White Skin Treated Differently?

 

 

Are there Cultural Differences in Skincare?

 

I have black skin and have been brought up in Caribbean culture to follow a daily natural skincare routine that keeps my skin healthy and glowing. I’ve often wondered if there are cultural differences in our skincare habits and the way we look after our skin and whether or not people from other cultures believe skincare is an important part of their daily lives. So I have been carrying out a little bit of my own research over the last few months.

I started close to home and asked my 17 year old son’s friends if they ever use skin care products such as a a face or body cream, after shave lotion/balm or an eye cream. The white boys said skincare was for girls, but revealed they do use an aftershave cream to stop any itching and shaving spots. However, the black boys in the group said "we always cream our bodies". My own son told me, "Yeah man, you need to cream your body or it will get dry when you get old!". One of my son’s white friends looked gob smacked - he had never used a body or face cream before.

The truth was out and it raised a whole debate about skincare amongst teenage boys. I gave the group of boys some Thea Skincare products from the men's natural skincare range to try out and they seemed keen to soften their skin and smell nicer, probably to attract the girls!

I was so interested in the boys’ discussion that I phoned my mum - she thought it was hilarious that 6ft plus teenage boys had been talking avidly about skin care products! I said to Mum that I could never imagine going out without moisturising my own body and following my daily skincare routine – I would feel naked and dry. My mum said that , from the moment that I was born, she moisturized my body from head to toe every day without fail. She informed that  “taking care of your skin is an important part of daily life - you’ve been doing it since you were a baby”.

My chat with Mum prompted me to do some more research into cultural differences in skincare routines. I have a white friend, Kate, who is a bit older than me. I noticed that the skin on her legs was flaking so I asked her which moisturizer she used to which her reply was, “I keep my skin covered up during winter... I just tend to forget about it and not moisturize until I wear a skirt or short-sleeved top in the summer – and then I only moisturize the bits on show.” I couldn’t believe it – this is so different from my culture. I explained to her that a good natural body moisturizer would hydrate and feed her dry skin with the nutrients that it is craving, and that wearing tights to cover her dry skin would just dehydrate it even more. Kate had never been taught that moisturizing was a vital part of looking after her body all year round, so it’s no wonder that her skin is so dry. I sent her home with a basket of Thea natural skincare products for dry skin to use daily on her face and body. I’ll let you know how she gets on!

Caribbean, African and Asian communities have been using natural, plant-based products on their skin every day for centuries to keep it smooth and supple. Taking care of their skin is a part of everyday life, just like eating and washing. Yet it is still very common for western cultures to use not much more than a face cream or aftershave lotion - even though western, paler skin is often drier and more prone to wrinkles and stretch marks.

So my advice to maintain healthy looking skin is to make time for a daily skincare routine, using only natural and organic products for cleansing, toning and all-over moisturising. Thea Skincare has a range of natural and organic skincare products for every skin type and skin colour – no matter what age, culture or race you are. If you would like any advice on the best natural skincare products to use for your daily skincare routine, we’re just an email away!

What are Parabens and why use Paraben-free skincare?

So, what’s all this talk about Parabens?

It’s quite shocking how many skin care products still contain Parabens, even though they might claim to be “pure” or to contain a percentage of “natural” ingredients. Parabens are synthetic chemical preservatives mainly used to increase the shelf life of skin care products and toiletries such as moisturisers, make-up, tanning lotions, deodorants, shampoos, bubble bath, toothpastes and shaving gels. They're even found in some processed foods.

Parabens are really cheap – that’s why they are used in 75-90% of skincare products. I used face creams and shampoos containing Parabens when I was younger, because I had no idea in those days that they might damage my health. It has been discovered in recent years that Parabens are harmful toxins, suspected of having potentially carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects because they can mimic the female hormone, Oestrogen.

When Parabens are applied to the skin, they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. This extra, unwanted Oestrogen can wreak havoc on the body's natural equilibrium, sometimes resulting in weight gain, depression, mood swings, fluid retention, premature ageing and, allegedly, even breast cancer. Around 90% of breast tumours have been found to contain Parabens, although this presence has not yet been directly linked to the use of products that contain Parabens. Pretty scary stuff, though.

When reading the labels on skincare products, look out for Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben and Propylparaben in the ingredients – these are the most common types of Parabens and, in my opinion, they should be completely avoided. Applying skincare products which contain Parabens is literally feeding potentially dangerous toxins into your body. Why would anyone choose to do that when there are safe, natural, more effective alternatives available?

Look out for skin care products that say “Paraben-free” on the label. Thea Skincare products are all Paraben-free and promote supple, healthy skin. What’s more, they contain the finest natural and organic skincare ingredients - such as Shea Butter, Green Tea, Lavender and Aloe Vera - that have a naturally long shelf-life. Everything your skin needs to be healthy and to flourish can be found in nature – there’s really no need for Parabens. Try out our deeply nutritious natural moisturizers to see how great Paraben free skincare products feel on your skin. You’ll never look back!

Visit Thea Skincare now to buy 100% natural, Paraben free skincare products