As part of our commitment to be your go-to for the most useful beauty-related info, we’ve gathered and reviewed the best face moisturizer for black skin. We’ve carefully picked these products based on their ability to provide moisturize that lasts for a long time and help you with a number of skin conditions. We believe these products can be a good addition to your beauty collection.
Having a dark skin tone may pose some advantage when it comes to sun protection, but like all other skin types and colors, black skin is equally prone to dryness.
Flaky and dry patches on the face make bacteria, germs, and pollutants penetrate the facial skin easily, causing unwanted breakouts and skin irritations.
Dry skin is not only irritating, but it can also be uncomfortable and unattractive.
It can appear ashy, unevenly pigmented, and most of the time, scarring occurs due to scratching and acne popping.
But a good moisturizer may fix these problems, and may even impart additional benefits to the skin.
To maintain your skin’s radiant glow and prevent ashy, chalk-like appearance, make sure to use the best face moisturizer to make your look its best every day.
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A Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for the Best Moisturizers for Black Skin
OUR TOP #1 PICK - The Olay All-Day Complete Moisturizer provides moisture that lasts for as long as 8 hours, making it our top pick for the best face moisturizers for black skin. It’s enriched with SPF 15 and other moisturizing ingredients to target parched and inflamed patches. It also feels light and oil-free on the skin.
OUR TOP #2 PICK - Does your skin suffer from extreme oiliness? The Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer is formulated for you. The non-greasy lotion meets broad spectrum sun protection to help prevent premature signs of aging. As a matter of fact, it’s clinically proven to provide long-lasting hydration for a softer, smoother, younger-looking skin.
OUR TOP #3 PICK - Are you bothered by your blotchy skin? The Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer might be the answer. This moisturizer aims to even out skin tone and texture to produce a luminous complexion by reducing blotchiness and discoloration as well as hyperpigmentation and aging signs.
OUR TOP #4 PICK -Whether we want it or not, our skins will age. Too much sun exposure hastens the aging process even more. You may want to use a moisturizer with potent anti-aging ingredients like the Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer. It delivers seven benefits in one bottle: replenish moisture, even skin tone appearance, enhanced brightness, visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles, minimize pores, restore firmness and visibly reduce dark spots.
OUR TOP #5 PICK - It’s common knowledge to apply a moisturizer before makeup. The moisturizer should mattify to prevent foundation streaks and melting like the Cetaphil Dermacontrol Moisturizer. It targets oily, acne-prone, and combination skin and features a 3-in-1 high-technology formula to control oil, hydrate, and provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It provides a matte finish and non-greasy after feel.
What Makes Black Skin Unique
Those who have dark skin have an abundance of melanin, the primary pigment that gives skin its characteristic color. Melanin’s role is to protect the skin against harmful UV rays.
Melanin can be likened to an umbrella for the skin. Below are the reasons that make black skin unique.
1. Less prone to sunburn
During prolonged sun exposure, those with light skin tones often turn red and experience painful, inflamed sunburns.
Dark-skinned people, on the contrary, can sunbathe longer without suffering intense sunburns, but it’s still recommended that you use a sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer.
2. Less prone to photoaging
Photoaging-- changes to skin induced by chronic exposure to UVA and UVB rays-- is one of the most common reasons why skin looks older than it is. Wrinkles, freckles, age spots, fine lines, and sagging skin are manifestations of photoaging.
It has been reported in many cases that individuals who have lesser melanin pigment show more signs of photoaging. Black skin is less prone to photoaging, as the distribution of melanin offers protection by absorbing and scattering UV rays.
3. Less prone to skin cancer
Most skin cancers are associated with UV radiation emitted by the sun.
The skin produces the melanin pigment to combat the penetration of UV rays. Without melanin, UV rays can penetrate effortlessly through the skin.
The radiation these rays have can damage and alter the DNA, causing cells to mutate, leading to skin cancer.
Darker skin may produce more melanin that helps protect skin but only to a certain extent. Those with deeper skin tones can still get sunburned and develop skin cancer from UV damage.
4. More reactive than other skin tones
Black skin is more reactive than other skin tones.
A small pimple, rash, or scratch causes melanin to be deposited in the affected area, stimulating the formation of dark spots.
This condition is termed as “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
”To avoid dark spots on the skin, avoid picking, scratching or anything that can irritate the skin to prevent hyperpigmentation.
An easy way to always keep the skin clear of impurities is to cleanse thoroughly and apply the best face moisturizers for black skin.
Choosing the Best Face Moisturizers for Black Skin
Keep your skin glowing by applying generous amounts of moisturizers to prevent drying.
Dry skin appears ashy and rough-looking. You don’t want that, right?
Also, keeping your skin hydrated strengthens the skin barrier against the elements.
Choosing the best face moisturizer is essentially the same for all skin colors.
Lotion, Cream, or Ointment?
Lotions are sufficient for people with normal and oily skins.
Lotions contain a higher percentage of water than oil – normal and oily skins don’t need much oil, or it will feel too greasy.
On the contrary, very dry and sensitive skins require thick ointments or creams.
Ointments and creams are enriched with oils. They’re beneficial especially to people with dry skins needing intense moisturization.
Thick Creams or Light Creams?
Dermatologists suggest applying lighter creams for day use and heavier ones for night time.
Light creams absorb quickly and rarely leave a greasy film behind – perfect as a base for makeup.
Conversely, thicker creams must be used at night when the skin is at its rejuvenating stage.
Soaking the skin with sizeable amounts of minerals and moisturizing ingredients can stimulate collagen production, restore skin elasticity, and improve the overall condition of the skin.
Ingredients to Look For
SPF
Having dark skin doesn’t necessarily mean skipping on SPF because you have more melanin.
Load up on SPF to make sure any harmful UVB and UVA rays will be filtered out.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
AHAs are synthetic chemicals that have anti-aging properties.
They work by dissolving dead cells that adhere to the skin’s surface, resulting in a brighter and clearer complexion.
They also stimulate collagen production to maintain skin elasticity which leads to reduced wrinkles and fine lines.
Studies also revealed that AHAs enhances the skin’s moisture retention.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that potentially break down skin cells.
It’ll be helpful to look for the best face moisturizers for black skin containing green tea, licorice extract, chamomile, and pomegranate.
Moisturizing ingredients
Look for moisturizers containing any or a combination of the following:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Dimethicone
- Glycerin
- Lanolin
- Mineral oil
- Petrolatum
- Aloe vera
- Shea butter
- Cocoa butter
- Honey
- Rose water
- Coconut oil
Now let's dive into each product in our list to find the ones that will work for you.
Product Reviews: The Top 5 Best Moisturizers for Black Skin
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The Olay All-Day Complete Moisturizer may be the perfect daily moisturizer as it provides a base of moisture that lasts for up to 8 hours, making it our top pick for the best face moisturizers for black skin.
Since it adheres and hydrates the skin for a long time, you can rest easy knowing that your skin’s protected and moisturized throughout the day.
What we love about this skin is it’s lightweight when applied and doesn’t leave an oily film behind.
It’s enriched with SPF 15 that potentially blocks 94 % of UVB rays. Also, it’s oil-free and 100% paraben-free.
Among its active moisturizing ingredients are Vitamin E and aloe. Vitamin E has essential antioxidant properties that we all need.
It protects the skin against cell mutation from the sun (and possibly, skin cancer) and environmental pollution.
Vitamin E also targets extremely dry patches of the skin. It increases oil production in these areas to restore it to its healthy state.
Doctors also recommended applying moisturizers infused with Vitamin E at night to speed up the rejuvenating process. Thus, this face lotion can also double as a night cream.
Aloe vera, apart from its moisturizing properties that we’re all too familiar with, also imparts anti-inflammatory and scar reduction benefits.
It may reduce the appearance of acne and other inflamed areas of the skin and studies also revealed that it helps hide stretch marks by healing the stretched skin.
It’s great how this moisturizer felt light on our skin and kept our complexion looking healthy and glowing the entire day.
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Another one of the best face moisturizers for black skin is the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture in which non-greasy lotion meets broad spectrum sun protection to help prevent premature signs of aging.
This moisturizer is designed for people with oily skins. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and sheer, allowing it be absorbed quickly into the skin without clogging pores or leaving it shiny.
Like the Olay All-Day Moisturizer, this one is also clinically proven to provide long-lasting hydration for a softer, smoother, younger-looking skin.
It features a broad spectrum protection in the form of SPF 35 that helps prevent premature signs of aging caused by everyday exposure to the sun's damaging rays.
Among its active ingredients are avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate. These compounds constitute 20% of the moisturizer.
Avobenzone has been found to absorb UVA rays before it can reach the skin cells to inflict damage. Thus, it’s necessary for the reduction of the premature signs of aging.
Likewise, homosalate and octisalate are potent sunscreen agents. They both absorb the full range of UVB rays from the skin to protect the skin from its adverse effects.
This moisturizer also contains glycerin and dimethicone. Glycerin is a “humectant” or moisture absorber. Humectants form a layer on top of the skin that traps water in it.
With sufficient water, the occurrence of dry, rough, and scaly skin is preventable.
On the other hand, Dimethicone is an emollient. Emollients prepare the skin for the smoothening process – they make sure the moisturizer gets absorbed and sealed into the skin quickly.
We love how this base glides smoothly, and just a drop of it goes a long way to cover the entire face.
It isn’t greasy, and it didn’t cause breakouts, making it ideal for people with acne-prone skins.
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The Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer is clinically proven to even skin tone and texture in just four weeks, helping your skin look luminous.
It does that by shielding the skin from the sun to prevent skin discoloration, hyperpigmentation, aging signs, and drying.
A unique ingredient of this moisturizer that has a ton of benefits to the skin is soy.
Soy has been hailed as a wonder ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for a good reason – it helps even out skin tone and texture for one.
Soy proteins contribute to reducing the appearance of blotchiness and discoloration.
Moreover, it contains antioxidants such as Vitamins A & E to neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from stressors.
Soy also imparts smoothing and softening benefits to the skin to bring out the skin’s natural radiance.
Similar to the Neutrogena moisturizer, this one also involves the use of avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate to filter out damaging UVA and UVB rays.
We tried this moisturizer and experienced no adverse effects. In fact, it’s a great base for makeup.
We applied it and let it dry out before applying foundation and the rest of our makeup. We have never had an issue with foundation streaks or dry spots while wearing this base.
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The preventive anti-aging formula of the Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer delivers seven benefits in one bottle: replenish moisture, even skin tone appearance, enhance brightness, visibly smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, minimize pores, restore firmness and reduce dark spots.
This product claims that 10% of women who religiously used this moisturizer looked naturally younger.
Though we’re ecstatic to know that this cream is specially formulated to combat aging, we’re satisfied with its essential moisturizing and sun protection properties.
The SPF 15 content of this moisturizer protects the skin from UV exposure while minerals and other ingredients replenish and nourish the skin barrier.
This moisturizer is incredibly nourishing too. It’s packed with Vitamin E, B3, and B5 that may work to impart moisture and heal the skin, producing a youthful glow.
Not all moisturizers are infused with Vitamins thus we included this terrific moisturizer in our list of the best face moisturizers for black skin.
Seeing the hype on this anti-aging moisturizer, we naturally wanted to try and see if it would work on the fine lines on our skin.
We can say that though this is not a miracle anti-aging cream, it’s a decent moisturizer.
Our faces turned soft and supple within a week’s usage, and it has a matte finish which is ideal if you want to use it as a makeup base.
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Cetaphil is another trusted brand in the skincare world. It has a good reputation of providing the most gentle yet effective lotions and creams, especially for problematic skins.
The Cetaphil Dermacontrol Moisturizer features a 3-in-1 formula to control oil, hydrate, and provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
It’s specially formulated for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin.
Patients using acne prescriptions who tried this product have experienced a great reduction in dryness and roughness of the facial skin.
This moisturizer has a lightweight and non-greasy formula that won’t clog the pores, making it suitable for people with oily skins.
It delivers fast-acting, long-lasting, lightweight hydration while reducing surface oil and shine for a matte finish.
This moisturizer also makes an excellent makeup base due to its Micropearl technology that provides a matte finish for a streak-free and intact makeup.
Moreover, avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene are its active sunscreen agents that prevent the onset of skin cancer and premature aging.
Traditional sunscreens feel greasy and heavy on the skin. With the Oleosome technology of this product which uses a lower concentration of filters for a lightweight texture, there’s less irritation and greater hydration.
Moreover, the greasy after-feel of this SPF-infused moisturizer is minimized, so skin feels smooth - not oily or slick.
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The Bottom Line
Using the best face moisturizer for black skin starts a beneficial chain effect on the skin.
When the skin locks in moisture, it stimulates the synthesis of proteins, enzymes, and collagen to restore and maintain the skin’s health.
Softness, suppleness, clearness, and the absence of fine lines and wrinkles (for mature women) manifest a healthy skin.
If you want to achieve a healthy and glowing skin, you ought to try the Olay All-Day Complete Moisturizer.
This daily moisturizer locks in moisture for as long as 8 hours. It also feels lightweight when applied and doesn’t leave an oily film behind.
It’s enriched with SPF 15 that potentially blocks 94 % of UVB rays.
Moreover, it nourishes the skin with Vitamin E and aloe.
Vitamin E reduces skin inflammation and strengthens the skin barrier to prevent cell mutations and entry of pollutant.
Aloe, on the other hand, moisturizes even the driest patch of facial skin. It may also heal and reduce scars to lighten its appearance.
This moisturizer, along with the other products on this list, may help to give you beautiful, glowing skin.
