Sun is bad for your skin! Yes I said it. Sun is just not good for black skin though some people will argue the contrary.
Skin consultants say avoiding sunshine is the single best preventive way to prevention for premature ageing and the risk of developing skin cancer. But imagine living and working in what used to be a dessert. Is it possible to avoid sunshine? Of course not. It’s much more likely that most of your time and lifestyle will be spent under the rays of sunshine.
Also, most photographers prefer natural light and exterior locations during sessions. That means as a model most of your work will be done within exterior decorations and changing makeup looks. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) above 30 is recommended for everyone not just for models. Onyeniyi, lead make-up artist, says his make-up techniques involves a layer of SPF to prep the skin before other make-up products are applied to a model. This should prevent the skin from sunburns and black spots while moisturising and leaving an even layer for the foundation. Onyeniyi tells us he comes prepared with SPF+15, SPF+30, and SPF+50 to prime the skin to suit models complexion and needs.
He advises we apply SPF down to the neck for better protections and coverage. For women wearing a V neck or dresses with prolonged neckline SPF is highly recommended on exposed areas.
Why is SPF so important I asked Onyeniyi. Rather than showing a make-up finishing that looks heavy and creaky, I prefer to use SPF to moisturise the skin and protect the skin against the sun’s broad spectrum of harmful UV rays. Aesthetically speaking, using an SPF provides that dewy look that makes the skin look “easy to the eye” and luxurious on photos. This is what the magazines want and it’s what sells. A lot of my work is a mix of creativity when applying colours but I also have to think of the finishing and what works best on the screen.
When deciding on which SPF to settle for we recommend readers to think about how their skin absorbs the sun and what sunburns looks like. While It can be more difficult to detect sun damage on deep dark skin due to the skin’s pigmentation, in people with lighter shades skin melanin is not fully protective. For this reason, they are more likely to sunburn. To be on the safe side, best alternative is to go for the higher range of SPF for daily use.
There are lots of ways to ensure your sunscreen matches your foundation shade. In our previous post we mentioned the innovative techniques of foundation shifter which can provide a darker tint to already purchased foundation and sunscreens. Also tinted sunscreen from La Roche are a great solution.
Blogger’s conclusion
Here’s a secret: every skin is different. Experts, suggest black skin contains more melanin than lighter skin. In such case, melanin-producing cells are likely to be more susceptible to the effects of inflammation and injury, which is more noticeable in dark skin than in light skin. Skin protection measures need to be taken seriously by beauty entrepreneurs.