Book Review
Inside and out. That’s where you wear your beauty. Your eyes glow with warmth, your smile is sunshine, and your heart touches people and lets them know they’re loved. The body you’ve been blessed with is strong and comfortable. Now, what about your largest organ?
You’ll find out how to care for your skin the right way in “Black Skin” by Dija Ayodele.
Shorts, tank tops, bare shoulders, barely-there sleeves. You want to wear them all this summer, and you want to look stylish doing it. So how do you ensure your skin is healthy?
Dija Ayodele is a skincare expert who says that “flawless skin is for babies.” You’re an adult and will probably never achieve a “flawless” complexion again. But she has advice on how you can turn heads with a glow.
For centuries, Black women have been “actively told that Black is not beautiful.” Ayodele offers history: more than a hundred years ago, slaves were treated like they “were beastly and put on a show as spectacles…” For many Black people in the past, that led them to reach for chemicals to lighten their skin, which breaks Ayodele’s heart. In her book, she aims to help readers gain a better understanding of their own skin so that they can learn to love it.
There are many similarities between black and white skin; the differences are cultural and “physiological.” Black skin has more melatonin that helps protect it from the sun, but don’t get lazy: Ayodele says you should use sunscreen because Black skin is still prone to sunburn. Also, “Black will crack if you’re slack!” so use an effective moisturizer.
Know the difference between skin type and skin condition. Stop smoking, quit your unhealthy diet, reduce alcohol consumption, stop stressing, and get some sleep. Understand keloids and hyperpigmentation and what you can do about them. Find out which products to leave in the store, find a professional if necessary, and build a regimen.
Your skin will thank you for it.
Show your shoulders, flash your fingers, and flaunt your feet. Summer fashions practically demand that you do, but what if your skin isn’t ready for all that? Reach for “Black Skin” and get some help that will take you far beyond your surface.
But this book isn’t just for those who are looking for beauty.
The author Dija Ayodele explains why sometimes you think your skin has a mind. She tackles acne, skin tags, vitiligo, ashiness, and over-dry spots, and her advice is wide-ranging and easily understood. Most importantly of all, she makes readers feel like their skin is a precious gift.
It is best to seek medical advice from dermatologists, but this book offers helpful information as well.
This book is not exclusively for women. There is a chapter for men and children.
