Photo: Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
The myth that all black skin is the same has finally been dismissed as just plain ignorant. It would be nice to be able to find one remedy for dark spots on the skin for all black women, but the truth is, there’s just no surefire answer for every single black woman. There are some ingredients in different products that can help, however, and if you’re the DIY type, you can make your own skin care products that can help banish those dark spots on your skin.
Red Wine Extract
Red wine extract is high in resveratrol -- the same stuff you’ve been hearing about as beneficial whenever you drink red wine -- which helps to regenerate new skin cells faster while sloughing off the old ones. Red wine extract also helps to kill free radicals that can cause dark spots on the skin, while helping the body to increase collagen production. Look for products with red wine extract high in the ingredient list. If you prefer to make your own skin care products, combine 1 part red wine extract with 5 to 6 parts jojoba oil.
Shea Butter
Shea butter works on dark spots, helping to even out the skin tone by adding moisture that won’t make your skin all gross and greasy. Shea butter has a natural softening, moisturizing effect that helps to hide blemishes like dark spots. You can purchase products that have high concentrations of shea butter, but you’re better off just buying pure shea butter from a health food or beauty supply store and applying it to your clean skin in the morning and evening.
Lemon Extract or Lemon Essential Oil
Okay, so putting a lemon directly on your face won’t get rid of dark spots -- in fact, it’s pretty much a terrible idea since it can cause a lot of skin irritation. But lemon extract and lemon essential oil can help to reduce the visibility of blemishes and dark spots through a process that is basically a very mild bleaching of the skin. Over-the-counter products with lemon extract or lemon essential oil are safe to use as is, but if you choose to make your own, it needs to be mixed properly. To mix lemon extract or essential oil, combine 1 part lemon extract or essential oil with 15 parts jojoba oil. If you have dry skin, use coconut oil or avocado oil instead so the lemon won't dry you out too much.
Nettle Extract
Not just a bunch of needles that fell off a tree, nettle extract has high anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that help to hide and heal skin irritations and dark spots as well as rashes and burns. Buy products with nettle essential oil as one of the top ingredients for the best results, since nettle is often used simply to add fragrance to a product. While that might smell nice, it won’t help you get rid of those dark spots.
