Asian skin is celebrated for its naturally youthful appearance. Wrinkles due to premature aging don't concern Asian women as much as dark marks and spots, sun damage and acne do. Asian skin tends to be delicate, soft and smooth, with yellow undertones due to extra melanin. Avoiding products with harsh chemicals in favor of more natural creams with skin-lightening properties will improve skin complexion and beauty.
Sensitive Skin
The extra softness can make Asian skin more sensitive, requiring additional care and use of skin care, makeup and cosmetics that don't irritate the skin, according to AsiaMs.net. Look for creams that contain soothing and decongesting ingredients such as vitamin B5 (panthenol), propolis (bees wax) and healing aloe. Combined with other potent actives, these natural ingredients work to relieve redness and skin sensitivity, rendering your skin calm and clear.
Acne Prone
Asian skin can be very smooth in appearance because of smaller pores. But smaller pores tend to clog with oil easily, producing skin irritations and acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Creams rich in fruit enzymes, such as lemon and grapefruit, naturally exfoliate, while vitamin A (beta-carotene) will hydrate and mattify, preventing breakouts and effectively refining your pores, according to the magazine "Asian Woman." Combining a blemish-control gel with your skin cream will give the best results. Look for gels containing one percent salicylic acid, a proven acne-fighting ingredient, as well as sodium hyaluronate to alleviate excessive drying commonly caused by acne medications.
Dry Skin
While aging skin tends to be dryer and lack elasticity, colder weather and poor water ingestion can also result in dry, flaky skin. Many ingredients offer hydration but leave the skin feeling greasy, such as Vitamin E, shea butter, nut oils and grapeseed oil. Hyaluronic acid offers a true and lasting solution to the problem of dry skin by penetrating deep into the skin for full absorption and skin cell nourishment, according to AsiaMs.net.
Sun Damage
Avoiding sun exposure is a must for any skin type; you should always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
The use of products containing alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid provide a smoothing effect on sun-damaged skin, according to A. Paul Kelly and Susan C. Taylor in their book "Dermatology for Skin of Color." These products peel off the dead surface of the epidermis, which allows more ultraviolet light to penetrate, so sun protection is most important when these products are used.
Pigmentation
Pigmentation occurs very early in Asians, sometimes prior to puberty. Melasma is a common disorder and is difficult to treat, but a significant factor in treatment is limiting exposure to UV radiation. The use of a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB is essential, according to Kelly and Taylor. Use skin creams containing hydroquinone to help fade any dark patches of skin, according to Hydroquinone.org. Hydroquinone works by turning off the cells that make melanin and comes over the counter in 2-percent strength and by prescription in 4-percent strength.
References
- "Asian Woman"
- AsiaMs: Skin Page
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Hyrdroquinone
- "Dermatology for Skin of Color"; A. Paul Kelly, Susan C. Taylor; 2008
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