Protectin' Your Melanin

SKIN CARE, SUMMERTIME, ESTHETICIAN, SUNSCREEN, BLACK SKIN TIPS, INTERVIEW, WELLNESS

"Filters are great but great skin is even better."

Summer is finally here and for some of us this is the first time since 2019 that we have the opportunity to enjoy it! After more than a year of travel restrictions, trips are booked and flights are confirmed regardless of whether or not the PTO gets approved. The official slogan for Summer 2021 might be “vaxed and waxed,” but there is something else equally as important, skin care! Like last summer, this summer will feature record breaking temperatures and with so many of us excited to make up for lost time and redefine our new normal, we have to make sure we aren’t neglecting our skin.

I can remember when I first learned about melanin. It was during science in elementary school and we were being taught the dangers of excessive sun exposure and how melanin protects the body by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun. We were taught that each person has a different amount of melanin in their skin due to genetics and other factors. It was the word “protects” that caught my attention. I remember looking at my brown skin and being amazed thinking, “wow, I’m protected.” Even when we learned about melanoma, I remember only seeing images of white bodies. I felt impervious.

This naïve feeling of invulnerability followed me for years. In fact, it wasn’t until I got older and worked in a skin clinic that I realized how ignorant I had been to the many issues African-American women experience when it comes to skin care.

Join us as we demystify the myths of black skin care with licensed esthetician, JAë.

JAë is a Licensed Esthetician, but considers herself to be a skin care therapist. Her love for skincare developed at an early age with her playing scientist at home, concocting organic skin and hair care treatments specifically for detoxification and hydration. After discovering that skin care and makeup artistry go hand-in-hand, JAë transformed her exciting hobby into her own business venture. Haüs of Opulence is a boutique spa located in Suburban Philadelphia.

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SATISFY: Given your experience, what are some of the most common misconceptions regarding skincare, specifically for people of color?

JAë: The most common misconception regarding skincare, specifically for people of color is that we don’t need to use SPF.

SATISFY: What kind of stressors do summertime heat/ dryness put on the skin? What is the best way to combat them?

JAë: Of course overexposure to the sun puts a great deal of stress on the skin. Summertime dryness is more harmful to those who do not moisturize daily and also to those who use products that have other drying agents such as alcohol in the ingredients. Sun damage can also be provoked by other skin conditions that requires medicated solutions; such as dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, etc. To prevent additional damage of these conditions, be sure to wear the proper SPF coverage and moisturizer(s) to keep skin at its best.

READ THE REMAINDER OF JAE'S INTERVIEW IN OUR SUM VOL 1 ISS 2 ISSUE HERE.