The Help talks about the struggle of African American women

This month the movie The Help will premiere in theatres across the country. According to the Detroit Free Press, the movie details the struggles of African American maids during the 1950s and 60s. 

"These women focused on their children, supported their education and the civil rights movement that brought about change and possibilities. They were the humble, foot soldiers of a revolution, whose spiritual strength transformed a nation," said Melba Joyce Boyd, chairperson of Wayne State University's Department of Africana Studies, quoted by the news provider.

The official website for the movie says it will focus on the connection between the women as well as the courage it took for them to speak out against the mistreatment they were suffering at the hands of their employers.

The Help is about having the confidence to face adversity and stand up for what an individual believes in. We've come a long way since the years that the film is set in, and now African American skin care products offer ethnic women products that celebrate their skin tone and inspire confidence for all the strong women out there.  

Possible dangers of hydroquinone

Women looking to reduce the appearance of dark spots may want to consider avoiding skin care products for black skin that contain hydroquinone. Medicine Net reported on the dangers of the ingredient.

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed banning cosmetics than have hydroquinone in them. Currently, it is legal to sell products that contain up to 2 percent of the substance, although it has been named as a possible carcinogen.

According to the FDA, hydroquinone has been associated with a condition known as ochronosis, which causes skin darkening and dis-figuration. The organization reported that they are planning more studies to determine the long-term effects of the substance on people.

Ethnic women should take the health of their skin into consideration when choosing a skin care product. There are many cosmetics currently on the market for African American skin that do not contain the potentially dangerous chemical.

Free skin care information now available

The dangers of skin cancer have recently been gaining more attention. This year, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that there will be more new cases of the disease than of breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer combined.

In response to this, Rite Aid is teaming up with The Skin Cancer Foundation to offer free information in their stores and online, educating people on the dangers of this disease and how to protect themselves against it.

"Our pharmacists regularly get questions about skin care and sun safety," said Sarah Matunis, Rite Aid pharmacist and corporate clinical coordinator. "We're giving them additional resources to help deal with those questions as well as more resources for our patients."

The organization reminded people that it takes one ounce of sunscreen to cover the body, and that it needs to be applied every 2 hours.

Ethnic women with darker skin tones are still at risk of developing skin cancer. African American skin care products with added SPF can help protect skin against the sun while giving it a healthy glow.

Makeup tips from Tyra Banks

In recent years, Tyra Banks has become well known for her successful television shows. Long before that however, she was noticed for her beauty and poise on the runway and has been a household name since the 90s.

Recently, the star shared some of her beauty tips with BET. Her first piece of advice was to be very careful with applying foundation to keep it from looking to powdery. Banks recommended applying foundation, then taking a damp washcloth and using it to pat the face to absorb excess powder.

“Throughout the day, don’t keep putting powder on top of a greasy face. First, take a tissue and dab it all over your face, then powder your face," Banks told BET.

Along with being a style and television guru, Banks' biography on her official website mentions that she is also a successful businesswoman who runs her own film and television production company.

Women who want to have Tyra Banks' confidence as they pursue their own careers should consider using skin care products for black skin that bring out the natural beauty of African American skin.