Caffeine may fight against skin cancer

Recently, there has been a variety of natural extracts appearing in cosmetics ingredients. For example, African American women looking to buy skin products for black skin can find many options that contain pomegranate, green tea and soy. Now, a new study has come out that suggests that coffee may also be beneficial for the skin. 

Researchers at Rutgers University believe that caffeine could potentially guard against skin cancer by boosting a protein in the skin. The scientists have suggested that applying caffeine directly to the skin could prevent the damaging effects of UV rays.

"Although it is known that coffee drinking is associated with a decreased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, there now needs to be studies to determine whether topical caffeine inhibits sunlight-induced skin cancer," said Allan Conney, director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research.

Currently, the best method of protecting against skin cancer is still using protective clothing and and sunscreen or cosmetics products with SPF.  

Combining makeup products can help create a natural look

Ethnic women can benefit from using skin care products designed specifically for black skin that keeps their unique tones in mind. The women's magazine Savvy claims that the secret to African American beauty is to understand the skin's undertones. Sometimes, this can mean having to use a variety of products instead of just one.

The beauty news provider said that in order to avoid a chalky-looking complexion, ethnic women may want to consider blending a few different shades of foundation. It can be difficult to find one foundation or concealer that matches a person's exact skin tone, so combining some may be the most effective method to get an even tone.

The website MakeupSense.com offers tips on how to get the most out of foundation. 

The website suggests shaking liquid foundation before using it to get the right texture. It also reminded readers that foundation is not meant to cover major flaws or blemishes and that they shouldn't use concealer along with foundation if trying to create a natural look because it will appear too thick and clumpy.   

A restful night's sleep combined with a healthy diet can equal beautiful skin

African American skin care can be a complicated process that can sometimes require time and patience. According to the website Black-Women-Beauty-Central.com, this might not be a bad thing. The beauty site reports that if a woman is spending less that 15 minutes a day on her routine, then she is not giving her skin the right amount of attention. The website offered tips on how to keep black skin looking healthy by paying attention to other lifestyle factors that make change skin's appearance.

First, the site recommended quitting bad habits such as smoking or eating junk food. Smoking can increase the number of wrinkles on a person's skin, and junk food can potentially create an acne problem.

The magazine Real Simple also mentioned the importance of healthy habits on skin and spoke to an expert in the field to explain the connection between diet and skin's appearance.

“Diet can play a role in strengthening your skin’s ability to maintain moisture, too,” says Leslie Baumann, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami, quoted by the news source.

Real Simple gave the example of substances rich in the essential fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed, salmon and olive oil as being the best foods to help skin cells stay hydrated

Black-Women-Beauty-Central also mentioned that getting enough sleep (8 to 10 hours a night) can reduce the appearance of dark circles and lines, suggesting that a restful night can help lead to a beautiful morning. 

Benefits of healthy extracts in skin products

Lately there has been a lot of talk about the health benefits of pomegranate. This fruit is known as a source of antioxidants, and the Mayo Clinic reports that these substances can protect the body from free radicals, which accumulate from day to day pollution that the body encounters, such as toxins emitted by cars.

Recently, Mercury News reported that pomegranate extract is showing up in many skin care products. Currently, there are many products for ethnic women that contain this and other antioxidant rich extracts, such as green tea. The news provider spoke to David McDaniel, M.D., assistant professor of clinical dermatology at Eastern Virginia Medical School to learn the benefits of having pomegranate and other natural substances in skin care products.

"There are many benefits to natural ingredients in skin care, for example licorice root, chamomile and pomegranate. For some, there is a pigment lightening effect for improving the appearance of uneven skin using licorice root extract and pomegranate.Pomegranate also has a strong antioxidant protective effect and can be found in many good skin care products," said McDaniel, quoted by the news source.

This suggests that when choosing an African American skin care product, women may want to look for ones that contain these healthy ingredients.