Best Skin-Care Products for Black Skin

Three board-certified dermatologists share their favorite picks

Anissa Gabbara,

AARP

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En español

Published June 16, 2025

a black woman smiling into a mirror while touching her face

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The ever-evolving nature of skin can call for a few tweaks in your skin-care regimen or a complete product overhaul. And on the journey to unlocking your melanin’s full potential, no routine is set in stone.

To help you refresh your skin-care stash, we tapped three board-certified Black women dermatologists to let us in on their favorite products. Plus, the docs share tips for common skin woes, from dryness to discoloration, as well as powerhouse ingredients to prioritize.

1. Begin with the basics.

Gentle cleansers to try

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser ($18, cvs.com) or Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser ($29, laneige.com)

Thiamidol serums to try

Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum ($40, cvs.com) or Nivea Cellular Luminous 630 Anti-Dark Spot Advanced Treatment Serum ($30, amazon.com)

Azelaic acid products to try

Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster ($39, paulaschoice.com) or Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner with Azelaic Acid ($17, kohls.com)

Tinted sunscreen moisturizers to try

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 ($49, ulta.com) or Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 40 and Niacinamide ($48, sephora.com)

Micellar waters to try

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water ($5, cvs.com) or CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water ($15, ulta.com)

Alpha-hydroxy acid toners to try

Buttah Skin AHA/BHA Rosewater Toner ($21, ulta.com) or REN Clean Skincare Radiance Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic ($40, renskincare.com)

Before we get to the nitty-gritty, it’s important to note that everyone’s skin is unique. That’s why Ashley Patterson, a board-certified dermatologist at MetroDermin Atlanta, favors a more tailored approach to skin care over a one-size-fits-all regimen. But some things apply across the board. “At a minimum, I recommend applying a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen daily to any skin exposed to the sun, a hyaluronic acid serum for hydration and a retinoid to help with anti-aging,” Patterson says.

2. Treat and prevent hyperpigmentation.

According to Dara Spearman, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Radiant Dermatology Associates in Fort Wayne, Indiana, hyperpigmentation is the number one reason patients of color visit the dermatologist. A common concern among darker skin tones, hyperpigmentation often occurs following trauma, causing melanin-producing cells to make more pigment, thus leading to dark spots on the skin. “Consider brightening agents like niacinamide or kojic acid, as sun exposure often leads to hyperpigmentation,” Spearman says.

Other ingredients that target dark spots, according to Caroline Opene, medical director of the UCLA Health Skin of Color Clinic, include azelaic acid, tranexamic acid and thiamidol, “a new product that blocks melanin synthesis, thus clearing dark spots faster and reducing the likelihood of making new ones,” she explains.

Patterson recommends gentle exfoliation with over-the-counter products that contain alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids, which could effectively treat dark spots by revealing a more radiant complexion. She notes vitamin C and sun protection as key factors in achieving a more even skin tone.

3. Address skin changes and adjust accordingly.

None of us is spared the inevitability of aging, but there are steps you can take to maintain your melanin’s glow — just as long as you’re ready to embrace its changes. Take it from Patterson: “Accept that your skin may have different needs in this season of life and be open to adjusting your skin-care routine.” For instance, if dry skin is now a concern, Patterson recommends moisturizing creams that contain ceramides, shea butter or glycerin. She also credits plain petroleum jelly for its hydrating benefits, gentleness and affordability. Additionally, products with squalene can help lock in moisture, according to Spearman.

4. Trust the pros.

One of Spearman’s go-to facial cleansers is SkinCeuticals’ LHA Cleansing Gel ($38, skinceuticals.com) which helps control acne and hyperpigmentation. She also uses SkinCeuticals’ Silymarin CF ($182, skinceuticals.com), a vitamin C serum that helps keep acne at bay and smooths out her skin texture, and SkinCeuticals’ Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 sunscreen ($42, skinceuticals.com).

(From left) Image Skincare's AGELESS+ Retinol Overnight Masque 0.5% Retinol, RoC - Line Smoothing, Daily Cleansing Pads, 28 Ct

AARP (Image Skincare, Target)

At night, she reaches for ROC’s Line Smoothing Daily Cleansing Pads ($19, target.com) to gently exfoliate and remove makeup as well as SkinMedica's Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads ($60, skinmedica.com) which she says are “super crucial” to treating hyperpigmentation and even helps with acne.

If her skin is feeling extra dry, she’ll apply SkinCeuticals’ Hydrating B5 Gel ($90, skinceuticals.com) , a serum formulated with hyaluronic acid that she typically uses during the day. To maintain that youthful glow, she uses Image Skincare's AGELESS+ Retinol Overnight Masque 0.5% Retinol Complex ($96, imageskincare.com) , as it offers a sufficient amount of hydration, while strengthening the skin barrier and visibly plumping the skin, she says.

(From left) Fresh’s Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence; Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion with SPF 30; Eucerin's Immersive Hydration Face Night Cream

AARP (Kohl’s; Target, 2)

Some of Patterson’s picks include Fresh’s Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence ($39, kohls.com), which is rich in antioxidants to safeguard her skin from pollutants, SkinMedica’s Instant Bright Eye Cream ($92, dermstore.com) to reduce dark circles and Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion with SPF 30 ($21, target.com). At night, she applies a prescription topical retinoid to reduce acne and signs of aging, as well as Eucerin’s Immersive Hydration Face Night Cream ($21, target.com).

(From left) CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser; Buttah Skin AHA/BHA Rosewater Toner; Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner with Azelaic Acid

AARP (CVS, 2; Ulta; Kohl’s)

Opene opts for a gentle cleanser or brightening cleanser in the morning to “remove impurities,” followed by a thiamidol serum to fade dark spots, azelaic acid (another ingredient that treats hyperpigmentation) and a moisturizer to “minimize irritation from medications.” She’ll then apply (and reapply throughout the day) a tinted sunscreen moisturizer, which she says protects the skin from blue light and UV light.

Before washing her face at night, she’ll go in with micellar water to wipe off sunscreen, makeup and oil. “A few nights a week, I use an alpha-hydroxy acid … toner for gentle exfoliation,” Opene says. “The rest of the nights, I’ll apply my prescription-strength retinoid tazarotene … that keeps my breakouts at bay and reduces dark spots and has added anti-aging benefits.”

Consult with a board-certified dermatologist before incorporating new products into your skin-care routine.

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Anissa Gabbara writes about beauty, health, lifestyle and pop culture. Her work has appeared in Sisters From AARP, Sesi magazine and Maple City Our Town magazine.