Keep Black froom Cracking .....

Keep Black from Cracking

We asked Rolanda Johnson, Ph.D, senior scientist at Proctor & Gamble (home of brands such as Olay and Pantene) to tell us what three things Black women need to know about keeping our skin hydrating.

1. You need to moisturize even if you have oily skin.
"When we moisturize our skin, we are typically adding humectants like glycerin to help draw water in and hold it in the outer most cellular layers of our skin. In oily skin, the glands are producing excess sebum or oil. [So] in this case, we would recommend a moisturizer that also has oil-controlling benefits to help maintain the balance of hydration and perceived oiliness. Mattifying moisturizers are ideal."

2. Your skin loses water at night.
"At night, the skin is in its restorative mode working to replenish all the essential things that were damaged or lost during the day. Water is essential to those biological functions, so the skin is drawing on its own resources of water more than in the daytime." Nighttime is an ideal time to treat skin with a hydrating moisturizer. Try Olay Definity Night Restorative Sleep Cream ($30, CVS.com)

3. Hydration actually can get better as we age.
"It is generally assumed that skin dryness increases with age. However, data shows that as we age, hydration can increase on the face in areas such as the cheeks and forehead. On the other hand, sebum secretion goes down in your 30s or 40s."