Ready for Our Close-Up

A better-late-than-never focus on darker skin is changing the skincare game, explains beauty editor-at-large

- Julee Wilson.

Eadem Cashmere Peel Gentle Exfoliating AHA Toner, $42, sephora.​com

One of my favorite cultural sayings is "Black don't crack," a not-so-humble flex about the fact that melanin-rich skin is more resistant to signs of aging. Sure, we know we can get wrinkles, but that often happens later and less noticeably-than it does to our fairer-skinned friends.

As always, though, there's a catch: The same traits that keep deeper skin tones smoother for longer make them more susceptible to producing too much melanin, a condition called hyperpigmentation. It can appear differently for each of us but often takes the form of dark spots or patches, caused by things like acne, eczema, hormonal changes, cuts or burns, excess sun exposure, and abrasive products or treatments.