PENDA SARR

Hyperpigmentation is perhaps one of the most common skin conditions, especially for people whose skin produces more melanin.  I myself s...

Hyperpigmentation is perhaps one of the most common skin conditions, especially for people whose skin produces more melanin.  I myself struggle with hyperpigmentation, and many people I know do too.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when areas of our skin darken after inflammation, breakouts, or exposure to the sun. Treating hyperpigmentation is definitely a difficult task, but with consistency and the right products and routine, you can get rid of it much more easily.

1) Face acids (exfoliation)

Face acids work by exfoliating the top layer of your skin. Exfoliation will help your skin shed  and allow for new skin cells to form. This will in turn help even out your skin tone, and reduce scarring. The best face acids are AHA's (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA's (beta hydroxy acids). If you're dealing with mild to severe hyperpigmentation, you should try to incorporate acids such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, mandelic acid, or lactic acid into your routine. For best results, only use these acids 2-3 times a week, preferably at night.

Out of the ones mentioned, salicylic acid and glycolic acid are the strongest(and the best to use if you have acne-prone skin). If you are first starting out with them, I would say to use it maybe once a week for about 2-3 weeks, and then start to exfoliate more regularly. If you have sensitive skin and want acids that are less strong, try mandelic or lactic acid. The Ordinary carries a lot of these AHA's, so if you're interested in getting some, check out their website:https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-glycolic-acid-7pct-toning-solution-240ml?redir=1.

2)  Retinoids 

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are another way to treat hyperpigmentation. Retinoids penetrate deep into your skin and can therefore provide effective results. A popular retinoid that you don't need a prescription for is Differin(it treats acne and hyperpigmentation). If you do want another type of retinoid, you'll need a prescription from a dermatologist.

3)  Chemical peels

If you want something stronger that will produce great results, definitely start doing chemical peels. Chemical peels use strong acids and they reduce hyperpigmentation by removing the epidermis(if you have inflamed and irritated skin, avoid chemical peels until you heal). These are powerful and bring great and quick results. Chemical peels cause your skin to be extremely sensitive to the sun, so after doing one, you should stay away from sunlight for a few days. Also, don't ever try to do a chemical peel by yourself at home, it should always be with a licensed individual.

4) Wear sunscreen daily

All of the treatments mentioned in this post make your skin sensitive to the sun, so it's important so wear sunscreen. Not wearing sunscreen can actually make your hyperpigmentation worse. So, always make sure to wear sunscreen daily, and re-apply it every hour. Here are some good sunscreens you can use:

Supergoop Unscreen Sunscreen (https://www.sephora.com/product/unseen-sunscreen-broad-spectrum-spf-40-P428094)

Black Girl Sunscreen (https://www.blackgirlsunscreen.com/product/black-girl-sunscreen-spf-30/)

Glossier Invisible Shield (https://www.glossier.com/products/invisible-shield?g_campaign=US_Google_Shopping&g_campaignid=2047147846&g_adgroupid=72089136203&g_adid=358363440181&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=pla-293946777986&g_adtype=&g_merchantid=107339476&g_productchannel=online&g_productid=ISH-000-00-01&g_partition=293946777986&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq9itsuCj5AIVwp-zCh1jJAqPEAQYASABEgKnkPD_BwE)

Thank you for reading, I hope this was helpful!

Connect with me:

Instagram: @pendasarr
Email: sarr.penda@gmail.com

Do you ever get a random breakout or irritated skin immediately after you wear makeup? If yes, the ingredients in your products may be the ...

Do you ever get a random breakout or irritated skin immediately after you wear makeup? If yes,
the ingredients in your products may be the culprit. Makeup products have many ingredients and chemicals in them, and some of then aren't always best for our skin.

I've put together a list of the top ingredients you should avoid in makeup. These are detrimental to our skin, and can cause some other issues down the line.

1) Parabens

Parabens are common preservatives found in a lot of the products we use: soaps, lotions, and yes, makeup. Parabens tend to cause hormonal imbalances, which can lead to breakouts. If you see this ingredient on a label, stay away from it.

2) Artificial Fragrance/Parfum

Artifical fragrances/parfums are very irritating to the skin because they're full of allergens, irritants and endocrine disruptors. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, fragrance may be making things worse. Try to opt for products that don't have any added scents to it, and see if that makes a difference.

3) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate(SLS)

SLS is a foaming agent and a surfactant. This ingredient tends to cause skin irritation and allergies. SLS has also been known to disrupt the oil balance in our skin and cause cystic acne, another reason why we should avoid it.

4) Talc & Silica

Talc and silica are minerals that are found in almost every single makeup product used for the face (primer, foundation, concealer, powders, etc).  Both of these minerals absorb oil, and help your makeup stick better to your face. They aren't that bad compared to other ingredients, but if you have dry or acne-prone skin, you should avoid it.

5) Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a popular silicone which is also found in many makeup products. Silicones smooth the face and improve your texture (but only for a short period of time). However, silicones also trap debris in your face, dehydrate your skin, and they can contribute to acne and congestion. They also block other ingredients from absorbing into your skin so keep it an eye out for it when purchasing new items.

I hope this was helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram(@pendasarr) or email me at: sarr.penda@gmail.com

Hey guys, I hope you’re all doing well! After working on my previous post, which focused on all of the outfits I’ve been wearing throughout...

Plus, I love how the colors in the backdrop bring out my complexion. Hashtag brown skin girl ;)

Hey everyone! I hope your summer is going well and that wherever you are in the world, you're getting some sunshine! I had done a comp...

Hey everyone! I hope your summer is going well and that wherever you are in the world, you're getting some sunshine!

I had done a compilation of the outfits I wore during my Christmas holiday and it was a success, so I figured I'd do one with all of my summer 2019 looks so far. Hopefully this gives you guys some ideas and a bit of inspiration :).

Look 1:

This was one of the first looks I wore this summer. I was actually going through my closet and playing dress up (I'm sure many girls reading this can relate) and thought to myself "hmm I always pair black with white or black with red, never white and red" ; that's basically  how I came up with the outfit. I wanted something somewhat chic and casual so I wore this dress shirt with one of my  favorite pair of red pants. To keep the classy theme going, I finished the look with a pair strappy heels, medium-sized gold earrings, and a multi-color clutch.

Outfit details:

Top and pants: Zara

Shoes: Simmi

Earrings: Thrifted

Bag: Fendi

Look 2:

This is one of my favorite outfits simply because I wore it on my first day back in Senegal.  I left for Dakar at the end of June and of course, your day of arrival is always super tiring so I wanted to wear something casual. Of course, I still had to go visit some family and friends so I elevated my look by pairing my white t-shirt with mom jeans and cute wooden-heeled green sandals. Since I hadn't really unpacked all of my stuff, I took the first bag I could find, which was this vintage Gucci boat bag. I randomly took it out of my suitcase and fortunately, it ended up looking super cute with my outfit!







Outfit details:

T-shirt: H&M

Jeans: Pretty Little Thing

Shoes: Zara

Bag: H&m

Look 3:

I hadn't spent a summer in Senegal in about 3 years so I really forgot how hot and humid it could get. During the early afternoon(when the sun is at its peak), I would usually wear frivolous and comfortable clothing like this two-piece set that I put together. The wide-legged mustard pants are one of my favorite, and the fact that I had a bodysuit to match it made me even happier. I didn't want to fully do a monochromatic look though, so I threw on some red mules to break the color scheme a bit.



Bodysuit: Pretty Little Thing

Pants: Forever 21

Shoes: Mango

Gold hoops: Madewell

Look 4:

Of course, I had to do a look with some African prints. This is one of my favorite wax tops/jackets; it's so versatile, you can wear it for any kind of occasion, whether it be during the day or night. I was going to a late lunch and then drinks on this particular day, so I paired the wrap top with a black culotte(culottes are great because you can easily move around in them). Also, you know I'm all about matching, so I wore my red mules since the jacket has red flowers on it.




                              (I was so happy because I ate such a good meal haha)


Outfit details:

Wax top: Indigo

Culottes: Zara

Shoes: Mango

Bag: Burberry

Look 5:

This was one of my off-days. I didn't have much to do except run a bit of errands so I wore this cute little cotton black dress. Surprisingly, I got a lot of compliments on it which I didn't expect at all because it's really simple, but I guess sometimes the simpler, the better. I tried every sandal I brought with me but nothing looked as nice as my black heeled ones, so I opted for that in the end.





Outfit details:

Dress: H&M

Shoes: Zara

Look 6:

While most of my outfits fall within the preppy/casual chic side, I do sometimes go for a more sporty/streetwear look. I tend to do that when I have really long and busy days; those are the days I usually throw on a bodysuit, pair it with some skinny jeans and of course, some nice and comfy sneakers like in the look below. The shoes I'm wearing in this picture are probably the most comfortable pair I own. Seriously, it's like you're walking on a soft cushion 24/7.




I started my day off with brunch and after that I had a photoshoot, so you can definitely tell there's a difference between these pictures and the ones above haha!



Look 7:

Black and white are some of my favorite colors so of course, I love mixing the two. I had just gotten a pair of new earrings from the brand Imaara Jewelry(https://www.instagram.com/imaarajewelry/?hl=en) and I really wanted to wear them. To keep things simply and classy, I wore this beautiful white blouse, my black culottes, and wooden-heeled black mules. I wanted everything to match so I finished the look with my vintage Chanel bag (don't you just love when everything looks great together haha) and of course, the white and gold earrings.






They are honestly one of the most beautiful pair I own, and I love the fact that they were handmade by a Senegalese woman. I'm all about supporting African female entrepreneurs and Imaara definitely did not disappoint.



Outfit details:

Top: H&M

Culottes and Shoes : Zara

Bag: Chanel

Earrings: Imaara Jewelry

Look 8:

I can't believe there was ever a time where I hated wearing orange. Because I'm not fully used to it, I do have trouble wearing the color regularly. But for some reason, whenever I'm in Dakar, it's easier to do. I've had this wrap top for a few months now, I was just waiting for the perfect occasion to wear it haha. Initially, I wanted to do a fully monochromatic look but I don't own orange pants (I'll get some soon); I figured white and orange would be nice together, and it ended up being the case. To accessorize, I wore a bangle from Marc Jacobs that I've had for years now, and my favorite gold hoops from the brand Madewell.