Part I: How Your Skin Is Shaped by Where You’re From
Skin Deep: How Geography, Culture, and Ancestry Shape Your Skin And Why It Deserves More Than One-Size-Fits-All Advice
How Geography, Culture, and Ancestry Shape Your Skin And Why It Deserves More Than One-Size-Fits-All Advice
Your skin isn’t just a reflection of your routine — it’s a reflection of your roots.
It’s shaped by your geography, your ancestry, your climate, your stress, and your culture. It remembers the sun your grandparents stood under, the food passed down in your family, the air you breathe, and the pressures you’ve lived through. But most skincare advice out there? It ignores all of that. It’s built for one skin tone, one temperature, and one idea of beauty.
That’s why so many of us feel like we’re doing everything “right” and still not getting results. Because the advice we’re following isn’t built for our context.
So let’s break it down. This article explores how where you’re from shapes your skin and what that means for how you care for it.
What Shapes Your Skin?
There are two major categories: internal factors and external forces.
Internal: genetics, hormones, melanin levels, collagen density, age, ancestral adaptations
External: climate, sun exposure, altitude, humidity, air quality, and cultural practices
Together, they shape how oily or dry your skin is, how it reacts to inflammation, how fast it shows signs of aging, and how it heals after breakouts.
This is why two people using the exact same product can get completely different results. Their skin stories — and skin needs — are completely different.
Skin by Region: A Deeper Look
Let’s explore how your environment and ancestry impact your skin — and how you can care for it better, not harder.
Africa & the Diaspora
Melanin-rich skin is a powerful defense, but not without its vulnerabilities.
Skin with more melanin evolved to protect against high UV radiation. That melanin offers a natural shield against sun damage and photoaging. But it also means that inflammation can leave behind dark marks (PIH) that take much longer to fade.
People of African descent also often have:
A thicker dermis, which adds strength but increases the likelihood of keloids or raised scars
Lower ceramide levels, which make skin more prone to dryness or ashiness
Care tips: Focus on rich, hydrating products with ceramides or fatty acids. Use sun protection daily — not because of “sunburn,” but to prevent uneven tone and long-term inflammation. Gentle actives like niacinamide or azelaic acid can help with dark spots without irritation.
East & Southeast Asia
Skin here tends to be sensitive, less oily, and highly reactive to the environment.
A thinner barrier and lower sebum production mean this skin type is more easily affected by pollution, harsh products, and dry seasonal changes. There’s also a long-standing cultural emphasis on skin clarity and brightness, leading to centuries of use of calming ingredients like rice water, licorice root, and green tea.
Common concerns include:
Melasma and sun spots
Redness and sensitivity
Dehydration, even in oily skin
Care tips: Avoid aggressive exfoliation. Prioritize hydration in layers — think toners, essences, emulsions. Use antioxidants like green tea or centella to fight pollution, and brightening agents that soothe instead of irritate.
South Asia
South Asian skin is beautifully diverse — and often misunderstood.
This skin type often produces more oil, but still suffers from dehydration and sensitivity. Hot, humid climates and diets high in dairy or spice can trigger acne and inflammation. And because of high melanin, even small breakouts often leave hyperpigmentation behind.
Common patterns:
Adult acne
Melasma or dark patches from the sun
Sensitivity to over-the-counter treatments
Care tips: Focus on oil balance and inflammation support. Zinc, turmeric (in gentle formulations), rosehip oil, and azelaic acid can all help. Sunscreen is a must — both to prevent pigmentation and protect from deeper damage. Stay away from overly harsh scrubs or peels.
Europe
Fairer skin, especially in colder regions, comes with its own set of challenges.
With less melanin, this skin is highly sensitive to UV damage and premature aging. It also tends to be drier, especially in places with long winters, indoor heating, or high winds. Rosacea and eczema are more common in Northern and Eastern European populations.
Frequent concerns include:
Fine lines and sun spots
Dryness and flaking
Reactive skin barrier
Care tips: Use gentle, protective moisturizers (glycerin, oat, lanolin), rich creams in winter, and SPF year-round — even in cloudy weather. Avoid overusing actives like retinoids unless your skin is prepped for them. Hydration and barrier repair should come first.
Latin America
Latin American skin reflects one of the most diverse genetic mixes in the world.
With Afro-Latin, Indigenous, and European ancestry often blending, skin types vary widely, but high humidity, strong UV, and urban pollution are common environmental factors. As a result, melasma, acne, and congestion are common concerns, especially when heavier products are used.
This skin is also deeply connected to traditional herbal remedies and natural rituals — think aloe, calendula, and chamomile.
Care tips: Look for lightweight, breathable moisturizers. Use tranexamic acid or niacinamide for pigmentation. Multitask with masks for different zones (T-zone vs cheeks). And don’t underestimate the power of botanicals rooted in cultural wisdom — they’ve been working for generations.
Culturally Ambiguous
Skin that blends heritages — and breaks the mold.
Culturally ambiguous people often have mixed ancestry: African and Asian, Arab and European, Indigenous and Caribbean, or some combination that defies standard labels. Your skin might not act like your parents’ or match the skincare advice targeted at any one ethnicity.
And if you were born in one place, raised in another, and now live somewhere else?
Your skin is navigating that too.
Frequent experiences:
Oiliness in one area, flaking in another
Pigmentation that doesn’t behave “by the book”
Reactive skin from climate or water changes
Frustration from not seeing yourself in skincare language
Care tips:
Customize everything. Use different products for different areas. Build a versatile, travel-friendly routine that can handle change — hyaluronic acid for hydration, azelaic acid for pigmentation, and barrier-focused moisturizers that adapt across environments. Avoid rigid product categories. Embrace cultural rituals from all sides of your lineage. Your skin doesn’t need to pick a side — it is the side.
So Why Does This Matter?
Because when you understand your context, you stop blaming your skin for being “difficult.”
You realize your skin isn’t broken, it’s adapted. It’s responding to your history, your climate, your ancestry, and your lived experience.
What to Take Away
Your skin is an ecosystem, not a problem.
Trends don’t always serve you, especially when they’re built on Eurocentric skin types or influencer routines.
Context matters more than hype. Your melanin levels, climate, and stress patterns should shape what goes on your shelf.
Your skin isn’t trying to frustrate you — it’s trying to protect you.
Your Skin Is a Reflection, Not a Flaw
Your skin carries your story.
It remembers where you’re from. What you’ve survived. The expectations you’ve inherited. The seasons your body has lived through.
Understanding your skin isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about learning to listen.
So the next time you shop for a serum, pause.
Ask yourself:
“What has my skin been through and what does it need now?”
That’s what Skin Deep means.
Not just how we treat our skin, but how we learn to see it.
Coming Up: Part Two — Living Between Worlds
Understanding where your skin comes from is just the beginning.
In Part Two, we’ll dive deeper into the external forces that shape your skin in real time.