Introduction: Facial Skincare is Self-Care—But It Hasn’t Always Been Inclusive Booking your first facial is an exciting milestone. It signals a deeper commitment to caring for your skin and carving out time for rest, luxury, and self-preservation. But for Black women, the process comes with extra considerations. Too often, skincare spaces are designed without us in mind. From products formulated with harsh actives that cause hyperpigmentation to estheticians who aren’t trained on melanin-rich skin, we’ve had to navigate a world that treats our skin as an afterthought. At Velvet Melanin, we believe your first facial should feel empowering, not intimidating.…