No word of a Lie… I stumbled across Dr. Barbara Strum’s skincare line on Pinterest because aesthetically pleasing photographs of skincare mean a lot to me.

I saw the line “Darker Skin Tones” on the packaging and was immediately intrigued. Then I did some online digging and learned that the one and only Angela Bassett influenced Dr. Strum to develop a line for Darker Skin Tones after using her products for years. We all have seen Angela Bassett’s skin. So you already know I was ready to indulge.

I was in London at the time, so I just did a quick Google search to see if there was a slight possibility that I might be able to find her skincare line in Selfridges or Sephora, only to find out that she has a standalone store and SPA within walking distance of my hotel in Mayfair. The universe worked its magic and just made it happen.

Sadly, the darker skin tones line was all sold out (the way I gasped), but the fantastic clinician - whose skin was terrific, btw - helped me purchase a few items to start after asking me a few questions about my skin and what I was looking to achieve.

Here’s a list of my Dr. Barbara Strum starter pack:

Hyaluronic Acid - will help me get through my travels in London and New York & give me an extra boost of hydration when I arrive in Trinidad & Tobago
The Good C Vitamin C Serum - for targeting hyperpigmentation and brightening the skin
Sun Drops SPF 50 - guaranteed to not leave a white cast on the skin (and it doesn’t! !)
Night Serum - the clinician recommended this, and I didn’t hesitate because who doesn't want a serum to repair your skin while you sleep

As a bonus, I received a full-size bottle of the Balancing Scalp Serum - I'm not sure how I feel about this just yet, but I love how lightweight it is on my scalp.

I was also reassured that I didn’t need to buy the whole line all at once and that the serums worked in tandem with any cleanser, which means I wouldn’t have to throw away any existing cleansers and moisturizers and I could phase out products as I see fit.

I noticed a change in the texture of my skin after day five and was SOLD.

I decided to see if I could find the Darker Skin Tones line at their flagship in New York, but they were also sold out (*SCREAMS IN FRUSTRATION*), so I just purchased the Enzyme Cleanser because I needed a physical exfoliant anyway. The Enzyme Cleanser reminds me a lot of the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. It is gentle on my skin and leaves my skin squeaky clean. I've been using it three times a week for the past two weeks, and so far, so good.

Of course, it’s HELLA PRICEY, but honestly, when your goal is minimal makeup, I think it’s only fitting to invest in the proper skincare.

I periodically keep my eyes out for the Darker Skin Tones set, which is currently sold out, but until then, I am super happy with my purchases, and I'm excited to see the results with more consistent use.

Would you try Dr. Barbara Strum's skincare?

Discovery: Dr. Barbara Strum Skincare