Methods and compositions useful for treating Fitzpatrick type IV, V or VI skin

A method of treating skin of an individual with Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV, V, or VI having:

• (i) dry skin due to deficient ceramide production;
• (ii) dead cells and debris on skin surface;
• (iii) skin that has an oily, shiny appearance due to excessive sebum production;
• and (iv) an ashy, chalky skin tone comprising administering to the skin of a person having Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV, V, or VI a composition comprising effective amounts of (a) a moisturizing agent that replenishes ceramide on the skin surface and/or enhances ceramide production in skin cells selected from the group consisting of Ceramide 1, Ceramide 2, Ceramide 3, Rosmarinus officinalis extract, rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, ascorbic acid, esters of ascorbic acid, wheat germ, barley extract, shea butter, and mixtures thereof;
• and (b) a desquamating agent selected from the group consisting of acetyl glucosamine, Castanea sativa extract, salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, maltobionic acid, gluconolactone, Acacia Senegal gum, Salix alba bark extract, yeast extract, glucono-heptono lactone, D-mannose-6-phosphate, polylysine, mushroom extract, galactoarabinan, sodium cholesterol sulfate, N-lactoyl phytosphingosine, forskolin, Coleus barbatus extract, phytic acid, cysteamine lactate, mandelic acid, hydroxylauric acid, and mixtures thereof;
• and (c) a mattifying agent that reduces sebum production in skin cells and/or absorbs sebum produced by skin cells selected from the group consisting of a silicone elastomer, Serenoa serrulata extract, NDGA, and mixtures thereof;
• and (d) an agent that increases skin luminosity selected from the group consisting of silica, fluorescent glass, polyvinylalcohol crosspolymer, fluorescent brighteners, disodium distyrylbenzene sulfonate, polydodecaamideaminium triazadiphenylethenesulfate, HDI/PPG/polycaprolactone crosspolymer mica, boron nitride, nylon, and mixtures thereof wherein the composition containing combined amounts of ingredients (a)-(d) is effective to moisturize, desquamate, mattify, and improve skin luminosity in an individual in need thereof.