Show your true colors

Wear sunscreen daily—even if it's cloudy out, even if you're indoors most of the day and even if your skin is naturally dark. (In fact, the latest stats show rising rates of skin cancer in African Americans and Hispanics.) Look for a noncomedogenic product that protects against UVA and UVB rays, says Los Angeles dermatologist Naissan O. Wesley, M.D.SHOP NOW: Shiseido Sunscreen, from $20

Celebrity makeup artist Saisha Beechman recommends trading in heavy foundations for a tinted moisturizer. It makes skin look revived and refreshed, but doesn't change the tone, she says. Her favorite? Yves Saint Laurent's Teint Parfait Complexion Enhancer.SHOP NOW: Teint Parfait Complexion Enhancer, $42

Beechman recommends using a copper-toned blush, which highlights cheekbones subtly, on African American skin. She's a fan of NYX's copper blush, a drugstore find that has just enough color.SHOP NOW: NYX Blush in Copper, $6

Illuminating creams have toned down their disco-ball shine in recent years, and Beechman recommends using one to enhance your skin's radiance without going overboard. She suggests lightly applying a product (such as MAC's Strobe Cream) to the T-zone and the tops of the cheeks.SHOP NOW: MAC Strobe Cream, $30

Regular exfoliation is key to achieving a smooth, even complexion, says Wesley. While microdermabrasion and acid-based facials certainly do the trick, Clarisonic's new Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head is an easy at-home way to slough dry skin that could be causing your skin's discoloration.SHOP NOW: Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System, $149

Too-harsh topical products and chemical peels can actually lead to pigment problems and uneven skin tone, especially for women of color, says Wesley. Instead, she recommends products that are gentler on skin. We like this super-nourishing Benefit cream.SHOP NOW: Benefit Total Moisture Cream Facial Cream, $38

Whitening creams may sound scary, but they actually work as radiance boosters that help fade dark spots on most skin types. DiorSnow, a new brightening treatment collection, actually slows down melanocytes, the skin's pigment-producing cells that can cause a splotchy complexion.SHOP NOW: White Reveal Fresh Crème, $90