Dr. Barbara Sturm

While we know melanin makes a significant contribution to Angela Bassett’s gorgeous skin, the actress is sharing her secret: Dr. Barbara Sturm.

The German dermatologist and the American Horror Story actress have come together to create a line to tackle inflammation, dark spots, and acne—all geared to women with darker complexions. Aptly named Darker Skin Tones by Dr. Barbara Sturm, the range consists of an enzyme cleanser, a foam cleanser, a two face creams (one a thicker, richer formula than the other), and a hyaluronic serum that will hit Harrods exclusively in July for $58 for a cleanser to $335 for the serum. The price point might be explained by the line’s main ingredient, purslane. It contains a telomerase activator youth enzyme that Dr. Strum says has a multitude of properties to protect skin cells’ DNA from age-related damage. “The telomerase activates an enzyme to keep those ends of the chromosomes long, which actually works against natural programmed cell death and that’s the key,” she explained to Women’s Wear Daily. “So not only do we have anti-inflammation and the evening out of skin tone but also a big thing for anti-aging.”

The skincare collection saw its start when the pair first met and Bassett shared some of her skin woes like acne and irritation. “It’s not as if I would see bad acne. I wouldn’t characterize her as having acne, but over a course of years, there were always these spots that would never lighten. There is a difference between brown and black, and in the end it would never lighten,” Sturm said. “Since African-American, or skin of color, problems [revolve] mainly [around] inflammation that is why I especially took care in this range. It has real ingredients, which are scientifically shown to address inflammation.”

They spent two years on the spinoff line for Dr. Sturm’s anti-aging range that also uses purslane to bring out the best in brown skin. Bassett used those closest to her to test-drive the new line, even recruiting her assistant and her nanny to see how it would affect hyperpigmentation. Both Bassett and Sturm want to see people become more aware of their skin and how they treat it. “See what is good for it and ingredients that are helpful — and not invasive or irritating,” Bassett told the trade. “I like them to be pleased when they look in the mirror, to feel good about themselves and the condition of their complexion.”

It’s refreshing to see more companies catering to people of color who are often ignored on the shelves, given that many skincare brands skew towards the lighter end of the spectrum. And though the price point sounds scary now, the pair are already working on a more affordable iteration to ensure the younger generation can focus on prevention and not repair. Sturm said, “We have to find something just a little more affordable and start at an early age and give them something that they don’t even have to deal with the symptoms in later age.”