The most important step to taking for your skin is first knowing your specific skin type and the factors that can affect the way it looks. In general, there are four main skin types: normal, combination, oily and dry. Sensitive and acne-prone skin are skin conditions often mistaken for skin types. Any one of the four skin types can be sensitive, acne-prone, or both! Understanding your skin will help you select the right products suited for your body’s largest organ. Here are some ways to identify which category your skin falls into and how to take care of it:
NORMAL SKIN
Normal skin is well-balanced – not too oily and not too dry. It is far less prone to breakouts, flakiness, and tightness. Generally speaking, people with normal skin have small pores and tend to experience almost no sensitivity to new products and weather changes. What does that mean for skincare? Well, this lucky group of people has the luxury of having fun and experimenting with different skincare products and ingredients till they find what works best for them!
Although people with normal skin types may not be very sensitive to weather conditions, it is advised they transition their skincare regimen with the changing seasons. During the dry seasons (Autumn and Winter), it is recommended they look for products with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and petrolatum. During the warm seasons (Spring and Summer), if their skin tends to produce more oil, they often make the mistake of excessively washing their face. This ultimately dries the skin and causes it to produce more oil to compensate. Instead, they should move to products with a higher alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) concentration (e.g. citric acid or lactic acid) or even products with beta hydroxy acids (BHA), like salicylic acid, that go deeper into the pores and remove excess oil.
COMBINATION SKIN
Combination skin is commonly described with an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry or normal cheeks. For people who are having trouble figuring out their skin types, it is likely combination. This can be tricky since you have to address two problems, but the solution is simple: balance. You want to use non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) ingredients because combination skin tends to have larger pores and breakouts, especially in the T-zone area. Consider oil-free products with cell-stimulating ingredients like AHA and BHA that remove excess oils and visibly tighten your pores. Do not f
DRY SKIN
Dry skin generally feels dehydrated, tight, and flaky. It is mainly due to genetics, hormones, weather, lifestyle, and diet. People with this skin type should drink more water and cut their caffeine and alcohol intake since the condition is mainly due to dehydration and these diuretics can significantly affect the way your skin looks and feels. Now although long steamy showers feel fantastic, they can do more harm than good when it comes to your skin, and this is especially true for dry skin. Hot showers can strip your skin of natural, ‘good’ oils necessary for skin health and hydration. Stick to shorter baths and showers, once a day, with lukewarm water and your skin will definitely thank you!
When your face feels too dry, the last thing you probably want to do is wash it. However, choosing the right cleanser will change the way you feel about this essential step in your skin regime. Gentle cleansers, specifically formulated for dry skin, are designed to exfoliate and remove impurities without stripping moisture, and some may even provide hydrating effects. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera that provide long-lasting hydration and avoid cleansers with soaps, alcohol, and fragrances that are known to cause dryness.
When seeing flaky skin, it may be tempting to exfoliate it off with a scrub… DON’T. Scrubbing and rubbing can cause irritation and abrasion for dry skin. You can use a chemical exfoliator once a week, or simply find an exfoliating face wash with AHA, like lactic acid and malic acid, that exfoliate the surface without stripping the skin of natural moisture. Now to give your skin the hydration it needs, choosing the right moisturizer is paramount. The ingredient rules for this are similar to cleansers, but another important ingredient to keep an eye out for in your moisturizer is vitamin E. This powerful antioxidant provides countless benefits from fighting free radicals and inflammation to improving the skin’s protective barrier and locking in moisture. People with dry skin should consider adding a Vitamin E serum to their night-time skincare routine because it reduces flakiness and dryness while also acting as an anti-aging treatment. The eye area is more sensitive than other parts of your face, so it can get a lot drier too. Be sure to use a hydrating eye cream or eye serum, every morning and evening, to moisturize the delicate area and prevent wrinkles.
OILY SKIN
Oily skin produces higher amounts of sebum, an oily substance created to keep the skin soft and hydrated. This excess oil production expands the size of the skin’s pores, making them more visible, and results in acne breakouts, blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules. The most important step for this skin type’s regime is exfoliation, and the best ingredient for that is salicylic acid (BHA). Unlike AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, etc.) that only exfoliate the surface of the skin, salicylic acid penetrates through the skin’s lipid barrier and deep into the pores to quickly remove excess sebum and dead cells. This magic ingredient is found in exfoliating cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and serums, so keep an eye out and make sure to include it in your skincare regime. Look for an AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser to use every morning and evening, and sweep on a toner afterward to reduce surface oil and control shine. Find oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic products, and don’t forget to hydrate. Those with oily skin tend to believe they do not need a moisturizer, but skipping this essential step can signal oil glands to start producing more sebum, resulting in even oiler skin. Find a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin soft and properly hydrated.
People with oily skin are fortunate when it comes to aging. They genetically have thicker skin, which means increased collagen and elastin, leading to firmer skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. However, this skin type is not exempt from other features associated with premature aging, like uneven texture and hyperpigmentation, often caused by acne scars. To target these imperfections, an important ingredient to include in your skincare regime is vitamin C. This potent anti-oxidant promotes tissue regeneration and evens out your skin tone to create a brighter complexion. You definitely want to usewant use a vitamin C serum with a concentration higher the 8% for maximum effectiveness, but less than 20% to avoid irritation.
Don't forget to moisturize! This step is essential to maintaining your skin’s balance and protective barrier. Keep in mind, people with combination skin are more likely to experience dryness around the eye area so be sure to use hydrating eye creams or serums every morning and evening.
