What is my skin type?
The biggest question, that’s if you want to have a healthy skin, should be, What is my skin type. This way it’s easier to create a skin routine that actually works.
There are five main skin types
Oily, Normal, Combination, Dry, and Sensitive. They all come with distinct set of benefits and challenges. While everyone needs the basic essentials, the best formulas for each skin type will vary immensely. Understanding where your skin falls on the skin type spectrum is therefore key if you want to build an effective routine.
Dry Skin: Simply put, dull looking skin that doesn’t have enough oil and may look lackluster and can feel tight. While it’s opposite, Oily Skin is easily identified by a high production of sebum, the skin’s natural oil. This excess makes the skin appear more shiny and or greasier than normal. It is the breeding ground for skin concerns like blackheads and enlarged pores. As clogged pores are a major contributor to breakouts, those with oily skin may also be prone to breakouts.
Combination Skin:
This skin type features two or more different skin types on the face, and the condition of your skin may fluctuate between seasons. Typically, the combination skin type is characterized by dry, flaking skin on the cheeks, while excessive oil and shine appears on other areas of the face.
Those with combination skin are in a constant battle with their T-Zone area, the forehead, nose, and chin.
- The appearance of larger pores: If you have oily patches, you may have noticed the pores in these areas look larger. As the sebaceous glands under the skin produce excess sebum (the oily substance that makes your skin look shiny), your pores can become blocked by dead skin cells, causing sebum to build up and enlarge your pores.
- Shiny skin: Those with combination skin experience shine on at least one portion of their face. For most, this shine is most prevalent in the T-Zone, and occurs because of excess oil production.
- Blackheads and whiteheads: When oil becomes trapped in your pores, it mixes with dead skin cells and other debris, causing a plug. When this plug is open to the air, it causes a blackhead; when it’s closed, it results in the formation of a whitehead.
- You deal with dry patches and acne breakouts at the same time, or simultaneously, you’re likely dealing with combination skin.
Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin is characterized by a heightened sensitivity to stressors which can sometimes be skincare products. Sensitivity varies some people may only experience mild irritation when exposed, while others struggle with constant redness and itching. How to identify if this is your skin type.
If you have sensitive skin, you probably notice that soaps, detergents, fragrances, perfumes, skincare products, and household products may cause your skin to react whether it may be itchiness, dryness or reddening.
Most people with sensitive skin deal redness, it can be rashes, red bumps, blushing and flushing, or even red dilated blood vessels. Usually, the redness will go away after removing the irritant or with minor treatment.
Dry skin and sensitive skin can go hand-in-hand. It can lead to acne breakouts and cracked skin. You will likely have more problems with dry skin in cold, dry weather and when exposed to wind. Using a gentle moisturizer and protecting your skin from the elements can help fight it.
Sensitive skin may react with a red, dry, flaky, or bumpy rash when exposed to a trigger. This is especially true for products that are left on your skin, such as facial creams. You may develop a rash very quickly after contact. Rashes can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and stubborn. If you’re allergic to something, however, it’s more serious than sensitive skin.
You are prone to breakouts
Normal Skin: While we’d argue all skin is normal, in skincare, normal refers specifically to skin that’s well-balanced and displays no persistent skin issues as the aforementioned types.
With this information, now you know your skin. Catch our next blog post on what ingredients we recommend for each skin type.