Mia
If you want healthy and happy skin, it’s necessary to use skincare that’s tailored to your skin’s needs. But how do you know what your skin type is? Don’t worry. We’ll help you!
Understanding your skin type is a crucial step in your way to achieving flawless skin. Whenever you face a skin concern like acne or hyperpigmentation or simply want to improve your appearance, getting a personalized skincare routine makes a huge difference.
Keep in mind that a dry skin type can also look shiny, and an oily skin type can also feel dry. So be sure to differentiate between skin type and skin condition when building your skincare routine. However, there’s a simple method that rarely fails and may reveal your skin type. The right way to find out your skin type is to cleanse your face and then inspect your skin. Yes, it’s that simple! Now, all you have to do is figure out what type of skin you have based on your skin’s characteristics. Here’s what you should look for:
Normal skin
A normal skin type has even pores that are neither reduced nor enlarged on any part of the face. The skin feels soft, supple, and comfortable and does not tend to be shiny or tight. The skin is said to be in balance. This is because normal skin has a balanced sebum production, i.e., the skin has an even distribution of oil and moisture.
Skincare for normal skin
Maintain the skin’s high moisture content with moisturizing skincare products. Increase the chances of maintaining normal, healthy skin for a long time by using a day cream with sun protection. Keep in mind that, usually, the skin’s own production of natural oils decreases with age. So use supplements with extra moisturizer to prevent skin dryness. Microneedling is another technique that can benefit normal skin. It’s mainly used to improve skin texture and collagen production, leading to a firmer, smoother, and youthful appearance. Unlike oily or sensitive skin, normal skin is the perfect candidate for microneedling as it’s the least prone to irritations or dryness. You can get yourself a microneedling pen for home use or get an appointment at a professional salon.
Dry skin
Dry skin type can feel tight, especially right after cleansing your face. It is also characterized by fine pores, sometimes with pores barely visible. The skin may also be scaly or rough, sometimes even itchy. This is because the skin is lacking in both moisture and oil.
Skincare for dry skin
Use products that are deeply moisturizing and preferably nourishing. Dry skin tends to be sensitive, so soothing or cooling skincare products such as aloe vera may be preferable. Dry skin types often benefit from facial oil treatments. Keep in mind that water is dehydrating when it comes from the outside, so it’s a good idea to choose a face wash in milk form that you don’t have to rinse off with water. Use a facial scrub 1-2 times a week to help the skin remove dead skin cells and excess skin. This is especially important for dry skin. A well-cleansed complexion makes it easier for the skin to benefit from subsequent skincare.
Oily skin
An oily skin type has an overproduction of fat in the sebaceous glands and therefore becomes shiny and glossy. As a result, pores are often large and enlarged, and pimples, blemishes, or blackheads are not uncommon.
Skincare for oily skin
Use skincare products that are moisturizing, lightly absorbent, and have balancing properties. Generally, this type of skincare is slightly thinner and lighter inconsistency, perhaps even in jelly form, which often has to do with both absorbency and feel. Deep cleansing face wash or clay mask is recommended.
A common mistake is for those with oilier skin to use harsh cleansers, such as those containing alcohol, without sufficiently moisturizing the skin afterward. If you dry out the skin, the skin’s defense mechanism is to produce more oil. This, in turn, results in continued oily and shiny skin, which can also tighten or flake due to dehydration. In other words, you should be at least as careful with cleansing as you are with moisturizing and conditioning.
Combination skin
Combination, or mixed skin, is one of our most common skin types. It is characterized by having both oilier and drier parts of the face. Usually, it is the t-zone – forehead, nose, chin – that tends towards normal or oily skin. The t-zone tends to hold the larger pores, with higher sebum production resulting in a shinier skin surface. Meanwhile, the rest of the face, especially the cheeks along the jawline, is often more normal to dry skin type. In other words, combination/mixed skin is exactly what it sounds like: a combination of different skin types.
Skincare for combination skin:
Use products with a balancing effect. Complement your basic skincare routine of moisturizing and protecting with specific products that you apply partially to your face.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is not really a skin type. It is a condition that can last for different lengths of time – regardless of skin type. Sensitive skin often experiences a reaction from perfumed or active products and external stresses such as sun or cold. Stress, medication, or hormones can also manifest themselves through sensitive skin. It can manifest itself through irritation such as redness, lumpiness, flaking, swelling, or even blistering. A burning, tingling, or tightness sensation is also not uncommon.
Other common signs are that the skin may look slightly transparent with superficial, dilated blood vessels. Sensitive skin also tends to suffer more easily from inflammatory problems, but should not be confused with rosacea, for example, which is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.
Skincare for sensitive skin
In general, use mild and preferably cooling or cooling ingredients that soothe and reduce any swelling. Otherwise, it all depends on what your skin needs. Often, people with sensitive skin types find that natural skincare works well for their skin. But be aware that even natural products can contain irritants. If you are hypersensitive or allergic to fruits or berries, you should pay extra attention to the ingredients list, as natural products contain natural ingredients.
Final words
Now you have some tips and guidelines on skin types and skincare. As the choice of skin care products is highly individual, it is recommended that you tailor your own skincare routine to your needs or preferences.
