Contents
- a) Why is it important to know my skin type?
- b) What determines our skin type and can we change it?
- c) Skin type vs skin condition
- d) How to identify your skin type
- e) Essential oily skincare kit
- f) Essential dry skincare kit
- g) Essential combination skincare kit
- h) Is there such thing as a normal skin type?
a) Why is it important to know my skin type?
By recognising our skin type, we're better able to maintain skin health. Dry skin requires an approach that differs from that of oily skin and vice versa. Today's skincare market is often broken down by skin type, which makes the process easier. Failure to use the right skincare for our skin type could exasperate the problems we are trying to resolve.
Most of us recognise our skin type. Dry often feels tight & rough. It can look ashy and doesn't retain moisture well. Oily often feels heavy or bogged down and looks shiny with visible pores. Combination skin can be characterised by a combination of the two.
b) What determines our skin type and can we change it?
Genetics is the biggest determining factor when it comes to skin type. Whether we are oily, dry or a combination, we are predetermined to have these characteristics. The environment can make our skin type symptoms worse, but generally speaking, we cannot change them or rid of them completely. Our goal is to manage.
Hormones can play a part in how our skin looks and feels at any one time. Before menstruation, for example, we may be more prone to breakouts whether we are naturally oily or not.
- A rise in androgens during puberty can cause hormonal acne.
- Menopause, the decline of estrogen, can lead to dry and itchy symptoms.
- Depression can unset our system and leave us unbalanced; this will undoubtedly show on our skin.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect our skin too. Hormones, just like our genetic disposition are out of our control.
Oily skin can predict their skin symptoms worsening during the summer. Oil production is at an all-time high, and things can become difficult to manage aesthetically.
Dry skin during summer may not produce all the protective oils needed and become extremely dry. UV from the sun is at its highest. Adequate sun protection is essential, as is a good antioxidant.
c) Skin type vs skin condition
Our skin type is a genetically programmed trait. A skin condition is something we can experience in addition to our skin type at any one time.
Dehydration is a skin condition that can be experienced by any skin type. Dehydrated skin refers to one that lacks water.
Dry skin types tend to lack oil. Oily skin types produce excess oil. Normal skin refers to being relatively balanced, and combination experiences extremes of both oily & dry.
All types can lack water, becoming dehydrated. Dehydration is often caused by poor skincare choices, particularly in oily skin. See, Can oily skin be dehydrated too
Air conditioning can dehydrate in the summer and blow heaters in the winter. There are a number of determining factors, but it's most important to identify symptoms as lacking water which requires a different approach to cream application.
Other skin conditions include sensitive, blemish-prone, ageing and skin pigmentation.
Sensitivity, often referred to as a skin type, is also a condition. Every skin type can experience sensitivity. It is often associated with dry skin. Dry skin tends to be thinner; this may explain why sensitivity is more apparent in this type of skin.
Oily skin may become sensitive in an effort to rid of excess oil.
Skin pigmentation is a condition related to sun damage, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hormonal changes such as melasma.
d) How to identify your skin type
Try this little task.
Cleanse and leave for at least 1 hour, 2-3 hours is better. Access the symptoms. If you feel tight and the skin looks relatively matte, you are dry. If you feel greasy and the skin looks shiny, you are oily. Combination is typically oily forehead, nose & chin with dry/flaky cheeks. You'd be super lucky to have felt completely comfortable; that is a normal skin type.
e) Essential oily skincare kit
Basic essential
Optional
- Mechanical exfoliators
- Retinol
- Hydroxy acid lotion/serum
- Antioxidant
Incorporating a gentle or normal cleanser will ensure our skin isn't excessively stripped of natural goodness. Switch it up between normal and exfoliating daily.
Chemical exfoliator cleansers can provide a gentle but effective approach to skin exfoliation.
Toners are a questionable essential but can, in many cases, provide instant relief to dehydration symptoms. Specifically in oily skin where it can be overlooked. Applied following a cleanse, specific toners can aid in rehydration, soothe tightness and rebalance the skin.
Oily skin should not avoid moisturisers. Choose something light with higher water content. Look for products with sun protection, particularly in warmer seasons. This then avoids the need for an additional sun protection product.
The optional list refers to items we may not need on a daily basis. They are better served for skin conditions. If we don't have current skin conditions of concern, we most likely don't need them right now.
Common skin conditions associated with oily skin include – spots/pimples, large pores, and congestion. Pigmentation problems are often associated with oily skin types. This skin type tends to get buildup and breakouts, the skin can become blemish-prone.
The optionals can also become essential during aesthetic treatments such as chemical peels. Such treatments would require a higher SPF. Antioxidants will aid in skin healing. Retinol will aid in skin preparation and so on. For our basic kit, we won't consider them.
Chemical exfoliators are preferred over mechanical exfoliators. Mechanical exfoliators are beads and other abrasive types. They can cause irritation and minor tears in the skin. Over-scrubbing can cause real damage. These products are popular, however, and if chosen, they should be used in moderation.
Most of us don't use antioxidants. Some of us don't understand how antioxidants benefit the skin. They haven't made the essential list but they are highly effective in their purpose. Antioxidants are typically the ‘serums' within skincare ranges. See a guide to cosmeceuticals and skin care products to learn more.
BB creams are particularly good for oily skin. They often contain sun protection and are usually lighter in consistency than their foundation sisters. A good choice for summer toner, an oily girl's best friend.
What follows is a basic selection of essential skincare products aimed at oily skin. To find more, search throughout the site either by skin type or specific skincare product.
CeraVe Moisturising Cleansing Foam Wash
A gentle, foaming gel cleanser for normal to oily skin on the face and body. Specifically formulated for sensitive skin that is normal to oily and prone to discomfort and imperfections. This gently foaming gel deeply cleanses and removes oils, dirt and makeup without disrupting the protective skin barrier of the face.
The Ordinary – Squalane Cleanser
A gentle cleansing product formulated to target makeup removal whilst leaving the skin feeling smooth and moisturized. Being non-comedogenic and soap-free, this formula is designed to be gentle enough for daily use, without over-drying the skin, making it suitable for all skin types.
Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser
A warming gel cleanser that deeply cleanses, dissolves pore-clogging impurities, refreshes skin and refines skin texture. Charcoal helps draw out excess oils and impurities by removing dirt and helps to minimise the look of pores over time. Contains glycolic acid.
NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Liquid Glow 6% 100ml
Cleanse and clarify your skin with NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Liquid Glow 6%, a liquid exfoliator that visibly brightens the complexion. Enriched with 6% Glycolic Acid to improve skin texture, Salicylic Acid to unclog pores and Allantoin to soothe and protect, the formula also uses Vitamin B5 to restore much-needed moisture. The result is a skin surface that looks and feels re-energised.
Anthelios Shaka Ultra-Light SPF 50+
An ultra-resistant formula specifically developed for sensitive skin. A very high protection, broad-spectrum (PPD 46, SPF 50+) comfortable fluid formula that is ultra water, sweat and sand resistant. This non-greasy cream does not leave white marks and does not migrate. A great choice for all skin types.
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
Packed with a proprietary blend of moisturising ingredients, including 1% retinol, vitamin C, peptides, liquorice root extract, oat extract and other soothing plant extracts to combat acne-prone & pimple-prone skin, dark spots, blemishes, uneven skin tone, breakouts, and clogged pores.
f) Essential dry skincare kit
Basic essential
- Foaming/Gentle cleanser
- Moisturising cleanser
- Moisturising cream
- Sun protection
Optional
- Toner
- Retinol
- Hydroxy acid serums
- Antioxidant
Foaming or gentle cleansing should have an emphasis on clarification. Moisturising cleansers can be beneficial for dry skin, but we mustn't distract from the purpose of cleansing, to remove surface debris. Switch it up between clarifying and moisturising, being careful not to scrub.
Moisturising cream is essential. It should contain relevant properties and actives to suit symptoms which may include dehydration, roughness and sensitivity.
Sun protection may be included in a moisturising cream, but a moisturising cream should not be selected on its sun protection merit. It may be applied later in the form of a dedicated sun protection product.
The optional list refers to items we may not need on a daily basis. They are better served for skin conditions. If we don't have current skin conditions of concern, we most likely don't need them right now.
Common skin conditions associated with dry skin include – fine lines & wrinkles, thin skin, and vascular lesions such as broken capillaries. Milia is also associated with dry skin types. In many of these cases, the optionals become essential.
The optionals will also become essential during aesthetic treatments such as chemical peels. Such treatments would require a higher SPF. Antioxidants will aid in skin healing. Retinol will aid in skin preparation and so on. For our basic kit, we won't consider them.
Applied following a cleanse, specific toners can aid in rehydration, soothe tightness and rebalance the skin. Dry skins
Most of us don't use antioxidants. Some of us don't understand how antioxidants benefit the skin. They haven't made the essential list, but they are highly effective in their purpose. Antioxidants are typically the ‘serums' within skincare ranges. See a guide to cosmeceuticals and skin care products to learn more.
What follows is a basic selection of essential skincare products aimed at dry skin. To find more, search throughout the site either by skin type or specific skincare product.
g) Essential combination skincare kit
Combination skin can perform well with ‘normal' ranges within skincare. If either the oil or dry condition persists, skincare within those ranges can help.
h) Is there such thing as a normal skin type?
Maybe. We all strive for normal skin, but what does it even mean?
Let's think about skincare ranges and how they're marketed to us. Blemish products will be marketed to acne sufferers; rich creams will be marketed to dry skin, oil-free to oily and so on. Normal skincare ranges are generally aimed at those who don't experience extremes. Those that don't have symptoms bothersome enough to consider their genetic skin type.
If normal didn't exist, a lot of skincare brands would have a marketing gap. How would they sell to those who don't experience extremes? Those that don't consider themselves oily or dry? That's really the context in which ‘normal skin' actually exists. We can't strive for something that isn't truly real. We work with what we have, and the best way to do that is to adopt skincare maintenance.