Finding out your skin type is the most important factor to consider when building your skincare routine. The wrong skincare regime can throw off your skin’s PH balance, leading to breakouts and a damaged skin barrier.
Reading this, you’ll learn a simple method for identifying your skin type at home!
Starting off with a clean base
Before you begin to observe your skin, start off with a clean base, you’ll need to remove any makeup you may have on preferably with micellar water.
Then you can cleanse your face with a mild foaming cleanser i.e. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Which is gentle enough for all skin types!
When you’ve finished cleansing, gently pat your face dry with a clean towel and refrain from applying anything on your face. Wait for about 30 minutes to an hour.
Dry skin
- Your skin will have a tight, dry and uncomfortable texture - Pores will be small and barely noticeable.
Oily skin
- Your skin will have an oily or ''greasy'', shiny texture - Pores will be very large and visible.
Sensitive skin
- Your skin will have a red, itchy and very dry texture - Pores will be less noticeable - May also have the same factors as dry skin.
Combination skin
- Your T-zone will appear as more greasy and shiny compared to the rest of your face (which would be dry) - Pores are likely to be more large and visible.
Normal skin
- Your skin will be the right balance of oily and dry. - Pores will be smaller and less visible.
Tackling your skin
Dry skinis more prone to dehydration. Without enough moisture, the skin’s natural moisture barrier can’t work as effectively as it needs to. This leaves the skin vulnerable to concerns such as minor irritation to visible signs of premature ageing. If you have dry skin, you want to look for products that help soothe and protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier and contains more oil based ingredients.
Oily skin is especially vulnerable to concerns such as blemishes, shininess, and clogged pores. Caring for this skin type can be tricky to maintain because it still needs moisture but it doesn’t need any more oil. If you have oily skin, you want to look for products that provide lightweight hydration and help absorb excess oil without stripping your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Regular exfoliation can also help keep clogged pores and blemishes to a minimum.
Sensitive skinultimately stems from a disruption in the skin’s moisture barrier. When the barrier doesn’t work properly, it leads to concerns such as redness and discomfort. To help keep your skin feeling comfortable, I recommend finding mild products, with no fragrance made specifically for stressed skin.
Combination skincan be tricky to care for since it’s not just a single concern you’re dealing with but several conflicting concerns. Typically, I recommend those with combination skin reach for gentle treatments that provide lightweight moisture without drying out your skin.
Normal skin has to be the easiest and has the most simple routine to maintain your skin barrier. I recommend a gentle cleanser, a lightweight moisturiser, and an SPF 50+ sunscreen to help protect your skin from the sun.
