One of the first steps to figuring out your skincare routine is to figure out what your skin problems are. Identifying and understanding your skin type can be extremely useful in knowing what to target! ☄️
Dry
Symptoms: itchiness, tightness, flakiness, fine lines, redness and/or dullness, roughness, cracked skin, scaliness
Dryness usually indicates a reduced production of sebum which helps keep the skin lubricated. This can be caused by many triggers: the environment (colder or harsher weather), hormonal issues, over-exfoliation, or even taking too hot of showers! Either way, this usually means you’re working with a compromised skin barrier.
Oily
Symptoms: shininess, enlarged pores, greasiness (especially in T-Zone), blackheads, blemishes, prone to frequent breakouts
Oily skin is the overproduction of sebum. This can be caused by hormones/genetics, over-exfoliating, stress, humidity, and more.
A common misconception is that one should avoid moisturizer if they have oily skin - this isn’t exactly true as trying to dry the skin out can actually lead to the skin overcompensating by increasing oil production. Balance is the key to dealing with oily skin.
Combination
Symptoms: oiliness in the t-zone, dryness in the cheeks, mixed texture, some enlarged pores, mild breakouts, some blackheads or whiteheads
Combination skin is one of the most common skin types. It can look different for everyone but one might find they are shiny or oily in the T-Zone but are generally dry or normal in their cheeks and chin. This can be caused by environmental stressors and seasonal changes, as well as hormonal fluctuations.
Someone with combo skin might have to treat different concerns in targeted areas of the face.
Normal
Symptoms: evenly hydrated, no flakiness, comfortable, balanced T-Zone, lack of redness or grayness, smoothness, reduced appearance of pores
Normal skin type just means that there is a balance - not too oily and not too dry. Normal skin types can still get the occasional blemish, but they are generally not prone to any specific skin concerns.
Sensitive
Symptoms: reactive skin, stinging, burning, redness, easily triggered by external factors
Sensitive skin can look different for everyone, but it is usually indicated by the reactivity of the skin by external factors such as the environment, products, fragrance, and a multitude of other triggers.
One might find that they experience stinging and burning after product application, and therefore have to cycle through products to find one that works. Other skin types can also experience sensitive skin.
The Takeaway:
Skin type classification is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is a good jumping off point to figure out a skincare routine that works for you - remember that skin is very personal to your own experiences and genetics.
You might also fluctuate between skin types in different times in your life, but it’s a good cheat sheet to understanding where you’re at currently and what your skincare goals are!
