What's Your Skin Type?

For oily skin. For sensitive skin. For dry skin. What does all of this mean? It's actually not as complicated as I used to think it was.

 Determining your skin type is best done first thing in the morning, before you wash your face or brush your teeth. Your natural level of oils is most obvious to see and feel at this time because you have not applied product or removed oil in around eight or so hours. Note the areas that are shinier or flaky, but also feel your skin. Just because there's not a lot of shine doesn't mean there's no oil there, and skin may not look all that dry, but feeling it may have you reaching for your moisturizer.

 You may also not have the same type of skin on your entire face. This is where the term "combination" comes from. Just remember that whatever your skin type, it is important to take proper care of it - this includes an SPF to protect it from the sun.

Normal Skin

 Normal skin is even and smooth, and has no areas that are overly oily, nor are they dry or flaky. Everyone is affected by hormones, though, so sometimes there will be the odd breakout, but acne is not a problem for these blessed few.

Although this skin may seem like it doesn't require much maintainence, you should still maintian a regular skincare routine, since not taking proper care of your skin can lead to signs of aging, and wrinkles. This skin type can also change throughout the year (ie: Oily in the summer, and dry in the winter), so if you have this skin type, you may need to adapt your routine.

Oily Skin

 This is predominately my skin type (although, I think my skin is a bit confused). This skin type is prone to breakouts (yay!), and is characterized by a shiny T-zone.

The biggest mistake people make with this skin type is stripping it of all oil. What this does is prompts the skin to creat even more oil, in larger quantities to compensate for the oils lost.

Use a cleanser both morning and night, and follow cleansing with an alcohol-free toner. Moisturize all over with a lightweight, oil free moisturizer. Exfoliate up to three times a week (every other day or so, but not every day). Use an exfoliator that is granular (I use the St. Ives apricot scrub), and focus on the areas of your skin that are the oiliest. It is also helpful to use a mask that is clay based once a week or so.

 Use foundation that is water based, and don't be tempted to use a powder foundation, as they will get patchy on oily skin.

 Believe it or not having oily skin can be advanatageous. Oily skin doesn't age as fast as other skin types, and since it has more elasticity it will not sag or wrinkle as easily. This could be why I still get carded a lot.

Dry Skin

 If you have dry skin, you may find that it feels tight. Dry skin tends to have closed off pores, and therefore is not prone to blackheads. Dry skin has a tendency to form fine wrinkles, and to be flaky and red. On darker skin tone it can look ashy or dull. This skin type is not the same as dehydrated skin (keep reading for that), as dry skin lacks oil, where dehydrated skin lacks moisture.

 You want to use a creamy cleanser if this is your skin type, and massage it into the skin. In the morning you need a rich moisturizer to keep your skin from looking dry throughout the day, and a night cream or oil at night. Avoid washing your face too often, as this will dry it out. It is also important to exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin cells that prevent moisture from getting into your skin. You want to use a cream based exfoliator.

 Look  for a moisturizing foundation. Companies are pretty good about letting you know what skin type they made a particular formula for, but if you're ever confused ask for help. Sometimes it can take some trial and error to find what works for you, so never be afraid to ask for a sample to take home before you commit. Tinted moisturizers are also great if you don't need a lot of coverage. You can also add a little bit of moisturizer to your foundation if you purchase one that you find too drying. Avoid powder foundations. If you have a bit of oil in our T-zone, dust a bit of translucent powder over the area, but use a light hand, and avoid powder puffs. Select a cream blush instead of powder.

Sensitive Skin

 You may notice your skin feels thin, and reacts quickly to temperature. Sensitive skin is also prone to redness, and is usally dry and suffers a lot from allergic reactions.

 The most important thing to do when using product on your face is to do a patch test behind your ear. Monitor the area over a 24-hour period to see how your skin reacts (this is always on the hair dye box as well haha). Ask for samples so you don't have to spend a lot of money on something that you react to.

 Skincare products should be mild, and not contain any allergens (you will eventually figure out what you react to if you pay attention to ingredients). Look for products containing calming ingredients, like lavender or chamomile. Avoid using hot water, as it is very harsh, and instead use water that is lukewarm. You also want to avoid rubbing your face, since that can be irritating. When you exfoliate use something gentle and avoid granular ones.

Dehydrated Skin

 What exactly is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? As noted above dry skin is lacking in oil production. Dehydrated skin on the other hand is lacking moisture...oil is not the problem, water is. This is a common issue in the winter, when there is less moisture in the air. You will notice your skin is unusually dull or ashen.  


 When your skin is dehydrated, moisturizing is very important. If your skin is prone to becoming oily look for oil free formulas. You can mix this into liquid foundations to make them more hydrating. If you mix it into your foundation, then you run the risk of it being absorbed by the foundation instead of your skin. To avoid this you can moisturize your skin, then apply primer to create a barrier between the moisturizer and the foundation.

 Select a cleanser that is gentle, as dehydrated skin is often a result of the skin being stripped of it`s moisture by a harsh cleanser. Selecting a moisturizer can be tricky. Sometimes oil-free can not be hydrating enough, and formulas for dry skin can make you look greasy after some time passes. You can easily remedy this by blotting with the paper blotters. This way you get enough moisture that your skin doesn`t look flaky once your make up sets, but it won`t look greasy because the oils have been blotted out.

Combination Skin

 If you have more than one of the above skin types in any given area of your face or neck, then you are classified as combination. Oily/dehydrated, dry/sensitive, etc. The most common combination skin is oily on the nose, forehead, and chin ("t-zone"), and dry on the cheeks and near the mouth.

 When treating this skin it's a good idea to identify which type is predominant, and treat that. You can also look for items designed to treat combination skin, since isolating the different types and treating them separately can be really time consuming, and will cost more in product. Personally, I think if you do feel the need to treat separately, buy two moisturizers - a heavier one for the drier areas, and a lighter one with less oil for the oily areas.

 If your oil is concentrated in the t-zone you can use blotting papers or a light powder to control the shine, just remember to avoid doing this on any areas that are drier. If the dryness is mostly on your cheeks go for a powder blush. If you feel the need to use two different types of foundation I recommend going to a make-up counter where an artist can help you determine which products to get, and in which shades.


   No matter what skin type you have it is possible to achieve a beautiful look and a flawless finish, It can seem like a lot of work to establish a skin care routine, but once you figure out what does and doesn't work for you it's a lot easier, and there are people out there to help you out if you know where to look. Don't be shy about asking for samples and recommendations. Nearly everyone has something about their skin they'd like to change, but if you learn to work with it instead of fighting against it you will find that it's not as bad as you once thought.

xoxo
Jordan