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How to tell your skin type and the best products to use
In order to get your skin looking and feeling better, you have to understand your skin. This means getting to know your skin’s particular issues and then finding products that provide your skin with what it needs.
There are a variety of skin types. These skin types include sensitive, dry, normal, oily, and combination. It’s important to understand that these categories aren’t so cut and dry – consider them as guidelines that will help you understand what products to use for your particular skin concerns.
Honestly, your skin can vary between all the different skin types depending on a variety of circumstances, such as the weather, humidity level, sun exposure, and so on. Finding a skincare routine that works for you is like getting a custom suit. The more you can dial in the fit and tailor it to your preferences, the better it will fit.
Here, we break down the five different skin types and offer some product suggestions to meet the needs of each.
Sensitive Skin
If your skin is easily irritated by a new product, try simplifying your routine with products that are gentle and simple. Then, begin to individually add products back into your routine so you know exactly what products or ingredients react negatively with your skin.
If you experience regular sensitivity or redness, or are experiencing it due something like shaving or over exfoliating, then try using a moisturizer with skin-relieving ingredients. Also, as we mentioned last week, the physical sunscreen zinc oxide is great for calming the skin.
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Dry Skin
For dry skin, exfoliating and moisturizing is key. It is important to buff away the dead, flaky skin and then replenish, as much moisture back into your skin as possible. For an extra boost, we suggest using a serum with hyaluronic acid before you moisturize.
What’s so great about hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its weight in water, which makes it an amazing indigent for replenishing dry skin. You should also use cream moisturizers, perhaps even a heavier one at night, to really seal in the moisture.
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Normal Skin
If you really don’t have any particular issues, then good for you, since you don’t have to worry as much about product that address a specific problem. You can focus on trying different ingredients, and seeing what works best for you.
One suggestion is to get on regular exfoliation schedule and add a burst of Vitamin C to your skin, such as in a serum or moisturizer. The combination of exfoliating and adding Vitamin C will help to maintain your skin’s natural turnover cycle, even your skin tone and reveal your healthiest looking skin.
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Oily Skin
Over production of sebum (your skin’s natural oil) can be caused by many things. Many products for oily skin can actually dry out your skin too much. Initially, your skin will look less oily, but then your sebum glands produce even more oily to overcompensate. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you skin in adequately hydrated in order to reduce sebum gland activity.
Personally, I have oily skin and I’ve found the idea of fighting oil with oil to actually be quite effective. I use a natural oil that doesn’t clog pores such as aragon or rosehip overnight to make sure my skin is fully hydrated. Then, during the day, I use a lighter moisturizer that comes in liquid or gel form to maintain moisture without leaving my skin greasy.
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Combination Skin
The combination skin type is one of the most confusing. To be honest, we all have combination skin. Certain areas of our face produce more oil (around the center of the face and nose) and other areas produce less (like around our eyes).
I find products advertised for combination skin to be more of a marketing effort. Nevertheless, if you really feel like parts of your skin are extremely oily and others very dry, then try using products that emphasize balancing the skin. Using an effective, lightweight moisturizer can also help address the issues of both dry and oily skin.
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Chime in: Let us know what “type” of skin you have and what products you have found to work for you in the comment below!
Stylishly Yours,
Jordan Martin
He Spoke Style
Photography by Rob McIver Photo
