The skincare world can be extremely confusing if you don’t know what you’re doing or what to look for.
Products are labeled in ways to boost sales but don’t always tell you exactly what you need to know about the ingredients or what they’ll do for your skin.
On top of this, using the right kind of product for your skincare is very important; skincare is not a one-size-fits-all type of deal.
What’s My Skin Type?
Skin type varies by genetics, nutrition, and often age as well. Start by examining your face for problem areas, then select a skincare product that suits your skin type.
Oily:
- Greasy, shiny skin, usually around the T-Zone (forehead and nose)
- Acne due to the sebum (oil)
Dry:
- Flaky and lack of hydration
- Facial lines more pronounced
Combination:
- Both dry and oily patches of skin around various areas of the face
Normal:
- Not too dry, not too oily
What Kind of Skincare Should I Use?
Skincare is different for each skin type and should be adjusted accordingly. Most of the routines that you see online are designed for ‘normal’ skin, but the vast majority of people don’t even have ‘normal’ skin.
Oily Skincare Routine
If you notice your face getting super greasy throughout the day, you should focus on sebum management.
Oily skin is caused by lots of different factors, so click here to read more.
- Cleanse; you can actually double-cleanse if you have super oily skin. Start with a water-based cleanser, and then an oil-based one.
- Tone; oily skin can be caused by a pH imbalance, so a toner is extremely important.
- Serum; use an oil-fighting serum or a moisturizing serum like hyaluronic acid.
- Moisturizer; moisturizing is still important even if your face is oily. Use a lightweight facial moisturizer that won’t clog your pores.
Dry Skincare Routine
The main goal of your skincare routine if you have dry skin is to prevent water from evaporating and escaping your pores.
- Cleanser; it’s not recommended to double-cleanse on dry skin, as it could just dry your face out more. Use a moisturizing, oil or water-based cleanser.
- Toner; dry skin can also be caused by a pH imbalance, so toning is still important.
- Serum; use a hydrating serum like hyaluronic acid.
- Moisturizer; if your face is super dry, use a heavier, non-comedogenic moisturizer that locks in water for the entire day.
Combination Skincare Routine
Combination skin can be more complicated because you have both oily and dry patches of skin on your face. Use more neutralized products to help with both conditions.
- Cleanse; double-cleanse at night, but not in the mornings. In the AM, use a water-based cleanser.
- Toner; toner will prevent your face from getting too oily or too dry.
- Serum; try out a lactic acid serum to keep oil at bay without drying out the skin too much
- Moisturizer; use a lightweight moisturizer during the day to prevent oiliness and a heavier one at night to treat dryness.
Normal Skincare Routine
When you have normal skin, you can try out pretty much any kind of skincare product. It’s basically all trial-and-error, but labels will often say “for normal skin.”
Where do I Start?
Effective skincare that suits your skin type can sometimes be trial and error.
With millions of different products on the market – all of which claiming to be the best – it can be difficult to find the right combination of creams, serums, toners, cleansers, and moisturizers.
Determining your skin type is a good start.
