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Skin Care Types and Tips

Do you feel confused when it comes to your skin type? We’re going over the 4 main types and some quick tips on how to care for each of them.

Your skin type is mainly due to genetic predisposition, but there are some things you could be doing that can affect your skin condition. Pinpointing your personal skin type and educating yourself on the best ways to care for it is a great place to start!

woman skincare

Normal Skin

When it comes to normal skin, you generally wouldn't describe your skin as oily or dry, it falls somewhere in between. Pore size is a good indicator; normal skin types feature small pores that aren’t usually clogged or easily visible. Normal skin also doesn’t exhibit a great deal of shine or tend to crack or flake. Skin tone is usually even.

If your skin falls into this category, your best bet for products are those that don't make your skin feel overly greasy or strip it of its natural oils. While normal skin isn’t as high maintenance as other types it doesn't give you a free pass to skimp on your skin care routine. Whatever your skin type, it's important to stick to a consistent routine and make sure you completely remove makeup and daily impurities every night.

woman applying lotion to face

 

Oily Skin

Oily skin is the result of both genetic factors and hormones. Individuals with this skin type tend to produce a higher amount of sebum (the oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands that helps keep skin moisturized). When excess oil is produced, it can enlarge the size of pores and lead to blockages that turn into blemishes. That’s why this skin type is more prone to breakouts and pores that are more visible.

 

Caring for oily skin can be tricky. Many people with this skin type head for products that claim to dry out the skin, but this can actually exasperate the issue. Harsh ingredients that dry out your skin can make it work harder and ultimately produce more oil. Exfoliation is key with this skin type, since oil build-up can trap dead skin cells and lead to breakouts. Salicylic acid is your friend-it’s a natural exfoliant that gently removes dead skin cells while preventing blocked pores.

woman exfoliating skin

 

Dry Skin

Dry skin is pretty easy to identify-if you have this skin type you’ll feel the telltale tightness. You may also experience dry, scaly patches and flaky skin.

Finding a gentle cleanser and hydrating moisturizer is key and so are sheet masks! When the air is especially dry, your skin can greatly benefit from running a humidifier in your home.

woman washing face

 

Combination Skin

You’ll know you have combination skin if some parts of your face are dry while others are oily. Usually your T-zone (the central part of your face including your nose, chin and forehead) are oilier since there are more oil-producing glands there.

Throughout the day, our skin is vulnerable to dirt, excess oils and impurities. If you have combination skin, saturating a cotton round in micellar water and sweeping it across your face is a great way to mattify your oily T-zone without over-drying your nose and cheeks.  

micellar water with cotton rounds