by Corinne Thomas, Interactive Creative Facilitator
Finding skincare products that fit your skin type can be a challenge. Learning your skin type is one of the most important steps to nailing down your skincare routine.
There are five primary types of skin: oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). By learning your skin type, you are able to provide the necessary care to your skin to keep it preserved and protected from elements.
The easiest way to learn your skin type (if the name wasn’t enough) is to study your bare skin. Use a gentle foaming cleanser like the tea tree oil cleanser developed by optometrists at Peeq, pat dry, and observe over the next 25-30 minutes. Is it shiny? You would most typically fall into the ‘oily’ category. If your skin feels tight and uncomfortable, you most likely have dry skin. If you experience both of these on your skin in different places, you most likely have combination skin. Irritation means sensitivity. If you have none of the above, you have normal skin (well-balanced)! But skincare is also about the area above and under your eyes. It is often where we give the less attention because there are not many products that clean eyes and its surroundings. Which is why Peeq was created. Although all skin is normal, there are different routes to take care of the different types.
Oily Skin:
Lightweight hydration, without stripping the natural oils and being too heavy, is still necessary. It may be easy to skip moisturizer, but don’t! Regular exfoliation and detox masks once a week can help remove clogged pores. A refreshing toner, Vitamin C serums, and peptide creams are preferred.
Dry Skin:
Lack of oil in the skin creates dryness, which leaves no barrier for your skin from the outside world. Using products that nurture skin are preferred with this skin type. Squalene, often found in moisturizing cleansers or oils, can help replenish dry skin. Exfoliation with a scrub or a facial cleansing device regularly can help remove dead skin, exposing more natural oils. Toners, hyaluronic acids, and face oils are all safe and great to use on dry skin.
Normal Skin:
Normal skin is simple to take care of. There aren’t too many obstacles when prepping your skin for the day or night. Start with a gentle cleanser, a facial toner, a hydrating serum (hyaluronic acid is great for normal skin), eye cream and lightweight moisturizer.
Combination Skin:
Balancing combination skin is tricky, because it only shows up in certain places on your face. Targeting these zones, often your T-zone or on your chin, can help create a balance that your skin craves. Gentle and mild products will create the best results for an all-over skincare routine. Target under eyes with a cream and dry areas with a lightweight oil. The best way to target specific areas is with multimasking. Find a mask that’s hydrating for dry areas and pore minimizing for oily areas. You can use both of these masks at the same time to get the best results in trouble areas.
Sensitive Skin:
The first step to sensitive skin care is to see if you have any allergic reactions to any specific ingredients and to avoid those ingredients that irritate your skin. The most common skincare product allergens, according to the FDA, are natural rubbers, fragrances, preservatives, dyes or color additives, and metals. You can find that specific list on the FDA’s website. Use a gentle or specific ‘sensitive skin’ formula based cleanser. Unscented toners, serums/face oils, and lightweight moisturizers go hand in hand for the perfect skincare routine.
Learning your skin type not only helps your skin, but also your mind. Self care and skin care get easier after learning what works best for you. Treating the wrong skin type can lead to premature aging, irritation, and breakouts. Time to upgrade that skin care routine!
Sources:
American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Skin Care Tips Dermatologists Use.” American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/skin-care-tips-dermatologists-use.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Allergens in Cosmetics.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 25 Feb. 2022, www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/allergens-cosmetics#common.