Different skin types, including oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive skin, have different needs; understanding your skin type is the first step in caring and choosing the perfect product for it.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF SKIN TYPES

Oily skin naturally produces larger than average amounts of oil (sebum), especially throughout the T-Zone (forehead, nose, and chin), leading to a shiny appearance and often large pores. Fatty acids released by sebaceous glands mix with dead skin cells to form oily secretions that lubricate and protect your skin. In some cases of oily skin, there can be an overproduction of these secretions. You are born with the tendency for either dry, normal, or oily skin, but extra sebum production can be influenced by how you treat your skin.

Tips for oily skin types

• - Wash regularly with a gentle cleanser to reduce the amount of oil on the skin.
• - Use a toner that contains alcohol tends to dry out the skin.
• - Avoid over-wash or over-exfoliate your face.
• - Take the time to test new products.
• - Keep showers short and efficient.
• - Use a facial mask.
• - Moisturize with Vigilance.
• - Use sunscreen year-round with SPF 30 or higher.

Dry Skin is the definition of rough, unattractive skin. Our skin has an 80% water content. The lower the moisture level, the rougher your skin becomes. Exiting water vapor also increases steadily, which makes dryness worsen gradually. If left for long periods of time, it may become itchy or irritated and even lead to tissue damage.

Tips for dry skin types

• - Don’t take hot showers or baths as it breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin; take shorter showers using warm water.
• - Ensure your skincare routine is optimized to help relieve dry skin.
• - Use a light exfoliator to get rid of the top layer of dead skin cells.
• - Day creams with a SPF will help protect your skin from UV radiation.
• - A serum is a perfect addition to your moisturizing day. However, products with natural oils can be a best option.
• - Drinking at least 2 litters of water will also greatly benefit your skin and your body in general.

Normal Skin, which accounts for around 50% of the total skin population, is balanced—feeling neither dry nor oily, free from spots and blemishes. In addition, it has a healthy skin tone with its colour ranging between translucent white, creamy beige with yellowish undertones, and it is less likely to be prone to sensitivity or blemishes.

Tips for Normal Skin

• - Hot water and soaps can remove protective lipids and can damage your skin over time.
• - Moisturize with gentle products that support the skin’s protective properties.
• - Use sunscreen year-round with SPF 30 or higher.
• - Gentle exfoliator removes impurities and dead skin cells and the result a glowing skin.

Combination skin includes oily, dry, and sensitive skin, with the T-Zone commonly being oily and the cheeks being either dry or normal. Combination skin is widespread, so Skincare products for combination skin need to deliver all-around care for oiliness, dryness, and sensitivity.

Tips for combination skin types

• - Oily facial areas need to be cleansed of oil while ensuring drier areas do not dry out further.
• - Ensure your skincare routine begins with a delicate cleanser and ends with an oil-free moisturizer.
• - In case not sure, choose products mentioning that they are suitable for combination skin.

Sensitive skin is often referred to as a skin type, but you can have oily and sensitive skin, dry and sensitive skin, or normal and sensitive skin; sensitive skin is described as exhibiting attributes of extreme‐to‐moderate sensitivity to one or more stimuli, such as temperature, pressure, or light and other factors such as food, some skincare ingredients, you may be able to determine what triggers your sensitivity and avoid skincare products containing those specific ingredients or alter your environment to reduce your exposure to triggering factors.

Tips for sensitive skin types

• - Cleanse your skin with micellar water and better avoid foaming cleansers.
• - Add a relaxing face mask to your routine.
• - Limit your time in the sun. - Shower in lukewarm water.