When deciding on a product, this is the most basic step you need to have covered. Understanding my skin was a long process for me, considering how much your skin changes as you grow up. If you’re unaware of your skin type, this can lead to disastrous results, including irritation, breakouts and even premature aging (the horror!)
On the Faceitskincare app skinprofile, after your vitals, it asks you for your skin type. The most common skin types are: normal, dry, combination, oily and sensitive/acne prone. I think its also important to note that you can be more than 1 type as well. Your skin type can also change according to the seasons.
Here is a helpful guide to help decode your skin type:
Normal Skin: Ok, so if you have normal skin, consider yourself very lucky. This is usually what we are hoping to attain. If this is your skin type, you will have no visible pores, zits, flakey or oily patches. Your skin’s texture is smooth and tends have more of a glow because your moisture and sebum levels are balanced.
Dry Skin: Dry skin tends to look dull, with fine lines and wrinkles looking more prominent. Your pores are small and your skin will have this tight feeling. Dry skin is the result of a lack of moisture, and this causes your skin to lose its elasticity which is what gives it that tight feeling.
Oily Skin: I am always on the lookout for more tips to help control my oily skin. If this is your skin type, it tends to be shiny with larger, more visible pores. The level of shine will usually increase throughout the day and can really impact the longevity of the makeup you wear. This skin type is prone to breakouts (inflammatory/no inflammatory acne, blackheads whiteheads etc) Oily skin can also be set off by various forms of hormone change (period, pregnancy etc)
Combination Skin: Combination skin is very common and consists of both dry and oily skin types. The skin on your t-zone (nose and forehead) are oily with larger more visible pores and the other areas will be dry and tight.
Acne Prone/Sensitive: If you have acne or sensitive skin, your skin tends to be very oily, with a significant amount of breakouts, or you will immediately experience inflammation or irritation when using topical skincare products. Acne prone skin is caused by the blockage of hair follicles due to an overproduction of sebum and dead skin. Sensitive skin can also be passed down from our parents, so its very important to listed to the specific needs of your skin.
Test it out! Want to figure out what type is yours? Wash your face with water and pat your face dry. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then inspect! Look at your pores, check for spots, really assess your skin and see how it compares with the types listed above.
Next week on the blog: How to Properly Layer your Skincare Products!
xoxo Nel
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