Skin Types
It's important to identify your personal skin type before choosing your skin care products. Use the following descriptions to ensure a perfect match and to properly care for your skin.
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Determine Your Skin Type
Genetics will determine your skin type. The amount of oil your sebaceous glands produce, the size of your pores and the overall texture of your skin are decided by your genes. These characteristics contribute to the overall dryness or oiliness of your complexion. While you can’t change your skin type, you can maintain it with healthy skin care. Not sure what your skin type is? Follow this simple test to find out whether you have normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive skin.
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Normal Skin
“Normal” skin is well balanced and neither oily nor dry. It has consistent moisture and hydration and smooth texture, with small pores and no apparent problem areas. Those with normal skin types may experience mild dryness or breakouts on occasion, especially when exposed to environmental stress.
If you have a normal skin type, make sure to keep skin healthy and protected. In addition to enriching the skin with antioxidants, make micro adjustments to your routine depending on concerns and conditions of the moment. During times of dryness, choose products aimed toward dry skin; for oiliness and/or breakouts, opt for products that will balance your complexion and target blemishes.
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Dry Skin
Dry skin types produce less oil than normal skin types so it lacks the lipids needed to retain hold and keep skin soft and supple. Skin might feel dry and tight, and flakes could appear on the cheeks, chin and forehead. It is common to have very small pores and fine lines around the eye and lip contour areas.
Use moisture-rich products like oil or cream cleansers and daily moisturizers to replenish skin throughout the day in addition to a rich night cream to repair skin while you sleep. Weekly moisturizing masks are a good way to plump and soften skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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Oily Skin
Oily skin has overactive sebaceous glands which cause an excess of sebum. While sebum is needed to lubricate skin and keep its moisture barrier intact, overproduction can lead to an oily skin that has enlarged pores and is prone to spots and blemishes. Fine lines and wrinkles are not as apparent on this skin type, but it does need to be maintained to prevent breakouts and control shine.
If you have oily skin it is important to manage excess oil and maintain skin’s hydration. When dehydrated, skin will react by producing more oil; you can counteract this action by hydrating skin with a lightweight moisturizer containing humectants like botanical hyaluronic acid. Consider using an oil cleanser in your skin care routine. While it may seem counterintuitive, the oil in the cleanser will attract surplus sebum, allowing you to rinse it away without drying your skin.
Shop all products for oily skin.
Watch the video below to learn how to add an oil cleanser to your routine skin care routine.
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Combination Skin
Combination skin is described as having non-uniform oil production and appears neither overly dry nor oily. With more active oil glands in the T-zone and less active glands everywhere else, combination skin will tend towards oiliness on the forehead, jaw and nose, and dryness on the cheeks, jawline and hairline.
The best approach for combination skin care is to divide and conquer, treating different parts of the face with different products and techniques. Begin your day with a gentle foaming cleanser to absorb excess oil and finish it with a cream-based cleanser to restore lost moisture at night. Using multiple masks can be helpful for combination skin. This routine involves applying two or more face masks, such as a clay-based mask and a cream-based mask, to different areas of the face so that multiple concerns are addressed at the same time.
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Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is extremely common and affects about half of all of people according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This skin type has small pores, can be easily irritated and is prone to redness. It is typical for it to react negatively to bad lifestyle habits, climate and weather changes, hormonal imbalances and harsh cosmetic ingredients.
Sensitive skin does not appear the same way for everyone, and its severity and frequency can vary. Use gentle and soothing skin care products that will heal skin and relieve symptoms. Choose gentle peels to exfoliate without exasperating sensitivity and calming natural and organic ingredients like chamomile and calendula to sooth reactive skin.