How To Identify Your Skin Types and Care For Each?

 

 

 

Have you ever tried the “most amazing skincare product” but it does nothing for your skin or even makes your skin worse? When it comes to skincare, it's not a one-size-fits-all magic solution because everyone’s skin is unique and its needs can often change as a result of hormonal, seasonal, and lifestyle factors.

This can make it challenging to figure out your true skin type and many people might misdiagnose their skin types! Understanding your skin type is vital in helping you choose the right facial cleansers or face moisturizers which are key products to healthy, glowing skin!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the main differences is that everyone has a skin type, but not everyone has a skin condition. Skin types are mostly predetermined by your genes while skin conditions can refer to temporary conditions of your skin.

 

Some skin conditions can arise from genetic factors but also can come from things such as hormones, environmental, lifestyle factors and they can span across different skin types. Some of the common skin concerns include dehydration, sun damage, signs of aging, acne, breakouts, redness, and hyperpigmentation.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Step One: Do a double cleanse! Use an oil-based cleanser or makeup remover to remove all traces of makeup, excess sebum, or other oil-soluble debris. Followed by a mild face cleanser to cleanse the residues left behind.
• Step Two: Gently pat dry and leave your skin bare – don’t apply any products such as toners, moisturizers, or serums.
• Step Three: Wait for at least 30 minutes.
• Step Four: Examine closely how your skin feels and determine your skin’s unique characteristics.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your skin feels tight or itchy and rough year-round, especially after cleansing, and drinks up the face moisturizer, you probably have dry skin. There may also be scaly patches or flaking and you may suffer from premature wrinkles or irritation to the skin.

Some causes of dry skin can include many factors such as your genetics, a hormone imbalance, aging, sun exposure (UV), hot showers/baths, indoor heating (think winter), over-exfoliating, harsh ingredients form cosmetics, soaps, and cleansers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

• Almost invisible pores
• A feeling of tightness
• Red, mild scaling or flakiness in patches
• Dull complexion with low skin elasticity
• More visible fine lines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oily skin is one of the easier skin types to tell as you tend to notice a great deal of glossy shine in their face and neck. Blotting sheets or sebum control powders are more likely your best friend and you may feel like washing your face again midday as your face may feel greasy due to excess oil.  

The high oil production can leave pores congested but the good news is this makes you less prone to wrinkles and dehydration.

• Enlarged pores
• Thick and shiny complexion
• Blackheads
• Acne-prone skin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Oily skin types should require careful selection of your skincare and makeup products. Look for oil-free moisturizers, non-comedogenic products, and acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and tea tree.

Stay away from thick heavier creams, oil-based makeup products because your skin can only absorb so much moisture, the rest is left sitting on the surface of your skin. This can lead to clogging pores and extra shine on your face.

It’s critical to exfoliate dead skin cells that may result in pore blockages. Oilier skin is also prone to PIH(post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) which is likely to leave you with dark spots and acne scars. Regular exfoliation helps promote cell turnover, refine skin tone and texture as well as lightening scars.

Oily skin can be dry and some acne treatments contain ingredients that can dry the skin. You can find a facial moisturizer or serum with hyaluronic acid, a humectant that can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water – making it an excellent ingredient to help draw moisture into your skin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser and AC Collection Calming Foam Cleanser, or Pyunkang Yul Acne Facial Cleanser can be a smart skincare choice if you’re an oily skin type and are prone to blemishes. You can do an at-home chemical exfoliation one to two times per week with Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner or Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment. For moisturizing, stick to an emulsion or gel-type moisturizer because thick rich cream is likely clogging your pores and your skin can get greasier.

Isntree Green Tea Fresh Emulsion is our pick for a shiny complexion. As it has an anti-sebum P(HD) technique that controls oil production and green tea contains excellent soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.

If you’re a great fan of face masks, a clay mask should be your next go-to mask. A mineral-rich clay mask can unclog pores and decongest skin in a pinch with the detoxifying and clarifying abilities of kaolin. You might want to check Klavuu Special Care Pearl Glow Mask and Innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask with volcanic clusters.

 

 

 

 

 

Combination skin is the most common skin type but it can be trickier to determine as it features two different skin types on the face. Your skin will often be oily in the T-zone which includes a forehead, nose, and chin due to the high production of the oil glands.

The other parts of your face such as cheeks and jawline are likely to be dry, flaky, or normal. This skin type can change seasonally as well, so your skin might be oily in the summer and dry in the winter.

 

 

• Enlarged pores and shiny skin mostly in the T-zone
• Blackheads
• Post-blemish acne scars
• May have hyperpigmentation such as dark spots
• Acne-prone skin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huxley Cleansing Gel Be Clean Be Moist and Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser which are both pH balancing and gel-type cleansers, making a great fit for combination skin. A cult classic Korean exfoliator, Skinfood Black Sugar Wash Off Mask, can be added to your peeling step.

You might also want to try these - Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner, Missha Time Revolution The First Intensive Moist Treatment Essence, and Olivarrier Dual pH 5.5 Moist Hyaluron Essence. Never skip your moisturizer, Benton Snail Bee High Content Lotion and Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb, both are light Gel Moisturizers that won’t clog pores or feel greasy and sticky.

 

 

 

 

 

If your skin is not too dry and not too oily, you have a great natural balance of oil and moisture. This is one of the least common skin types, so you’re lucky and you should thank your parents for the genes!

Well-balanced healthy skin can tolerate most beauty products without experiencing a negative reaction. This is really amazing as this means you can play and have fun experimenting with all-new face cleansers, sleep masks, and makeup products.

One thing to note is that even if your skin is tame, you may deal with occasional breakouts or other skin issues that can go away fairly quickly without persisting.

• Small, not easily visible pores
• A velvety soft and smooth texture
• No severe skin sensitivities
• No signs of flaking or oiliness
• A radiant complexion

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal skin type is one of the easiest types to care for but you have to remember that our skin can change over time due to seasons, aging, hormone level change, and life events.

If hormonal imbalances occur, you may experience dry or itchy skin or even cystic acne breakouts. It’s important to remain consistent with a regular skin care routine and most importantly with sun protection.

This type is one of the first skin types that show signs of aging and one of the main environmental factors that ages our skin is ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. This is because once they penetrate into the skin, they damage the collagen and inhibit the development of new collagen, leaving skin less firm and allowing fine lines and wrinkles to develop.

Add a good SPF 30 or greater and an anti-aging cream with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, ceramides, and retinoid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your skin tends to deal with a great amount of redness, skin irritation, itchy skin rashes, chances are you’ve got sensitive skin. This might be caused by genetics, environmental factors, severe allergies.

If you suffer from skin disorders or allergic skin reactions such as rosacea, eczema, asthma, atopic dermatitis, or hay fever, you’re likely to have sensitive skin.

 

 

 

• Skin that is easily irritated, inflamed, dry or itchy
• Frequent rashes and bumps
• Flush easily with heat
• Red, flaky patches
• Burning or stinging sensation after applying skin products, especially with synthetic fragrances and dyes

Finding the perfect beauty product that won’t irritate your sensitive skin can be very challenging. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to pin down a single cause for skin sensitivity; however, you may notice you develop symptoms in response to certain triggers.

 

Common trigger ingredients are fragrances or dyes, sulfates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals that can aggravate skin sensitivities and allergies. As sensitive skin requires cosmetic products that treat it gently while still being effective, seek out natural beauty products with fewer additives.

Choose skincare products with hypoallergenic, fragrance-free labels and those with soothing, healing, or anti-inflammatory properties such as green tea, snail mucin, centella asiatica, aloe vera, and propolis.

 

A great skin patch test allows you to examine your allergic reaction to a product and see if it’s suitable for your skin. Try a sample size of a product first and dab a small amount on somewhere hidden but close to areas where the product will be applied such as the jawline, side of the neck, or behind the ear.

 

Wait a few hours or 24 hours for a better result and look for signs of redness or skin irritation. If you can’t notice any allergic symptoms, it’s safe to add to your skincare regimen. The last thing you want is to try a new product on your entire face and have an adverse reaction.