Do you know your skin type?

We often see consultants in stores asking customers about their skin type. But to be honest, it often turns out that the customer does not know what type of skin they have, which is why they cannot decide to buy the right care product. There are also many different myths associated with skin types, so this time we will look at what is typical for each skin type, so that at the end of the post you will know what type of skin you have and based on that, choose the right care products.

So we know the basic skin types: dry, combination, oily. However, not everything is that simple, as skin types can be accompanied by various conditions, such as dehydration, sensitive skin, acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and the like. However, skin type is not as simple as it seems at first glance. If we wanted to specifically determine what our skin needs, we would have to perform a set of various tests, with dedicated devices, to determine skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, the amount and composition of lipids, inflammation, pH, etc. But since most of us realistically do not have the opportunity to perform these tests, we rely on more general assessments of skin type.

Dry skin

Simply put, dry skin refers to skin that lacks oil. Dry skin is a type of skin that produces less sebum than normal or oily skin. We can be born with naturally drier skin, or dry skin can be the result of external factors such as extreme temperatures, the use of air conditioning and heating indoors, poor diet, pollution, and exposure to UV light. All of these factors can cause the skin to produce less sebum over time.

When we talk about dry skin, we mean all parts of the face, so the skin is dry even on the T-zone and chin, where normal skin usually gets a little oily during the day. Dry skin usually has a rough texture, looks dry, white dry scales may be noticeable, and it can crack and form sores.

What kind of care does dry skin need?

For all skin types, the most important step is cleansing. Always cleanse the skin thoroughly with a gentle cleanser that does not contain surfactants or alcohol. The next step should be a toner, which restores the acidic pH on the skin's surface. The most essential step, again for all skin types, is moisturizing. Moisture in the skin is essential, because if you do not take care of it, dehydration can also accompany dry skin. Look for good moisturizing serums that contain glycerol, hyaluronic acid, amino acids, urea, etc. Now let's replace what dry skin lacks, which are lipids. Dry skin is often accompanied by slight damage to the barrier, as lipids are essential for maintaining the skin's barrier function. It is essential to replace lipids by using an appropriate cream, adapted for dry skin. This means that it should contain vegetable oils with an appropriate fatty acid composition, ceramides and phospholipids.

Combination skin type

Combination skin type is usually the most common type of skin. Combination skin is characterized by the presence of two different zones, namely dry and oily skin. Combination skin usually produces more sebum in the T-zone and on the chin, while the cheek area is usually dry. The pores are more open in the areas where more sebum is secreted, and comedones can occur. The pores are closed in the areas where the skin is drier.

What kind of care does combination skin type need?

Combination skin type is the most “mixed”. What does this skin type want from us? Does it want oil or not? Does it want moisture or not? Since I am also on the side of the (mixed) skin type, I know how you feel. But by sticking to some basic steps in care, you will definitely achieve beautiful and radiant skin. So first of all, cleansing is important, and I must emphasize that you should not resort to aggressive cleansers and alcohols just because the skin is oily in some areas, because you will only irritate it. Again, we reach for gentle cleansers and apply a toner after cleansing.

Moisture is essential, so a good moisturizing serum is a must-have in your routine. In the case of a problematic T-zone or chin area, you can also consider some mild acids or retinoids that you apply spot-on to reduce sebum secretion and cleanse pores. Choosing the last step in the care, that is, the cream, is the most problematic, because a moisturizer may be “too little” on our cheeks, and a rich cream may be too much for your skin on the forehead and chin area. Try to find a balance, where the cream should be just right moisturizing, but also just right oily. The ideal choice is Skinfairytale AtopicCream .

Oily skin

Oily skin is a skin type that is quite complicated to care for. It is a skin type in which the sebaceous glands are overactive and as a result secrete a large amount of sebum onto the face. Oily skin is usually identified by the fact that all parts of the face are oily. The skin of an oily type appears shiny, the surface looks waxy, and the pores are noticeable and more open.

How to care for oily skin?

Many women with oily skin struggle with the problem of dehydrated skin. Because of its oily appearance, we feel that the skin needs to be cleaned more thoroughly and nourished with alcohol-based products that will reduce sebum secretion. However, this often results in damage to the barrier function, which leads to a lot of transepidermal water loss and ultimately even more sebum, as the skin fights against moisture loss in this way. So, even oily skin should be cleansed with gentle, water-based cleansers, not harsh soaps, as they have too high a pH. Always follow up with a toner and then moisturize. Regardless of the fact that many girls with oily skin worry that this is all too much, believe me, the skin needs moisture. A moisturizing serum will not make the skin additionally oily, but will ensure that it is properly hydrated. Sebum secretion can be normalized by occasionally using acid peels or retinoids. As the last step of care, apply a light moisturizer.

Sensitive skin

People with sensitive skin can tolerate products on some parts of their face normally, but the same product can cause irritation in other areas. Although people with sensitive skin do not show objective signs of irritation, itching, burning, stinging and tightness are constantly present. Objective signs are usually absent, but occasionally erythema, dryness or rashes occur. We distinguish three types of sensitive skin, depending on their signs. Type 1 has a weakened skin barrier, whereby the individual loses a greater amount of water from the skin, and the composition of skin fats is also changed. Type 2 are people who have a normal skin barrier, but their skin experiences inflammatory processes. Type 3 are people who have a normal skin barrier and no inflammatory processes occur in the skin, but still have subjective signs of irritation.

How to care for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, the exact same steps apply as for all skin types above, just make sure that your products are free of added fragrances, essential oils, and dyes, as these ingredients are very common allergens that can cause reactions. Skinfairytale We have developed products specifically for this type of skin that will reduce your sensitivity and strengthen the barrier function.

Dehydrated skin

People often equate dry and dehydrated skin, but these two types are not similar and do not have the same needs. Dehydrated skin can also be experienced by someone who is normally oily. In simple terms, dehydrated skin lacks moisture. This is caused by increased water loss, which causes the water content in the skin to drop below 13%. Dehydrated skin is harder to identify than dry skin, but there are some signs that can help us determine if our skin is truly dehydrated. Dehydrated skin looks pale, feels tight, is more sensitive, and also shows accelerated signs of aging, such as sagging skin and deep wrinkles.

What should I do if I have dehydrated skin?

Moisture, moisture and more moisture. This is the most essential thing for dehydrated skin. By using moisturizers, we aim to restore the normal percentage of moisture in the skin as soon as possible. However, we must not forget that you need to lock the moisture into the skin. This means that after applying moisturizers, you need to apply a cream or oil that will act as a barrier so that the moisture actually goes into the skin, instead of evaporating into the surrounding environment.

Blog created in collaboration with Cosmedoc.si