So here we are. You have made it this far. You actually want to look after your skin but don't know where to start.
Finding your skin type and concerns are a good place to start.
Very often we get confused between skin type and skin concern.
Are they actually not the same?
If I use that serum that the whole world is raving about will I not have all my problems solved?
And why does it really matter anyway?
In this post, I will give you the skincare 101 basics to rump up the knowledge and get you on the right track.
What are skin types?
Right. Let’s get this party started!
You are born with a specific skin type but through time, and depending on internal and external factors, this may change. Finding your skin type is fundamental to determining your skincare routine.
You will find mixed information about how many skin types there are.
Most times you find it categorised into 5 types: oily, dry, combo, “normal” and sensitive.
This is where it becomes quite controversial.
I categorise skin sensitivity as a skin type but is a sort of in-betweeny skin type and skin concern. I think it makes sense to categorise as skin type because it gets easier when you are trying to find the right routine if this is an issue you struggle with.
If your skin tends to be sensitive then focusing on calming it down, avoiding potential irritants and keeping your skin barrier happier takes priority over reducing the amount of oil the nose area is producing for example.
This doesn’t go without saying that you can’t have dry, oily or combo skin that has a tendency to sensitivity. It all depends on the levels of sensitivity and how much you react to different products.
Take a look at this blog post to understand more about it– sensitive skin or sensitised skin?
Bear in mind, that there are special cases where more care and knowledge are required and, most likely, a visit to the dermatologist to make sure your skin is balanced and healthy. Such cases are rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, etc.
On top of that, there are some cases where you can find a bit of a mixture of both without falling into the combo type. For example, there is this myth that if you have acne you definitely an oily type skin, but actually you can be acne-prone and still have dry skin.
How can find my skin type?
Step 1 - Wash your face with a cleanser and lukewarm water. Be gentle whilst working on that cleanser on your face. Geeentle circular movements. Not much tugging and rubbing, ok?!
Step 2 - Pat dry with a towel.
Step 3 - Wait 30 min and check your skin in detail. Is your skin shiny throughout? You have oily skin. Is it flaky and feels tight? You have dry skin. Do you have a combination of both? You have combination skin. Does it feel very comfortable and there is no apparent oily or flaky area anywhere? Then you must be one of the lucky ones with “normal” skin. Does it look very red, itchy and uncomfortable? You have sensitive skin.
Yes. You can see above I don’t sound very convinced with “normal” *cough cough* skin type.
This is actually quite rare and is very likely you will jump from a “normal” type to another at different stages of your life, hence, personally, most of the time I prefer to categorise skin types more broadly.
Your skin is influenced by hormonal changes, climate changes, medications, the ageing process, etc. So, although you are thinking “Great! I don’t need to worry or learn more about other skin types”, don’t get ahead of yourself. Once upon a time, I was one of those and, regrettably, it took me longer to recognise that my skin type was changing.
Learn the basics of every skin type and know its characteristics, so you feel empowered to change your skincare routine accordingly if needed.
What are skin concerns?
There are many different skin concerns and we would be here until tomorrow if I would mention all of them.
In a nutshell, the most common are acne, wrinkles/fine lines, hyperpigmentation (red/dark spots in your face), redness, dullness, keratosis pillars, eye bags, rough/textured skin and flaky skin.
I feel you when you say “But I want to address all those concerns!”. You want to find a super serum that addresses all of these but unicorn tears haven’t been found yet. I would advise you to prioritise and focus on 1 to 2 main concerns. You are more likely to see results if you take it slowly.
Whether its acne, hyperpigmentation, or anti-ageing you shouldn’t focus only on one ingredient but instead in prevent and treat. For example, with hyperpigmentation to prevent you should use sunscreen and treat with niacinamide and alpha arbutin.
You don’t always have to have all actives required in a single-driven formulation serum. Be practical and clever – find serums with multiple actives that compliment each other and/or use actives in different steps of your routine, like using a serum with alpha arbutin followed by a moisturiser with niacinamide.
Bing-bing!
Simple, quick, enjoyable routine.
Let’s sum it up!
Although often we find the terms of skin type and concern being used for the same purpose they have actually very different meanings.
A skin type is something you are born with, however, this may change throughout your life due to internal and external factors.
A skin concern is a temporary or permanent issue in your skin that you would like to change or treat.
Take note they are equally important in making sure you pick the right goodies to use in your skincare routine. That’s why figuring it out both should be the first step in your skincare journey.
What are your skin type and your main concern?