A Beginner’s Guide to Skincare: Discover Your Skin Type and Select the Right Products for You

With a surplus of products surfacing online and in stores, it can be overwhelming to build a skincare routine from scratch. Or if you are already familiar with the world of skincare, and your products have stopped working for you, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your skincare strategy. In order to build the perfect routine and make informed future purchases, it all starts with discovering your skin type.

5 main skin types:

1. Normal: This is the “ideal” skin type, where sebum production is well balanced. Sebum is the natural oil that our skin produces to keep it moisturized. So for normal skin, it is neither too oily or too dry. Skin tone and texture appear to be even, with minimal presence of acne.
2. Dry: This skin type tends to feel tight, flaky, and lacking in moisture. Strong or harsh skincare products can contribute to this. Using certain medication, extreme weather and genetics may also play a role in having dry skin.

Skin concerns: feeling of skin tightness, cracked skin, fine lines and wrinkles

Products to use: For concerns with dry skin, the idea is to restore hydration and moisture. This can be done by using a gentle cleanser to prevent excess stripping of oils from the skin. Next would be to apply a hydrating product and seal that hydration in with a thick moisturizer. When purchasing products to treat dry skin, key ingredients to look out for would be ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. These ingredients restore hydration and moisture to the skin, thus reducing the feeling of tightness and the appearance of cracked or fine lines.

3. Oily: The opposite of dry skin is the oily skin type, which is usually the cause of sebum overproduction. Although sebum is good for skin moisture, overproduction can actually clog pores and cause acne. That is why oily skin is often a concern for people who deal with acne.

Skin concerns: large, visible, and open pores, acne, clogged pores

Products to use: For oily, acne-prone skin, treatments that include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid would help keep the blemishes under control. They also work to reduce excess sebum production and prevent breakouts. These ingredients may be drying to the skin, that is why it is also important to use a lightweight moisturizer with these treatments. Moisturizers that contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid help retain hydration and protect the skin barrier from damage.

4. Combination: Among all the skin types, this is the most common, where the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) tend to be oily, while the surrounding areas may be normal or dry.

Skin concerns: excess oil and acne in the t-zone, dry and tight skin in the surrounding areas

Products to use: Gentle products containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid would work well with this skin type to protect the skin barrier and prevent further imbalance in oil production. Exfoliation with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) can also help with skin cell turnover, which leaves the skin nice and glowy.

5. Sensitive: This skin type is easily triggered by ingredients and chemicals, which may be difficult especially when trying out different products on the face. Common reactions would be redness, inflammation, burning sensation, and stinging.

Skin concerns: redness and irritation

Products to use: The key is to use products that can calm down the inflammation and soothe the skin. Products that contain ingredients such as centella asiatica (or cica for short), aloe vera, and ceramides help to calm down the skin. Niacinamide may also treat or prevent excess skin sensitivity by boosting skin hydration levels.

Sample Skincare Routine

This sample routine is what a skincare routine would look like for someone with normal skin, but it can be tweaked to fit your specific skin needs.

1. Cleanse with a gentle cleanser twice a day to get rid of the built up dirt and grime. Gently massage the product into the skin and rinse with lukewarm water.

2. Toner is used to remove excess makeup or build up that was not removed with the cleanser. Some toners are also used to add hydration to the skin after cleansing.

3. Serum is a powerful product that delivers nutrients to the skin. Some common serums would contain vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten the skin.

4. Moisturize with a product that contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin to keep the skin balanced and to protect the skin barrier.

5. Sunscreen is a must for every skin type! The sun can cause significant damage to the skin without proper protection. Using sunscreen daily can help prevent premature aging and protects from cancer causing UV rays.

And there you have it! Selecting the right skincare products starts with identifying your skin type and specific skin needs. Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be an enjoyable process if you let it. If you are having trouble identifying your skin type, it is best to consult with a dermatologist for personalized skincare advice.