It’s great to be following a daily skincare regime. While daily cleansing and moisturizing are intrinsic to any skincare ritual, you might be using the wrong products to do it. The secret to figuring out the right skincare products to invest in lies in understanding your skin type before anything else. Only then can you make an informed decision about the kind of skincare regime you should be following.
There are five main skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive. Common features of different skin types are:
- Normal skin: People with normal skin don’t usually face acne, breakouts, flakiness etc. The skin is generally balanced. Pore size is smaller than other skin types; thus, the sebum levels are not too high. Such people have smooth textured and even-toned skin. There might be infrequent pimples or dryness, but the recovery is quick. However, this skin type is also the first to show signs of ageing. Thus, it is essential for people with normal skin types to incorporate anti-ageing skincare products in their 20s to help counter premature ageing of the skin.
- Oily skin: if you have oily skin, you already know it. The sheen on an oily person’s face is pretty much visible due to excessive sebum production. Due to the overproduction of oil, pores get clogged, and acne is common. When oil accumulates in the pores, it attracts dirt, oil, and dead cells, leading to black and whiteheads. However, this oil production also saves your skin by providing an oil barrier against external pollutants and helps prevent early ageing signs. Skincare for people with oily skin can include water-based moisturizers and alcohol-free toners such as AHA+ VIT C Clarifying Toner by Kzen. Exfoliation is also essential to mitigate excessive moisture. Make sure you double-cleanse and exfoliate regularly to keep a healthy oil balance in your skin.
- Dry skin: Dry skin feels rough, stretched and brittle. The elasticity is lower than usual due to less oil production. This results in patches and itchy skin. Dry skin can result from genetics, poor lifestyle choices, extreme climatic conditions, or hormonal imbalance. Such people have smaller pore sizes. Thus, the skin is less greasy, and breakouts are less frequent. Cream-based moisturizers are better suited for dry skin. In addition, use hydrating face masks and overnight serums to nourish your skin from within. Ageless face serum from Kzen works wonders on this skin type for the best results.
- Combination skin: This type of skin is characterized by an oily T-zone, i.e., the forehead, nose and chin are oilier than the rest of your face. This is due to uneven production of sebum on the face. Taking care of such skin type is trickier as you need to administer different skin parts with different products—target oily areas using BHA exfoliator and lightweight moisturizer to avoid clogged pores. For dry skin, use an oil-based moisturizer to provide sufficient nourishment.
- Sensitive skin: Regardless of the skin type (oily, dry, combination or normal), you can have sensitive skin. People with such a skin type have red skin with symptoms of inflammation such as stinging sensation, itching or severe dryness. Skin is more vulnerable to certain external irritants such as fragrances, dyes, environmental conditions (wind, heat, cold, pollution) and specific food items. Such people need to protect their skin barrier by providing sufficient nourishment. Products containing niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and shea butter are your best friends. Make sure you avoid scrubs or harsh chemicals at all costs.