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Education

What Is Your Skin Type? A Guide for Getting To Know Your Skin

By Kim TomlinsonJan 1, 2020

Do you know what is extremely frustrating? When you invest in a promising skincare product only to have it aggravate your skin. Chances are you just bought something for the wrong skin type. It feels like you've wasted money, bought something useless, and made your skin worse. However, it doesn't have to be that way. At AOS, we're here to partner with you to achieve healthy skin. Together, I'm confident that we'll be able to build the routine that works best for you. And it all starts with figuring out your skin type.

Get To Know Your Skin What's Your Skin Type? Will the Real Skin Type Please Step Forward? Bare-Faced Method To Finding Your Skin Type

Get To Know Your Skin

First, you need to get to know your skin. Interestingly enough, this is not a one-time event. Your skin will behave differently over time. These changes come from age, climate, or even hormonal shifts. Staying in tune with your skin's needs will allow you to adjust your plan along the way. Ask yourself questions about how your skin is doing. Is it always dull and rough? Inversely, is it getting oily all the time? Before long, you'll become an expert in the ever-changing condition of your unique skin.

What's Your Skin Type?

So, you're paying attention to your skin. That's a great first step. Next, you need to figure out what your skin type is. While skin types can be divided and subdivided in a multitude of ways, let's keep it simple. Let's establish five main skin types, their concerns, and how to focus your approach to skincare.

Normal Skin

Well-balanced skin that is neither overly oily nor overly dry is what we refer to as "normal" skin. It's a slightly odd name since all skin types are normal and common. That being said, it's an industry standard name. This type of skin exhibits little to no blemishes or signs of irritation. As a result, it is fairly easy to care for.

While normal skin might seem to require little care, it's essential to focus on both prevention and protection with your skincare routine. Normal skin can tend to show signs of age sooner than some skin types. Choosing healthy aging products that maintain your balance while also nourishing your skin with protective antioxidants and hydrating moisturizers is your best bet. A daily SPF is also essential for keeping your radiant complexion over time. Sorella's Quench & Protect Hydrating SPF 30 is an excellent choice for a daily moisturizing sunscreen. that gives your skin a dewy finish.

Oily Skin

Is your skin always a little shiny? Have trouble getting your makeup to stay on or in place? You've probably got oily skin! Blotting your skin throughout the day might help keep the shine down, but it doesn't solve the problem. Excess oil on your face quickly leads to clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and acne-prone skin. Each of these issues may need to be addressed separately. First, it's important to make sure that your oily skin isn't dehydrated. While that might seem like a contradiction, it's not uncommon for dehydrated skin to over-produce sebum in an attempt to find balance.

Focus: Oil-Control & Gentle Exfoliation If you're drinking plenty of water and keeping your skin hydrated with a quality oil-free gel hydrator, the next step is to address oiliness. Facial serums, such as Sorella's Main Squeeze Hydrating Serum, work to maintain both moisture and balance in your skin without the greasy texture. Oil-absorbing clay masks, such as Face Reality's Soothing Clay Mask and BiON's Green Tea Clay Poultice, will help to draw impurities from the skin. For an exfoliant, a studio favorite is Face Reality's Mandelic Scrub. This product will gently lift dead skin cells and debris from the surface of your skin, helping to clear your skin while also fading acne scars.

Dry Skin

If your skin looks dull or rough, possibly with red patches or visible fine lines, you’re likely a dry skin type. Is your skin itchy? Maybe flaky? Perhaps your skin feels tight when you smile? All of those things are signs that your skin that is trying to tell you something. It could be that your sebaceous glands have slowed down oil production with age. Not to worry, your skin just needs a little extra TLC to be glowing and vibrant. Unfortunately, dry skin is more susceptible to environmental damage than any other skin type because of a weakened skin barrier. Without proper moisture levels, your skin will not adequately defend itself against sun damage.

Note: Dry skin and dehydrated skin are not the same things. Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. It is, however, possible to have both dry and dehyrated skin. Once you know you have your inner hydration taken care of, you can address your skin's hydration from the outside. Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), glycerin, and marine-derived algae (for those who aren't acne-prone) deliver hydration straight to your skin cells. For added hydration, try a moisturizing sleep mask such as Face Reality's HydraCalm .

Focus: Hydrate Inside & Out Rule number one for a healthy body is drinking enough water. The same rule applies to skin, our largest organ. Many health issues, as well as skin troubles, can be resolved by simply making sure that we have sufficient water intake. Cutting back on diuretics, such as alcohol and coffee, will help increase your hydration levels overall. Your skin will really appreciate your sacrifice.

Combination Skin

Skin that shows signs of both oiliness and dryness is appropriately labeled "combination" skin. This skin type may have an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) area and normal-to-dry on your cheeks and jawline. The reason for this common combination is the fact that there are more oil glands in the center of the face than in the outer areas. Your skin may have pores that look larger. You may also deal with blackheads, pimples, and a shiny face at times.

Focus: Balance & Spot Treatment Choosing the right moisturizer for your combination skin will go a long way in helping you find balance. Gel hydrators are great for this reason. Le Mieux's Hyaluronic Serum and Face Reality's Hydrabalance are both excellent choices for hydration that feels both light and moisturizing on your skin. If you have dry areas outside of your T-zone, you can spot treat those areas with an additional moisturizer such as Sorella's Daily Greens.

Sensitive Skin

Any skin type can present with signs of sensitivity. The wrong skincare ingredient can quickly set off healthy skin into a downward spiral of irritation. Chronically sensitive skin types, on the other hand, are characterized by skin that's easily irritated, inflamed, itchy, dry, or flushed. This skin type also includes those who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Sensitive skin will often present as red, uneven, and bumpy.

Focus: Proceed With Caution You cannot be too careful with your sensitive skin. As perhaps you've already discovered, testing out a new product on your skin for the first time can result in burning and inflammation. It's vitally important to test out all new skincare products (including makeup!) with a patch test prior to use on your entire face. Exfoliating products, in particular, can easily exacerbate sensitive skin. Apply a new product to your inner forearm, behind your ear, or along your jawline, and then watch for signs of a reaction for the next 24 hours. Also, watch out for products containing sensitizing ingredients such as fragrances, dyes, sulfates, parabens, and essential oils. For inflammation-reducing skincare that’s free of common irritants, our clients love Hale & Hush products.

Note: Just like with dry skin versus dehydrated skin, sensitive skin and sensitized skin are different. Sensitive skin will, by default, be a little more touchy. Sensitized skin can happen to any skin that gets too damaged or upset. Whether it's over-exfoliating or too much time in the sun, it means your skin has temporarily started to act like sensitive skin. The name of the game with sensitized skin is barrier repair! You want to focus on two things. First, avoid any further irritation. Second, use healing and nourishing skincare products. Your skin will be happy again in short order.

Will the Real Skin Type Please Step Forward?

Your skin type can change over time. Generally, younger folks exhibit more oily skin as this is when the oil glands are most active. With age, your skin tends to show signs of maturity as oil and collagen production slows down. As I mentioned earlier, it's important to note that a skin type is not a static condition. In addition to genetics, other influencers of skin type are climate, hormones, prescription drugs, food sensitivities, and improper skincare products. Variations in any of these factors can lead to a change in your skin's needs and will often mask your true skin type.

Bare-Faced Method To Finding Your Skin Type

If you’re still unsure about what your skin type is, try this simple skin type test known as The Bare-Faced Method:

Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
Do not apply any additional products to your skin.
After 1 hour, take a close look at your skin. Does your skin feel tight? Is it oily and shiny? Or does it appear dry and perhaps flaky? Follow the chart below to discover the results of your skin type test.

We understand how confusing the skincare world can be. Even as seasoned skincare veterans we can feel overloaded with information. But go ahead, take your time, and really get to know your skin. After all, your skin is unique and deserves individual attention. We are always here to help you tailor your skincare routine and lifestyle to your specific needs, goals, and interests.

Looking for more tailored advice? Sign up for a FREE Skincare Checkup for a personalized email consultation with one of our AOS estheticians.

What Is Your Skin Type? A Guide for Getting To Know Your Skin

Get To Know Your Skin