Your skin is unique to you and is ever changing depending on your lifestyle and life stage. However your base skin type remains the same and knowing that skin type will play a crucial role in determining the best skincare routine for you.  

Whether you have normal, oily, dry, combination or sensitive skin, understanding your skin type is essential for achieving a healthy and radiant complexion. In this blog, we'll explore the characteristics of different skin types and provide tips on how to care for each one.  

 

OILY SKIN: how do I know if I have it? 

Oily skin is characterised by:

• Excessive sebum production
• Face feeling greasy and looking shiny
• Often people find they are especially shiny in the T-zone (across your forehead, nose, and chin)

If you have oily skin and wear make-up, you may notice it “slides off” quickly throughout the day. People with oily skin are more prone to breakouts, enlarged pores and blackheads. On the upside though, people with oily skin see the effects of ageing on their skin later than those with dry skin! 

 

How should I care for my Oily Skin? 

Regular cleansing is key to help remove the excess oil on your skin. However, we don’t want to be too harsh with our skin and overly strip it. It will just overcompensate and produce more oil!  

Cleansing twice daily will help keep skin clear without stripping its natural moisture.  Double cleansing is ideal for oily skin. First you'll need to use an oil-based cleanser to break down the oil on your skin (oil attracts oil), plus any makeup, sunscreen and other buildup.  

Once you’ve rinsed that off simply apply a water-based cleanser. This will remove any remaining impurities and help to deeply cleanse the skin. Our Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil and Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Purifying Cleansing Wash are the perfect duo for Double Cleansing Duo oily and greasy skin.

@superfacialist Self-Care Monday Mode…🤍👏 How to Double Cleanse with our Vitamin C Cleansing Oil & Micro Polish Wash🍊 #BeYourOwnSuperFacialist #SkinCareRoutine #DoubleCleansing ♬ Pop beat BGM / long version(1283324) - nightbird_bgm

Once you’d done all the hard work getting your skin clean, you’ll want to follow up with a moisturiser. Whilst it might seem counterintuitive to moisturise oily skin it’s the right thing to do. It will help the skin balance its oil production and maintain the skin barrier.  

By choosing products formulated specifically for oily skin they are going to contain ingredients that will help mattify skin, balance oil control and minimize blemishes. Our Salicylic Acid Anti-Blemish range is ideal for this.  

Blending Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide these hard working products help combat breakouts and oiliness, without stripping away essential moisture. 

 

DRY SKIN: how do I know if I have it? 

If you have a dry skin it means it’s lacking oil. You’ll often find that:

• You’re dry everywhere else on your body including hands, scalp, legs, etc.
• Dry skin often feels tight, rough, and may exhibit flakiness and redness  
• If you wear makeup you may find it looks cakey quickly and potentially catches on dry patches

Those with dry skin may also notice the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles more quickly as there isn’t the moisture levels in the skin to help keep it plump. 

Is it dry or just dehydrated? There is a difference! Dry skin, as mentioned, is a skin type where your skin naturally lacks oil. You’re born this way. Whereas dehydrated skin is skin that lacks water and is a skin condition.  

It can be caused by physical and environmental factors such as whether you have had enough water to drink, exposure to the sun, wind or central heating. All of these strip water from within your skin. Both dry and dehydrated skin can have the similar appearances and challenges, however dehydrated skin can be resolved with water and a good moisturiser!  

 

How should I care for my dry skin? 

If you think your skin is dehydrated try and address what might be causing that – the same topical products for dry skin will most likely help and make sure they contain a high water content.   

For dry skin you want to boost the lipids, the oils, on your skin. Make sure your cleanser is a hydrating cleanser that’s not going to strip your skin. Using serums, oils, moisturisers that are going to nourish dry skin and lock in that moisture are key.  

Look out for humectants such as Hyaluronic Acid and natural moisturisers such as Rosehip Oil.

 

COMBINATION SKIN: how do I know if I have it? 

Does your skin sound like it could be both oily and dry? Well then it’s most likely combination. Often seen with:

• Oily skin skin across the T-Zone (think shine, larger pores and breakouts)
• Dry skin on the cheeks (flaky skin, maybe redder and more prone to irritation).

If that sounds familiar, then you need to really considered about what skincare you use and where.  

 

How should I care for my combination skin? 

Working to achieve balance in your skin is your goal with combination skin types. A cleansing routine is key to ensure excess oil is removed without stripping the essential moisture from the skin. Cleansing Oils are great for combination skin as they are primed to help lift away oil and grime but really look after the moisture barrier.

Check out our Skin Renew Cleansing Oil if you have combination skin to ensure a radiant, balanced complexion. 

Then be really topical with the rest of your skincare. Multi-masking is a thing because it means you’re targeting areas of your face with what your skin needs. It should be the same with your moisturisers too.

Facialist Top Tip: You may find you can use the same moisturiser all over but on your drier areas use a serum too to help boost hydration in a targeted way.  

NORMAL SKIN: how to look after it? 

Well, if you’re one of the few lucky people who identify as having a ‘normal’ skin type we’re very happy for you! Your skin is able to produce the amount of oil it needs without leading to excess or dryness.  

Remember that external environmental and lifestyle factors can still impact your skin and cause imbalances. A skincare regime that includes gentle cleansing, moisturization and SPF protection is still highly recommended. 

 

How to easily check what your skin type is… 

Think you have oily skin but aren’t sure? Is your skin more combination? This simple trick will tell you what your skin type is.   

Firstly cleanse your skin.

After one hour check how your skin looks and feels.

Blot your forehead and cheeks with tissue paper.

Normal skin will have a healthy glow, feel comfortable and be neither dry or oily. You shouldn’t get a significant amount of oil on the paper. 

If your face feels tight and the skin rough with no oil, you have dry skin.

If after blotting there’s oil on your T-zone but not your cheeks, you have combination skin.

If your skin is shiny all over, and leaves oil on the blotting paper both from your cheeks and T-zone, you have oily skin.

If you notice your skin looks blotchy and red and feels tingly, you have sensitive skin.

 

Is It Possible to Change Skin Type?

Your skin type is largely determined by genetics, and while you can't change it entirely, you can improve its condition. Embrace a consistent skincare routine tailored to your specific needs, and you'll notice significant improvements over time. 

Identifying your skin type is the first step towards achieving a healthy and radiant complexion. Embrace the unique characteristics of your skin and customize your skincare routine to address its specific needs. Remember that consistency is key to seeing results, so be patient and gentle with your skin.  

For women especially, entering different phases of your life, such as Menopause, can have a huge impact on your skin. What once always worked for you may now be irritating, not enough or just doesn’t feel right anymore. These changes can stay with you for the rest of your life and we’d recommend speaking to menopause experts to better understand your personal challenges. 

 

Regardless of skin type, these are our lifestyle tips for healthy, balanced skin: 

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 
• Protect your skin from the sun by using sunscreen with at least SPF 30. 
• Eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to nourish your skin from within. 
• Get enough sleep to allow your skin time to repair and rejuvenate. 
• Manage stress levels as stress can trigger skin issues like acne and eczema. 

Want to learn more from our Resident Skincare Expert? Watch Charlotte's How-To Videos here.

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