Recognising Different Skin Types

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RECOGNISING DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES & CONDITIONS

With the introduction of our shop by skin type I thought I would share some easy ways to tell what type of skin you have so that you can tailor your skincare routing accordingly! ⁠Initially I wrote this as a social media post but it proved so popular I decided to turn this into a blog with more details and in addition go into different skin conditions.

This blog will help you determine what skin type you have and therefore help you find the best products for your skin type.

Skin Types

There are four different skin types; normal, dry, oily and combination. You may not believe it but normal skin is actually the rarest skin type! Most people have a combination of a few different skin types. ⁠Most common is dry or normal cheeks and an oily t-zone across the forehead and down the nose.

Skin types can change. I think its important to remember this and regularly check to ensure that we are still using the right products for our skin type at that time. For example you may find that your skin changes with the seasons, maybe in the warmer months it is dry and needs extra moisturisation and is more normal or even oily in winter. You may even find that its affected by external factors such as pollution levels, stress, medication, hormones and exercise. Of course diet, smoking and alcohol consumption can also affect your skin. If you have a menstrual cycle you may find that at certain times during your cycle you have more oily skin while at other times it is normal.

For some skin types it is fine to use one product all over your face. However for some more extreme face types you may find that you need to treat the different areas with different products. For example most products for oily skin will dry your skin out, so you would not want to use these on any skin that is already dry! ⁠

NORMAL SKIN

⁠Normal skin is even in colour and texture. It is soft and smooth in texture with no dry or oily patches. Blemish free. ⁠Feels well moisturised and balanced. It has fine pores that are hardly visible to the naked eye. Good blood circulation.

Normal Skin and Skincare: With normal skin is typically much easier to find skincare products that it can benefit from. You can browse the ranges we have for normal skin type here.

DRY SKIN

Dry skin lacks moisture and is visibly dry, rough and can look dull. It is often be caused by the skin producing less sebum than normal skin. However having dry skin can also be impacted by environment factors.

Dry skin can feel tight after cleansing. It can be rough and blotchy in appearance. It can also possibly be itchy.⁠ This skin type is more prone to wrinkles, skin conditions and allergic reactions.

There are different severities of dry skin. Mildly dry skin might feel tight, brittle, rough and look dull. While more extreme dry skin can have chapped skin, calluses, scaling and experience more itchiness.

You can also experience temporary dry skin which can be caused by external factors such as weather and humidity. Or you have experience dry skin more long term, in some cases caused by lifelong conditions such as eczema and other skin conditions.

If you have dry skin take extra care of your skin when you are in the heat or cold/windy weather as both can make your skin drier and cause chapping and irritation.

Dry Skin and Skincare: Dry skin typically benefits from products that are creamier and will help to replenish and hydrate your skin. You can browse the ranges we have for dry skin type here.

Beneficial Ingredients for Dry Skin: Aloe vera, avocado, coconut oil, fruit enzymes (especially pineapple, pumpkin and papaya) & sunflower oil.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands produce too much oil or sebum. This excess oil or sebum can then block pores and cause acne.⁠ Oily skin can be heavily impacted by hormones.

Oily skin can be recognised by a number of different factors, of course the first being that the skin looks visibly oily. It can also be seen with enlarged and clearly visible pores and the appearance of blemishes, these could be in the form of black or white head spots. ⁠

Avoid products designed for dry skin as these will cause your oily skin to get even more oily!

Oily Skin and Skincare: With oily skin you want to use products that are going to work to mattify your skin while also taking care of any excess oils. You can browse the ranges we have for oily skin type here. ⁠

Beneficial Ingredients for Oily Skin: Charcoal, Clays, Grapeseed Oil, Hyaluronic acid, Tea Tree, Witch Hazel

COMBINATION SKIN

Combination skin is the most common skin type. It has a mix of 2 of more different skin types. Whether its that you have an oily T zone running across your forehead and down your nose with normal cheeks. Or maybe you have a normal t zone with dry cheeks. ⁠

Combination Skin and Skincare: You can browse the ranges we have for combination skin type here.

SKIN CONDITIONS

There are many skin conditions that can affect the over all health of your skin. These include things like sensitive skin, dehydrated skin and medicinal conditions like eczema.⁠

This is just a top level guide so I am just going to cover a small selection of them. If you have a skin condition and require help I urge you to contact your doctor to be referred to a dermatologist local to you. If you want some advice on products best suited to your skin condition feel free to contact us and we will see what we can do.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Sensitive skin reacts to external factors and allergens. Reactions to these allergens can cause multiple types of responses and can include irritation, rashes, redness and hives. With sensitive skin the outer layer of the skin tends to have a weak barrier function making it more susceptible.

Sensitive skin can also be affected by different causes such as be seasonal, weather or pollen related. Things like diet, stress levels and even pollution can also play a big part in how sensitive your skin is.

Sensitive skin can be one of the hardest skin conditions to treat because everyone has different causes and ingredients that your skin may or may not react to. It is advisable to go for a low or fragrance free item.

Sensitive Skin and Skincare: You can browse the ranges we have for sensitive skin here.

ACNE PRONE SKIN

Acne prone skin is skin that is more likely to develop comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and pimples. The skin often appears oily and shiny as the sebaceous glands produce more sebum and oil. This is often r

Acne Prone Skin and Skincare: You can browse the ranges we have for acne prone skin here.

DEHYDRATED SKIN

While dehydrated skin may look and feel very similar to dry skin it is in fact very different and can be easily rectified. Dehydrated skin is a lack of water in your skin. It also shows up in other ways such as having dark circles under your eyes, itchiness and a dullness to the skin. You may notice that these indicators are very similar to dry skin. There is a simple way to find out if your skin is dry or dehydrated.

To test if your skin is dehydrated pinch a small amount of skin for a few seconds on the back of your hand. Release the pinched skin, if it snaps back quickly you are unlikely to be dehydrated. If your skin takes a little while to return you are likely to be dehydrated. As well as the back of your hand you can perform this test on your cheek, abdomen and chest. Back of the hand is obviously the easiest.

Dehydrated Skin and Skincare: You can browse the ranges we have for dehydrated skin here.

DULL SKIN

Dull skin is normally as a result of excess dead skin cells that are building up on the surface of your skin.

Dull Skin and Skincare: You can browse the ranges we have for dull skin here.

MATURE SKIN

Mature skin tends to be dry and lacks tone and flexibility. The skin develops wrinkles and lines that are easily visible around the mouth, nose and eyes.

Mature Skin and Skincare: You can browse the ranges and products that we have for mature skin here.

REDNESS

Redness in your skin can be caused by a number of factors. It could be caused by environmental factors such as weather or it could be caused by hot flashes, acne or rosacea.

Skin prone to redness and Skincare: You can browse the ranges we have for skin prone to redness here.

This really is a top level over view. If you are experiencing any issues with your skin please visit your doctor or a dermatologist.

I hope you have found this interesting/helpful. Any comments or suggestions don’t hesitate to comment below!