Determining your skin type – the first step towards proper skincare

What do you know about your skin? The answer to this question is vital for building you skincare routine. Each skin type has its unique characteristics, which requires a different approach and different active ingredients. The proper identification of your skin type will help you choose suitable cosmetic products and avoid adverse reactions.

Normal skin is characterized by a balanced appearance – it is neither too oily, nor too dry. It has small pores and a smooth texture, which makes it the dream skin of many people.

Dry skin often feels tight, it may have rough texture, visible fine lines and show a tendency to flake off easily. Such skin needs special care and deep hydration.

Oily skin is characterized by shiny appearance, especially in the T-zone, large pores and it is prone to outburst of acne and black heads, which requires a specific approach to skincare.

Combination skin presents the challenge of an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and dry or normal cheeks, which requires specific products for the different zones.

Sensitive skin is especially delicate and often gets red and irritated. It often reacts to different products, which can cause burning sensation and itching. Dry skin needs a very careful selection of what skincare products to use.

Main steps in your daily skincare routine

After you have identified your skin type, it is time for you to think about your daily skincare routine. There are three major milestones in skincare: cleansing, hydration and sun protection. They are the foundation you can build upon and if you are persistent in performing them regularly, the results can be surprisingly impressive.

Cleansing

Proper cleansing is the first step that prepares your skin for everything else. Take it as a ritual of refreshing your face and relieving it from built up impurities and sebum. Use tender cleansing products which do not affect the pH balance of your skin or ruin its natural barrier function. The active ingredients of such products should be chosen with regard to your specific needs. For example, a cleansing gel with lavender oil would be an excellent choice for soothing irritated skin, while face cleansing milk with rose oil is suitable for dry, sensitive skin.

Hydration and nourishment

The next major step is hydration. The aim of this step is not only to moisturize your skin but also to target certain imperfections like fine lines, hyperpigmentation or irritation. The use of a good hydrating face cream helps the skin retain moisture, which makes it softer and more flexible.

When choosing what facial products to use, we would recommend that you go for organic facial creams with natural extracts like jojoba oil, castor oil or hyaluronic acid. Certified organic products adhere to strict, high quality standard that you can trust.

Sun protection

The final step in your morning routine is also one of the most important aspects of skincare as a whole. Sun protection if often dismissed, but it plays a key role in skincare. Even if you spend most of your time indoors, UV rays can penetrate through the windows and harm your epidermal cells. This is the main reason for premature ageing, the appearance of dark spots and it is also a risk factor for developing serious medical conditions like skin cancer.

The use of a broad spectrum, high sun protection factor sunscreen will protect you against such risks. In case you skin tends to be sensitive, choose a product with mineral sun protection. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered to be the best broad spectrum UV filters which modern cosmetics can offer.

Additional products for all-round skincare

In case you have already mastered the main steps and would like to enrich your skincare routine, you can add a few other products, which complement the basic ones and cater for the specific needs your skin might have.

Eye contour products

We are talking about serums and creams, especially created to cater for the specific needs of your eye contour. They contain ingredients which effectively fight problems like swelling, dark circles, dryness and loss of elasticity – typical for that facial zone.

Serums and oils

Serums and oils are extremely useful products because they contain a high concentration of active ingredients, which are formulated in a way that allows them to penetrate in the deeper layers of the skin. For example, a product containing Vitamin C will help you deal with pigmentation and uneven tone, while hyaluronic acid will be an excellent ingredient to fight fine lines and deeper wrinkles.

If you have never used such a product, read about what an organic face serum is and how you can include it in your skincare routine.

Face masks

Face masks are a valuable addition to you weekly skincare routine. They provide intensive nourishment and similarly to serums, they can target specific skin problems like dryness or excessive production of sebum. They are usually used once or twice a week, applied immediately after skin cleansing.

The active ingredients should be chosen with regard to the aims you want to achieve. With oily skin, in most cases, it would be deep cleansing, while dry skin would require additional nourishment. Some people prefer products with fruit acids, but you should be careful about using such because they are not appropriate for all skin types.

Proper application of cosmetic products

After you have chosen appropriate products, the next important thing is how to apply them. Did you know that the sequence and method of application can substantially affect the efficiency of cosmetic products?

It is a general rule that you should start with lighter products and then move on to ones with richer texture. Light, massaging movements will stimulate blood circulation and facilitate penetration of the active ingredients. Try not to use excessive pressure, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Some people prefer to use special tools for applying hydrating cream – a popular choice for that being guasha stones and semi-precious-stone facial massage rollers, for example made of nephritis or pink quartz. Remember that manual facial massage can also be an excellent way of stimulating facial blood circulation and lymph drainage.

Seasonal skincare 

Seasonal changes affect not only our mood but the condition of our skin as well. In spring and summer, you should choose lighter formulas which allow the skin to breathe easily. During the warm months, unconditional priority should be given to sun protection. In autumn and winter, when the air is drier, the skin needs additional hydration and richer facial creams, which provide protection against cold air.

Healthy lifestyle and its effects on the skin

                 “A healthy outside starts from the inside.”

                  Robert Urich, actor  

The way you take care for your overall wellbeing has a direct effect on the way you skin looks. Your diet, body hydration and good sleep are just as important as the cosmetic products you use. Research shows that an appropriate diet can significantly relieve symptoms of skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, to mention but a few.(1)

Even if you do not have any specific skin conditions, balanced consumption of proteins, vegetables, fruits and whole grain products can also improve the elasticity of your skin and give it a natural radiance. Do not underestimate the importance of hydration either – drink plenty of water in order to maintain an optimal hydro balance in your body.

Stress can also have a negative effect on your skin, causing a range of problems, among which the appearance of pimples or redness would be the most common. Try to think of your own way of fighting stress and tension in your daily life – get into the habit of having frequent walks in the open, do yoga or meditate whenever possible.

A healthy skin is the result of consistent care, which includes the use of appropriate products, adapted to our skin type and seasonal changes. If you give your skin all it needs at specific times, you will soon enjoy visible results.  

Appropriate daily skincare is not a matter of vanity, it is an investment in your health!

Resources:

1. Sharma, N., Chaudhary, S. M., Khungar, N., Aulakh, S. K., Idris, H., Singh, A., & Sharma, K. (2024). Dietary influences on skin health in common dermatological disorders. Cureus, 16(2), e55282.https://www.cureus.com/articles/228397-dietary-influences-on-skin-health-in-common-dermatological-disorders#!/