Skin Types

Oily skin

Dry skin

Sensitive skin

Normal skin

Combination skin (WTH is that???)

Oily skin

Secretions of natural oils are part of the many processes that your skin carries out. This keeps your skin hydrated. Oh, but wait. For folks with oily skin, this turns into a disaster. Your skin tends to produce too much sebum. Those sebaceous glands just work too freakin hard. That glowing shine magically appears on your face. What about the pores on your skin that suddenly look like they doubled in size? The annoying red bumps which mysteriously appear out of nowhere? Ya, that’s the problem. Enlarged pores and breaking out often are essential indicators of oily skin. So many factors play a part in the development of oily skin. It can be just your genetics, hormone fluctuations, weather, climate, or even the products you use on your skin. 

The fix (According to the American Academy of Dermatology)

1. Wash your face every morning, evening, and after exercise. Resist the urge to scrub your skin to prevent irritation. Instead, gently massage skin with a cleanser for an effective cleanse. 

2. Choose skincare products that are labelled “oil-free” and “noncomedogenic.” These products won’t clog your pores and lead to more breakouts.

3. Use a gentle cleanser. Forget the bar soap. Harsh cleansers will irritate your skin, increasing oil production.

4. Apply moisturizer daily. While this might seem fatal, moisturizing your skin every day is vital to prevent excessive sebum production. You don’t want an oil flood. Do you? Then comes the red bumps. And you get pissed. We ain’t wanting none of this.

5. Never sleep in your makeup. Always remove all makeup before going to sleep. I know. The exhaustion when you get home. Resist it. Don’t turn to the dark side. 

6. Use blotting papers throughout the day. Press the paper gently on your face. Let it absorb the oil. 

7. Never ever touch your face throughout the day. Remember, it’s the most important commandment. So resist it with all your might. And always apply products to your face with clean hands. 

Dry skin

Now it’s starting to get more complicated. Dry skin? What exactly does that mean? We are talking about a vast spectrum here. Certain skin conditions can cause dry skin. E.g., eczema.

In these cases, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist. But if your skin is just parched due to things like weather conditions or if your skin is naturally dry, here are a few things that you can do.

The fix (According to the American Academy of Dermatology)

1. Keep baths and showers short. Set the temperature of water at lukewarm, not hot. Hot showers can dry the skin.

2. Apply moisturizer after getting out of the bath. It’s one of the best rescues for dryness. 

3. Use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air. This will reduce water loss from your skin.

Sensitive skin

Another wide spectrum. Rosacea, contact dermatitis, or small breakouts once in a while? If you experience terrible inflammation or experience any sensitive skin condition, you should consult a dermatologist. But if your skin is just more prone to inflammation than others, here are a few things you can do.

The fix 

1. Avoid over-exfoliation. “The skin does a surprisingly good job of staying clean naturally without the need for harsh cleansers, exfoliation, and scrubbing,” says Jamie B. MacKelfresh, M.D., associate professor in the department of dermatology at Emory University School of Medicine. Exfoliating too much will irritate the skin.

2. Always patch test a product. You never know how your skin is gonna react. “If you have sensitive skin, always test a small amount of the new product on the inside of your arm overnight,” says Shari Lipner, M.D., a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. 

3. Monitor your skin and identify the triggers. “I think the best way to manage sensitive skin is to identify and avoid those ingredients that trigger your sensitivity,” says Suzan Obagi, M.D., director of the UPMC Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Health Center.

4. Step back after a bad reaction. “Cut down to using only one product at a time for at least a week to figure out which one is actually causing a reaction to your skin,” says Nada Elbuluk, M.D. clinical assistant professor of dermatology. Then slowly add back products one by one to identify the trigger. 

5. Introduce new products to your skincare routine slowly

Normal skin

There is actually no such thing. It is a term to describe folks who don’t have any issues. So yeah, you’re lucky. But there are a few things you must still adhere to.

1. Maintain a good skincare routine (cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen)

2. Constantly monitor your skin. Remember, you can fall into any of the categories mentioned above anytime.