Do you find that your face is oily and uncomfortable at the end of the day? Does your face constantly feel tight and irritated? This is normal–you just have either an oily or dry skin type.
By knowing your skin type, you’ll be able to make more informed beauty and skincare decisions that can make you feel more comfortable throughout the day. Even better, you may find that finding products that work for your skin type can lead to fewer breakouts, smaller-looking pores, and more.
With this in mind, read on to learn how to choose the best beauty products for your skin type today!
Avoid Following Trends
When it comes to skincare products and beauty products, there seem to be new trends almost every month of the year. Influencers and online beauty gurus will tout all of the benefits of a new product. However, oftentimes those gurus are doing a job–the brand is paying them in order to advertise their product.
Even worse, the influencers you follow online may not disclose what their skin type is and whether the product works better on certain skin types than others. And if you have rosacea, changing products can lead to flare-ups and irritation.
With all this in mind, we recommend trying not to pay attention to the trends. Instead, determine your skin type and needs and choose tried-and-true products that serve you best.
Determine Your Skin Type
Next, it’s important that you know some of the basics about the different skin types in order to determine what type of skin you have. This is because you may find that your skin is a combination of a number of types.
Here are some of the most common:
Oily Skin
You’ll know if you have oily skin if your face looks shiny and feel greasy throughout the day. Oily skin is caused by an over-production of sebum on your face, especially in the T-zone of your forehead, nose, and chin.
You may also notice that your pores are enlarged and easy to see, and you may be more prone to acne breakouts. People with oily skin often make the mistake of using products that are full of alcohol in order to “dry out” their faces. However, this can cause your face to produce even more sebum in response!
Instead, look for products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids or benzoyl peroxide. This can help control your excess oil. You’ll also still want to use a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid so that your skin barrier is still nourished.
Dry Skin
People with dry skin have the opposite problem. Their skin often feels uncomfortably tight throughout the day and is prone to showing more lines and wrinkles. Dry skin can feel itchy and irritated.
Lastly, you may find that your skin has a rough, flakey, or scaly texture. You’ll want to find products with lots of moisture in order to counterbalance your dryness. Opt for cream moisturizers instead of gels and look for ingredients such as lactic acid and hyaluronic acid.
Make sure to moisturize both in the morning and the evening after you’ve washed your face and your skin is still slightly damp.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is often in combination with dry or oily skin. You’ll know that you have sensitive skin if it gets red after using certain products or it feels dry and itchy often. Your skin may also be susceptible to the environment, such as pollution, fragrance, and dyes.
If you know you have sensitive skin, make sure that you use products that only contain a few ingredients and don’t have alcohol. You’ll also want to make sure to test patch a new skincare or beauty product on your wrist before you use it on your face.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to seek the help of a dermatologist if you struggle to find products that your skin doesn’t react to. They’ll be able to prescribe medication, creams, and more that may be more effective than most of the products you find in a drugstore.
Use Blotting Sheets
If you’re still not sure what kind of skin type you have, you can utilize oil blotting sheets in order to make a determination. First, wash your face with your everyday cleanser and let it dry for at least 30 minutes without applying any other products.
Next, press a blotting sheet to your face in various areas and hold it up to examine. If the sheet is near-transparent because of all the oil it absorbed, you most likely have oily skin.
If the sheet still seems mostly opaque, then you have dry skin. If you find that the sheet only picks up oil in your T-zone, then you have a combination of oily and dry skin.
Lastly, if you find that the sheet picks up only a slight amount of oil from every part of your face (including the T-zone), then you have normal skin.
Pay Attention to Your Skin Type for a Comfortable Face
If you have oily, dry, or sensitive skin, you’ll find that it’s common to feel uncomfortable throughout the day. A dry, tight face means that you may have trouble feeling comfortable fully expressing yourself. An oily face means that you may feel the need to run to the bathroom frequently to blot your face.
However, by being more aware of your skin type, you can choose skincare products and beauty products that will work for you. Not only does this mean you’ll feel more confident, but the quality of your life will also improve as your comfort is enhanced.
Ready for more no-nonsense beauty tips? Keep reading the blog for more articles!