Ingredients for your skin type
What is my skin type?
Like you, many people are confused about how to determine their skin type. Am I oily or dry? Does it mean I have sensitive skin if I break out easily?
Your skin type is scientifically determined based on several factors. These include factors such as the amount of sebum your skin produces and how reactive your skin is.
How do I determine my skin type?
The amount of sebum your skin produces:
Dry vs. oily
There is a genetic component that determines the amount of sebum your skin naturally produces. Some people have skin that is on the oilier side of the spectrum. Others have skin that produces less oil, making their skin more prone to dryness.
How reactive your skin is:
Sensitive vs. robust
Some people are born with reactive skin. This means that their skin is sensitive and reacts to almost any element that can cause irritation. If you have had eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis since a very young age, your skin is likely in the sensitive category.
Conversely, people with less reactive skin are said to have resilient skin. These individuals may not react negatively to elements that can irritate sensitive skin types.
Sensitive skin is therefore characterized by a reduced skin barrier function, making them more prone to irritation. In short, the skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin. It works to protect your skin from irritating, harsh external elements. At the same time, it also retains moisture and prevents your skin from drying out.
What skincare ingredients should I avoid or be aware of?
We'll start with some basic recommendations for skincare ingredients, based on how reactive your skin is.
Robust skin
If you have resilient skin, there's good news! You likely have a pretty strong skin barrier, which means you can be more adventurous with your skincare routine and ingredients.
Sensitive skin
However, sensitive skin types may need to be extra careful about the products they use. If you have sensitive skin, there are several ingredients you should try to avoid. Common ingredients to avoid for sensitive skin include:
Fragrances
Essential oils
Drying alcohols
These ingredients are known to cause irritation and induce negative skin reactions in people with compromised skin barriers.
Dry skin
Ceramide
Did you know that ceramide is one of the main components of our skin barrier? People with dry skin usually have skin that lacks the natural production of ceramide!
Therefore, skincare with ceramides can fill gaps in the porous skin barrier and better retain moisture. Ceramides can be used effectively on both sensitive and robust skin.
If you have dry/sensitive skin, you should be aware of the following ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid
This ingredient has an amazing ability to retain moisture to keep your skin hydrated. As we explained above, dry skin does not produce enough sebum. In these conditions, your skin will be more prone to dehydration if you do not moisturize your skin properly!
That's exactly why you should incorporate hyaluronic acid into your routine. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most powerful hydrating ingredients in skincare - it can hold up to a hundred times its own weight in water! Incredibly gentle, even on sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
I'm not the type to overdo it, but there really doesn't seem to be anything that niacinamide can't do. If you have sensitive skin, niacinamide can help soothe your skin thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, it can also help strengthen your skin barrier to better retain moisture! A real keeper.
If you have dry/flaky skin, you should keep an eye out for the following ingredients:
Vitamin C
If you have dry skin, chances are you are also prone to dull and lackluster skin. When your skin lacks moisture, it loses its natural ability to shed dead skin cells. This causes your skin to lose its natural radiance! Vitamin C can help restore your skin cell turnover rate and bring back the glow that your skin is missing.
AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids)
AHA also acts as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. This will keep dull and flaky skin at bay. Use AHAs in the morning to start on a fresh canvas and to prevent makeup from clumping due to dry skin mid-day.
Oily skin
Salicylic acid
Where do we start? Salicylic acid is a dream come true for oily skin types. Not only does it remove dead skin cells, it also has antibacterial properties and controls sebum production. This is important because oily skin is more prone to acne! Stay acne-free and matte with this hero ingredient.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide's anti-inflammatory properties soothe live acne on acne-prone, oily skin types and also prevent and reduce hyperpigmentation. Over time, it can also control sebum production. Try it - you'll find that your skin starts producing less oil than it used to!
If you have oily/sensitive skin, keep an eye out for the following ingredients:
Panthenol
Who doesn't love panthenol? In the world of moisturizing and soothing ingredients, panthenol, also known as vitamin B5, is definitely at the top of the list. They are amazing humectants that also have a soothing effect on irritated skin.
If you have oily/elastic skin, keep an eye out for the following ingredients:
AHA (alpha hydroxy acids)
Lactic acid, glycolic acid and mandelic acid are part of the AHA group, which help remove dead skin cells. This will help prevent the formation of comedones, or clogged pores. Comedones are common in oily skin types, where there is a tendency to overproduce sebum. Regular use of AHA products will prevent clogged pores and keep your skin clean and clear!
Retinoids
Do you have acne-prone, oily skin? Check out skin care products that contain retinoids. Some of the preferred ingredients that belong to the retinoid group are retinol and retinaldehyde. Retinoids can help regulate the skin's cell turnover rate, control sebum production, and treat acne.
