Hello my lovely people, and can I first say a huge thank you for the massive support I've had on these posts so far! I remember feeling very anxious about even starting this and I doubt my abilities at the best of times, but a few incredible friends pushed me in the right direction and here we are! It's incredible to receive messages saying these have been super helpful and I'm loving the messages with your new skin care purchases! So hopefully we can continue to support each other on our journey to skin perfection! So thank you thank you thank you thank you... etc ( you get the point).
So, this week I wanted to talk about getting in tune with yourself and your skin. Many people I've spoken to have absolutely NO idea what skin type they are (boys this goes or you too!). Unfortunately, what we then do is buy whatever product we think looks great, or smells amazing, and chuck it on our face, then wonder WHY we are getting dry skin or even better BREAKING OUT! Believe me, I've been there, done that, got a million t-shirts AND scrubbed my T-zone until I had no skin left. I remember a stage in my life where me and my eldest sister made a 'spot killing' face mask at home. You got it, it went terribly wrong, I'm pretty sure the main ingredient was TCP (face palm). We've tried toothpaste, lemon juice, sudocrem....the list goes on. Ultimately, I've usually ended up with red raw, flaky, dry and sore skin from all my attempts at fixing my skin without ever looking into WHAT SKIN TYPE AM I?!?!?!?
I'm sure we are all guilty of buying a branded face wash, cleanser, toner, moisturiser, because it's a known brand and says it will do all the magic things it says on the tin, or used an SPF because it smells nice (yes you even need to choose an SPF for your skin type). For years I would use cocoa butter moisturiser on my face and wonder why my skin burnt, only to find out I was sensitive to fragranced items. EVEN shampoo and conditioner can affect your scalp!Â
So, let's work out our skin types and start using products designed to comfort, nourish and treat our skin types and get the BEST results. So put the micellular water down and listen up!
What skin types are there?
There are five main skin types, Your skin type is predetermined by your genes, it's the skin you're born in. We’re going to go in to what they mean and the key identifiers of these skin types.
Normal
Oily
Combination
Dry
Sensitive
Now, lets not confuse skin type to skin condition. Your skin type will determine your daily skin care routine, the types makeup you wear and the creams you use. Your basic skincare needs are affected by the TYPE of skin you have. Skin conditions however are temporary conditions of the body, for example, Pregnancy, psoriasis, menopause etc. Skin conditions can come in all shapes and sizes, such as; Sun damage, Acne, Dehydration etc, and can be influenced by various internal and external factors such as diet, skincare routine, climate, stress, hormones and so on. I will get into this further in the coming weeks. But first, lets strip all the complicated stuff back and get you in tune with your skin so you can build a healthy simple skin care routine.
Normal
If you fall into the normal category, well done! (we all envy you) you have lovely well-balanced skin and if we want to be scientific your skin is Eudermic. Your skin is like April 25th, not to oily/wet and not too dry, and all you need is a light skin care routine. Your T-zone, which is the area covering your forehead, chin and nose may have a bit of oil but generally your sebum is balanced.
Normal skin has;
Small Pores.
No Blemishes.
Soft and Smooth texture.
Good blood flow.
A fresh complexion.Â
Someone with normal skin usually isn't prone to sensitivity, but can get dry skin with age. That one is short and sweet! Just to confirm, those with normal skin still need a good routine, and it does not mean the may not suffer from skin conditions.
Oily People with oily skin tend to have an over production of sebum (yay) if you wanna sound smart, also known as Seborrhoea (good ol Seb) A few things can cause an excess of sebum such as Genetics (thanks mum),
Hormones, medication, stress, or cosmetics - also known as comedogenic cosmetics (can cause blocked pores).
If you are an oily skin type, you'll have the following.
Enlarged and visible pores.
A glossy shine (you glow girl).
Thicker and pale skin.
Unfortunately, those with oily skin are prone to things like black heads and whiteheads and the other acne delights. HOWEVER, do not stress, there are plenty of things out there that can and will help you to improve your skin and manage our friend Seb. Also, those with oily skin now, tend to age better, so don't sweat it you'll be laughing when your 50! I fell into this category for YEARS, but after the correct treatments and now a very good routine I fall more into combo / normal.
Combination
Those with Combo skin will find that their skin varies in the T-zone area and cheeks. The T-zone area can differ from being a very small area to a large area being affected. If your skin is combination then you'll find;
You have an oily T-zone (Forehead, chin, nose).
Your pores will be larger in these areas.
You may get impurities in these areas.
Your cheeks may be normal / dry.
T-zones suffer from excess oil due to the over production of sebum, whereas the dryer parts are from a lack of sebum and lipid deficiency - This is a fatty acid known as Ceramides, this increases hydration and barrier function in the skin.
Dry
Dry skin types produce a lot less sebum than other types of skin. Dry skin lacks the lipids which retain the moisture in the skin (ceramides). Without this there is no protective shield from external influences, which further damage the skin leading to an impaired barrier function. Dry skin is also known as Xerosis and can vary in severity for different people. Remember all skin gets dryer with age! Dry skin can vary from a little bit dry to extremely dry,
but generally the signs of dry skin are;
Brittle or rough skin.
Feeling of tightness.
Dull complexion.
Lack of elasticity.
Mid flaking / flaky patches.
Rough and blotchy appearance.
Possible itching.
More sensitive to redness and irritation.
Not to fear! There are plenty of products to tackle dry skin as there are for all skin types. Â
Sensitive skin With all skin types there is a chance of skin sensitivity, Sensitive skin can be triggered by internal and external factors, and it happens when our natural barrier function is compromised which causes water loss allowing irritants to penetrate the skin.Â
Those with sensitive skin may find they are;
Prone to redness and inflammation.
Potential Acne / Rosacea / Dermatitis.
Itchiness.
Reactions to certain ingredients.
Sore or tender.
Stinging or burning.
Sensitive skin isn't really a permanent skin type as it can be brought on from the overuse of harsh products. Skin sensitivity can be affected through allergies, sun exposure without protection, harsh cosmetics or cleansers and over use of exfoliants. Skin type can change as we age, and it doesn't mean we aren't all prone to blemishes, hyperpigmentation or sun damage etc. But it also doesn't mean we have to put up with any negative effects our skin types may bring us! The truth is there is no such thing as 'perfect skin' its learning to get synced with your skin type, learn it, love it, become best friends with it, and feed it what it needs to let it thrive and be its best self. Just like our bodies, our skin needs to be fuelled with the right food to get the best performance. Lets think of our skin as little potted plants, you're going to nurture it, put it in the right environment and help it to grow and eventually a beautiful flower will form! and yes, even normal skin needs to be nurtured! So your homework is to really learn your skin, listen to it daily and see what it needs, analyse it and get in tune with what skin type you are, because that is the first step in building the perfect routine for yourself. Remember no one dermis is the same, its all about: Consistent. Perseverance. Success. So, stick with me, because next week I'll be stripping us back to basics and getting into the nitty and gritty of these skin types and share with you the tips, tricks and products to get THE BEST results for your skin types! Let's make your skin EXTRAORDINARY! Until next week dolls!
Please remember I am not a dermatologist or a medical professional, if you have any concerns you should consult your doctor!
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