When it comes to your skin and selecting the right skincare regime for your skin type, concern or goal there are thousands of choices available. Combine this with the millions of recommendations from influencers and brands on Instagram and tik tok, and it becomes a minefield in navigating what’s best for you and your skin.
Your skin is the largest organ and is not immune to what we use and do to it on a daily basis and choosing the best skincare regime for your skin can be confusing. You cannot cookie cut one person’s successful skin regime for yours because of your very own uniqueness and doing so may potentially damage your skin.
This is highlighted further through a 2022 study (1) where it revealed that 63% of the women trialled in a world’s first genome sequence skin test study did not know their skin type. Further findings showed that almost two thirds incorrectly identified their skin type.
Let’s get back to basics by understanding skin types, skin conditions and how you can kick some skin goals for 2024.
What is a skin type?
A skin type is what we are genetically born with and pretty much stays with you throughout life, however it may be influenced as we age and go through biological changes.
Dry skin type
A dry skin type also called a lipid dry skin, means you have a lack of oil. If you look closely at your skin, you won’t see large pores and will see a finer texture. You never feel oily and never see shine and sometimes could feel tight or taut.
Aim for your skin: Nourishment and protection.
Key actives to include in your regime: Linoleic and Alpha Linoleic Oil, Vitamin A, C and E, Tryptophan, Bioflavonoids.
Find them in: Br Rosehip Oil, By Blackberry Seed Oil, Hydra Calm Bio Cellulose Mask, Bf Restore Face & Body Serum, Bk Vitamin C Face & Eye Serum.
Oily skin type
In comparison to a dry skin that has a lack of oil, oily skin has overactive oil glands that love to produce oil, showing up as shiny or greasy and feeling thicker textured. Having oily skin means you may be susceptible to breakouts or congestion if not kept in check. When it comes to using products for oily skin, don’t overuse products to try and ‘strip’ the oil away as you may end up experiencing more oil because your oil glands will produce more, compensating for what you are stripping away.
Aim for your skin: Balancing and refining.
Key actives to include in your regime: Niacinamide, Tartaric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lignan, Vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
Find them in: Bd Luminosity Serum, Bg Defence Ant Pollution Serum, Hydra Balance Bio Cellulose Sheet Mask and Bx Reveal Exfoliant.
Combination skin type
This a skin type that may feel balanced/drier in the outer part of the face but feel oily and look shiny in the centre part of the face.
Aim for your skin: Keep the status quo to maintain balance and hydration.
Key actives to include in your regime: Niacinamide, Phenolic Acids, Vitamin C, Lignan and Tryptophan.
Find them in: Bf Face & Body Serum, Bg Defence Anti-Pollution Serum, Hydra Balance Bio Cellulose Sheet Mask, Bx Reveal Exfoliant.
Sensitive skin type
There is a lot of confusion around sensitive skin type versus sensitised (more on that later). A sensitive skin type is genetic and has generally always been sensitive/reactive. Sensitive skin attributes may include pale skin colour, pale eye colour, flushing and blushing easily and may also suffer from the atopic triad of eczema, asthma or hay fever.
Aim for your skin: Build the barrier function of the skin, nourish and strengthen.
Key actives to include: Bioflavonoids, Ferulic Acid, Linoleic and Alpha Linoleic Fatty Acids, Vitamin C & K.
Find them in: Bf Restore Face & Body Serum, By Blackberry Seed Oil, Hydra Calm Bio Cellulose Sheet Mask, Bk Vitamin C Face & Eye Serum.
Balanced skin type
This can be referred to as ‘normal’ although, there really is no such thing, therefore we prefer referring as a balanced skin type. This is where your skin is not over oily nor over dry and has a balanced oil flow. This skin type doesn’t feel tight nor is reactive to stimulus and has a regular type of skin texture.
Aim for your skin: Maintain, hydrate and protect.
Key actives to include: Vitamin A, E, K, C, Ferulic Acid, Tryptophan, Phenolic Acids, Quercetin.
Find them in: Bf Restore Face & Body Serum, Bk Vitamin C Face & Eye Serum, By Blackberry Seed Oil, Br Rosehip Oil, Hydra Boost Bio Cellulose Sheet Mask, Bx Reveal Exfoliant.
What is a skin condition?
A skin condition is when your skin experiences a change or a challenge in response to internal or external influences. This can be hormones, lifestyle, medication, health and environment. Skin conditions can be helped and corrected with targeted skin products that can be introduced into your regime to address a specific concern or goal.
Sensitised skin condition
A sensitised skin can occur anywhere and anytime and is conditional with your environment, for example what you use and put on your skin or any changes to your health like taking medications. A sensitised skin can feel irritated and look red, flaky, tight and taut. Introduce calming, soothing and hydrating ingredients in building a strong skin barrier is key.
Dehydrated skin condition
A dehydrated skin is one that lacks water within the skin barrier. This can make it look taught, feel tight and flaky if left untreated. A dehydrated skin lacks water whilst a dry skin lacks oil, and yes, you can be both. Introduce moisture loving actives that keep the skin barrier healthy and help build in optimal hydration by locking in and preventing moisture loss.
Ageing skin condition
What are the visible signs of ageing skin? You may notice fine lines and wrinkles appearing, a loss of skin elasticity and possibly a dull and uneven skin tone. In later stages of ageing, your skin may feel thinner with increased dryness and dehydration. Ageing can be attributed to natural genetic ageing, or external ageing that can be accelerated from the sun, inflammation, free radical damage or even health concerns. To help prevent ageing, it is important to nourish, protect and build the barrier of the skin with potent antioxidants. Helping to encourage collagen synthesis, skin elasticity and increasing cell turnover, encouraging new cell renewal, will aid in hydration and in maintaining your healthy skin glow, an important factor in skin ageing.
Pigmentation skin condition
Pigmentation disorders occur when there is a change of melanin being produced within the skin in a process known as melanogenesis. Triggers of pigmentation changes can be sun damage and long term over exposure to UV, hormones, medication, vitamin deficiencies and ageing. Pigmentation changes caused by these trigger factors can be difficult to treat, however phyto-actives that target and help to inhibit the production of melanin can assist to even the skin tone and brighten the skin.
Acne/problematic & breakout prone
Any skin may experience acne or breakouts at any point in their lives and a problematic skin that presents with red, swollen pustules, nodules or painful cysts is classified as inflammatory acne. A skin that has under surface congestion, blackheads or whiteheads is classified as non-inflammatory. Some main causes of acne are excess sebum (oil) and increased skin cell production. Hormonal changes in your teenage years or pregnancy can exacerbate and trigger your oil glands to produce more oil. Problematic skin may also suffer from retention hyperkeratosis whereby the skin cells produce faster and don’t shed as adequately. This excess oil mixes with the dead skin cells which can inflame and impact the follicle and increase c-acnes bacteria, leading to pimples, pustules, nodules and even cysts. Recent research has also identified a link between gut health, food intolerances, stress and acne.
The first steps in helping a problematic or breakout prone skin is to maintain a good barrier function, cleanse the skin effectively without stripping it and exfoliate to help remove the dead cell build up. Avoid using harsh scrubs, drying toners and moisturisers that can block pores with synthetics. We recommend seeking the advice of a professional skin therapist or skin expert who can provide detailed skin regime recommendation and further specialist care when it comes to acne specific skin concerns.
Would you like a customised skin regime built around your skin type, condition or goal? Take our skin quiz or chat to one of our experienced skin experts here.
(1 )https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/new-study-finds-63-of-women-are-wrong-about-their-skin-type-200161