Chances are you already know your skin type. For example, if you’ve continually struggled with blemishes or feel like your skin is a never-ending oil slick, you probably have oily skin. On the other hand, feeling like your skin is tight, itchy, and can never be quenched could be a sign of dry skin.
No matter your skin type, there’s a skincare solution to keep it healthy and radiant. We’ll explain the five basic skin types and share what you can do to give your skin what it needs to stay glowing.
What’s My Skin Type?
If you’ve got skin (which you do), you have a skin type. While your skin may not fit perfectly into one set skin type category, it will most likely have more characteristics of one type than another. It’s also important to recognize that your skin type can change due to age, environment, medications, or even hormones.
What Determines Your Skin Type?
Genetics plays the most significant role in determining your skin type. For instance, if one or both of your parents had acne-prone skin, you’ll be more likely to have it. That doesn’t mean you’re doomed to deal with blackheads and excess oil your entire life. There are plenty of skincare products available to help you deal with whatever skin type you have and help bring your skin back into balance.
How To Find Your Skin Type
If you aren’t sure of your skin type, you can do a simple test to find out what it is. First, use a mild cleanser to wash your face and remove any existing makeup. Do not apply any lotion or moisturizer to your skin. Pat dry and wait about 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, check the condition of your skin. If your skin feels tight, itchy, and dehydrated, you have dry skin. If your skin is shiny and damp with sebum, you have oily skin.
Most people will fall into a range between oily and dry. For example, it’s common to have an oily t-zone (along your chin, nose, and forehead) and have dry skin on the cheeks.
What Are the Basic Skin Types?
The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes five different skin types. We’ll highlight the characteristics of each to help you determine which skin type you have.
Oily Skin
The skin’s natural oil, sebum, helps keep your skin soft, supple, and protected. If you have oily skin, however, your sebaceous glands might seem like they’re working overtime. This is because sebum production can change as you age with hormonal changes.
Pimples and breakouts may be synonymous with oily skin, but more often than not, the products you use can help regulate your skin’s natural oil production and reduce the number of breakouts you see. Keep in mind that oil-free everything may not be the best solution. Oil-free products may leave skin overly dry, which could cause the sebaceous glands to produce even more oil.
Using naturally hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, helps balance your skin’s natural moisture levels without clogging pores or creating more oil.
Dry Skin
On the opposite end of the skin type spectrum is dry skin. Dry skin is characterized by skin that constantly feels like it’s not getting enough moisture. Dryness can lead to flaking, rough patches, and uneven skin tone.
Dry skin types often have more visible fine lines because the skin is naturally not as hydrated as other skin types. To combat flakiness and dryness, it’s important to maintain a consistent skincare routine with a gentle cleanser and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and plant-based oils.
Normal Skin
Normal skin isn’t overly oily or dry. If you did the skin type test above and felt neither oily nor tight, you probably have normal skin, feel comfortable, don’t suffer from breakouts, and don’t react sensitively toward products.
Normal skin types may still suffer from skin conditions, but these are usually quickly resolved with the right products and don’t occur often. Therefore, it’s essential to take care of normal skin. It can be easy to skip out on skincare when you have “low maintenance” skin, but taking care of normal skin can help you avoid skin problems in the future and promote your skin’s wellness.
Combination Skin
Have an oily T-zone with dryness on your cheeks? You have combination skin. Combination skin is the most common skin type. People with combination skin can find it challenging to use skincare products that work for both oily and dry areas of their skin.
If you have combination skin, using gentle cleansers and moisturizers can help reestablish the balance between oily and dry areas.
Sensitive Skin
You might have a sensitive skin type if you’ve ever developed a rash from trying new products. These skin types become easily irritated by skincare products, specific ingredients, and sun exposure.
Using fragrance-free products can help sensitive skin, so your skin does not react to added fragrances.
What Does Each Skin Type Need?
Although each skin type is different, there are some basics that every skin type needs. For instance, every skin type needs cleansing and exfoliating. This helps remove dirt, oil, and makeup and supports skin cell turnover.
Another way to promote the health and wellness of each skin type is to harness the power of the microcurrent. At NuFACE, we make it easy for every skin type to tighten, tone, brighten, and hydrate with at-home microcurrent devices and skincare.
Get Current
Microcurrent is a low-level current that mimics the body’s natural ionic flow and has been clinically tested to safely and effectively address a variety of skin concerns. NuFACE microcurrent activators are powered by IonPlex®, a blend of glacial water and ions, and are must-haves to conduct your microcurrent treatment from your NuFACE device down to the muscles.
The results? Skin is visibly firmer, more contoured, and more lifted even after one treatment, with cumulative effects over time. In addition, our two activator gels are perfect for multiple skin types.
Aqua Gel Activator: Best for normal, sensitive, combination, and oily skin types, our Aqua Gel Activator is ultra-lightweight and never leaves behind a greasy residue. Packed with IonPlex®️ mineral ions, glacial water, and hyaluronic acid, it ensures proper microcurrent delivery and delivers 24-hour hydration without causing breakouts or sensitivity.
Silk Crème Activator: For dry and normal skin types, Our Silk Crème Activator is the perfect solution to combat signs of aging. Loaded with IonPlex®️ and hyaluronic acid, it also contains eight phyto-actives to help brighten, firm, and transform dull and dry skin, bringing back radiance and health.
NuFACE Microcurrent Activators can be used with any of our devices and are the best way to deliver hydration and restorative ingredients to all skin types.
Totally Your Type
NuFACE believes in empowering clients with microcurrent skincare that goes beyond traditional skincare to transform the face and neck deep down to the MUSCLES. NuFACE microcurrent devices and microcurrent skincare firm, tighten and hydratethe skin, smooth wrinkles, and tone the facial muscles for a rejuvenated appearance, no matter your skin type.
Sources:
Skin care tips dermatologists use | AAD.org
Sebum analysis of individuals with and without acne | PMC
Dry skin management: a practical approach in light of latest research on skin structure and function | NCBI
