A Guide to Mastering Your Skin Type

Identifying you correct skin type is half the battle when it comes to finding your perfect skin care routine. Your Skin type is classified by oil production, texture, pore size and elasticity. These areas help skin care professionals identify what skin conditions are arising due to your skin type and lifestyle/ environmental factors. When we perform a skin analysis along with a consultation, it gives us a snapshot of what your true skin type is and what skin conditions you may be dealing with. There are four skin types: Normal, Combination, Oily and Dry skin. Whereas, contrary to popular belief dehydrated, sensitive, and acne prone skin are skin conditions. Let;s explore what classifies each skin type and how to treat them so you can choose products that best align with your skin goals!

NORMAL SKIN

Characteristics: Normal hydration and oil production, very small pores, skin tone and luminosity is even on the face, rare or no blemishes and the skin is soft and smooth with has good elasticity .

How to treat? The focus of normal skin should be to maintain balance and protect. Incorporating anti-aging products will help as your skin gets drier with age.

Active Ingredients: Some active ingredients that will be beneficial for normal skin are Vitamin C , Retinol, AHA's & BHA's , Niacinimide, Hyaluronic acid and SPF.

Affordable Products: The Ordinary: The Balance Set , CeraVe Anti- aging

COMBINATION SKIN

Characteristics: Moderate to high oil, good moisture or dehydrated, larger pore sizes in T-zone than cheeks and rest of the face, can be acne prone and have blemishes in T- zone and dry skin on the cheeks, the skin naturally feels oilier in the center of the face.

How to treat? Cleanse and exfoliate regularly while focusing on balancing oil production and hydration.

Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Niacinamide, and SPF.

Affordable Products: CeraVe Skin Car Routine for Combo Skin , CeraVe Acne Prone Products

OILY SKIN

Characteristics: Moderate to high oil production, hydration can be good or dehydrated, larger pore size all over the face, congested pores, thicker texture, may have blemishes and comedones, shiny appearance.

How to treat? Cleanse and exfoliate regularly , over exfoliating can cause more oil production, using a water based moisturizer will be the most beneficial and using SPF regularly to reduce scarring from acne blemishes.

Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceramides, and SPF.

Affordable Products: CeraVe Oily Skin Products , CeraVe Acne Prone Products

DRY SKIN

Characteristics: Minimal oil and hydration, small to no visible pores, dull and flaky appearance, skin feels rough, thin and tight.

How to treat? Use more oil based products to protect the acid mantle and increase barrier function this also will decrease evaporation of water from the skin. Moisturizing and protecting the skin should be the largest focus .

Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides, Glycerin , Petrolatum, SPF

Affordable Products: CeraVe Products for Dry Skin , CeraVe for Cracked Chaffed Skin