Hey Reader!

If you have ever wondered why some skincare products seem like magic for your friend, but leave your skin feeling, well, not-so-great? It all boils down to understanding your unique skin type!

We are in the second week of our Relatable Skincare Report series which is all about skin types. And this week is all about determining what YOUR skin type is.

✨ The 5 Skin Types: Knowing Yours is a Game Changer ✨

So just to quickly recap, the five main skin types are:

• Oily: Your skin is always pretty shiny and you could be prone to breakouts.
• Dry: Your skin typically feels pretty tight and you might often experience flaking.
• Combination: Certain regions of your skin are oily but others are not, or
• Normal: Your skin is typically very balanced, not too oily, and not too dry.
• Sensitive: If you often feel like products cause your skin a ton of redness, stinging, or burning; you might have sensitive skin.

✨ Cracking Your Skin Type Code ✨

Ready to identify your skin type? Here’s a quick and easy test:

What you’re going to need:

• An Oil-Based Cleanser
• A Water-Based Cleanser
• A Towel
• A Timer (You Can Use Your Hands)

Wash Your Face

When you are trying to determine your skin type I think it’s a good idea to double cleanse. Start with an oil-based cleanser and rub it in for at least 30 seconds and then completely wash it off.

Note: The water will be cloudy at first, but once it is running clear you know you’ve gotten all of the cleanser off.

Then use the water-based cleanser rub it in for at least 60 seconds and wash it off for at least 60 seconds.

Once you are done washing pat your skin dry.

Wait and Observe

After 30 minutes, take a good look in the mirror. How does your skin feel?

• Oily: Your skin will likely feel shiny and a bit greasy, especially in the T-zone.
• Dry: Your skin might feel tight, flaky, or uncomfortable.
• Combination: You might notice a mix of oiliness in the T-zone and dryness elsewhere.
• Normal: Your skin should be comfortable but also have a matte finish.
• Sensitive: You might experience redness, irritation, or a burning sensation.

✨ Beyond the Basics ✨

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Remember, even within these categories, your skin is unique and may not completely fall into any one category. Likewise, all of these feelings can be a result of your skincare routine. Particularly if you feel like you have sensitive skin, try scaling your routine way back for a month to a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Want To Learn Even More?

Check out these articles on Relatable Science.com that break down the science of skin types a little bit further.

Ready to Focus on Personalizing Your Routine to Match Your Skincare Needs?

In the meantime, share in the comments below! What clues does your skin give you about its type?

Until Next Week,

Allison

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