Skin type is something we are born with. Genetics and ethnicity largely determine what kind of skin you will have. Your "type" is generally determined by the amount of oil your sebacious (oil) glands produce.

An important concept to remember is that you can't change your skin type. While skin can become drier with age, no product will make an oily skin turn dry. Once you determine your skin type, work on maintaining your issues, but understand that there is no one-time fix for any concern!

Dry Skin

Dry skin is characterized by a lack of oil. You will also notice that the pores/follicles look very small. While dry skin typically doesn't get many breakouts, it does require special care because oil helps protect skin from environmental damage and aging. Dry skin tends to show fine lines and wrinkles sooner.

Treat dry skin with a medium to heavy weight moisturizer. It is also important to exfoliate with lactic acid. Not only does lactic acid hydrate the skin...it also helps minimize the appearance of fine lines!

Dermalogica products for dry skin »

**Note: There is a difference between DRY and DEHYDRATED skin. Dry skin lacks oil...the pores will be small and skin will need heavier moisturizers. Dehydrated skin lacks water...it may look flakey, and needs hydrators like Hyaluronic Acid, humectants and water.**

Oily Skin

Oily skin has excess oil production, and a larger pore size all over the face. Breakouts tend to be occassional to quite frequent. This is because oil gets trapped along with debris inside the pores, which can result in blemishes and blackheads.

Treat oily skin with water-based moisturizers and cleansers designed for oily skin. Be careful not to over-clean the skin...the irritation can cause more irritation. Exfoliate with Salicylic Acid because it can cut through oil and clean out the pores. Avoid products with SD Alcohol, Mineral Oil, fragrance, and color.

Dermalogica products for oily skin »

**Note: Acne is considered a condition of oily skin that happens when an overproduction of cells in the oil glands cause plugging, build-up and inflammation. This often results in inflamed acne papules or even cysts. Adult acne and teen acne are treated differently.**

 

Combination Skin

Combination skin typically has some larger pores in the t-zone (forehead, nose, chin), and dier, smaller pores on the outsides of the face. Often referred to as "normal skin", this type may get occasional breakouts but has an overall good water/oil balance.

Treatment should focus on prevention and skin health. Don't use oil-based products (they will be too heavy)...rather, look for water-based options. Use a pH balanced, gentle cleanser, an exfoliant, and a moisturizer (with SPF during the daytime). You can apply oil-absorbing products like a mask on the t-zone only to help balance oil production.

Dermalogica products for combination skin »

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is red most of the time and can be easily irritated by things like the sun, products, etc. You may even notice rosacea-like symptoms. While sensitive skin is commonly hereditary, it can be brought on (or made worse) by environmental assaults like pollution, sun, stress, spicy foods, alcohol, etc.

Proper treatment of sensitive skin will focus on calming ingredients. A gentle cleanser with vitamins and antioxidants is important...don't over-scrub the skin! Antioxidants will help to prevent environmental assault on the skin. Moisturize with a product that will calm and protect skin, and be sure it has SPF15. Moisturizer acts as a barrier to help protect skin during the day. Exfoliate a 2-3 times a week with a very gentle exfoliant if you can...for some sensitive skin types, exfoliating is too harsh and should be avoidid. Listen to your skin and don't overdo anything!

Dermalogica products for sensitive skin »

**Note: People commonly mis-diagnose their skin as sensitive just because certain products or ingredients cause them to break out or become irritated. A true sensitive skin type is red most all the time, and easily upset by outside factors. If you have reactions to certain products, your skin can become temporarily sensitized, but is not sensitive. It is important to know the difference because a sensitized skin typically falls under a different skin type (like oily or dry), and requires a different routine.**

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