Finding the right skincare products for your skin type is a tall order for most people. Skincare ingredients are mostly in their scientific names and unless you have a background in chemistry, you likely don’t know what they’re for. Not every skin responds properly to every product too, so that’s another problem you have to consider.
If you’re not the type who wants to search for what each ingredient does for your skin, there’s a way to know exactly what your skin needs. Here’s how to choose skincare products that work well for your skin type.
Know Your Skin Type
All skincare tips start with one detail first: choose according to your skin type. Everyone starts here for a reason and that’s because everyone has a different skin type that will dictate how products affect them. Even people within the same household and family will have different types of skin.
Skin types classify into five categories. These are:
- Oily
- Dry
- Combination
- Normal
- Sensitive
Oily skin types struggle with shine and acne and many tend to over-clean themselves. Dry-skinned people experience flakiness and struggle to keep their skin moisturized. Combination skin types have dry flaking on the cheeks and oily skin around the T-zone.
Normal-skinned people rarely have good skincare routines and only need to keep their skin healthy. Sensitive skin types are allergic to harsh chemicals and may need to find hypoallergenic skincare products.
Knowing which skin type you have can make everything easier. Most skin care routines list on the label the skin type they’re designed for and can help you determine what will likely work.
Listen To Your Body
An important part of skincare is knowing when to listen to your body. Take some time to think about what your skin needs and what are your personal goals.
Are you looking to reduce fine lines and wrinkles? Are you looking to clear your acne and acne scars? Do you want to simply get rid of the flaking on your face?
Know what you need and see what ingredients can help you achieve your goals. Choose products that will effectively address the skin problems that you have, especially those you are most concerned with. The same goes with skincare routines that cause you pain and other side effects.
If you experience a burning sensation, allergies, or some adverse effects, stop using the product immediately. While you might feel like you’re wasting your money, but it’s better than experiencing pain and other side effects.
Know The Skin Care Ingredients You Want
There are several skincare ingredients that will help you determine if the product is right for your skin type. While these ingredients will have complicated chemical names, they shouldn’t be too hard to remember.
Those people with acne-prone and sensitive skin will have the most issues finding the right products for them. Those with oily skin should find more products available for their skin types.
For those with oily skin, products with benzoyl peroxide, hyaluronic acid, and α-hydroxy acids are your friends. These help control the oil production in your sebaceous glands, while hyaluronic acid also helps hydrate the areas that need it.
Those with sensitive skin would want to work with more natural extracts proven to not activate allergies. These include shea butter, honey, aloe vera, chamomile, calendula, and jojoba oil. Many of these ingredients will help keep your skin hydrated and won’t clog your pores.
If you have dry skin, you want something that works as an effective exfoliant without drying your skin even further. Shea butter and lactic acid should help with your skin, as well as milk, ceramides, and aloe vera.
Don’t Fall For The Influencer Hype
Among the easiest skincare traps that people fall for are friends and influencers. Packaging and popularity mean nothing at all and these should hold no value over why you buy a skincare product. It’s best to base your purchase on professional recommendations.
If you’re going to depend on someone else’s recommendation, make sure you know their skin type and how their skin was before they used the product. A more reliable indicator for how well the products will work is knowing the journey of the person who recommends the product.
Before you buy a product, check for its ingredients online. No matter how many positive reviews you find, you need to make sure that the ingredients in it are right for you. Check for the active ingredients and see the level of concentration available. Many lists start with the most abundant ingredient they have and go in decreasing order.
Always Do A Patch Test
If you are buying a skincare product, one of the best ways to know it’s good for you without buying the entire thing is a patch test. Never compromise on a patch test and make sure the seller provides it. If you’re buying from a brick and mortar, a patch test should help give you an idea of how effective the product will be.
For those who are buying online, it’s best to start using a new product through a sample or the smallest size for their product. Most companies are happy to sell a cheap sampler pack so you can test it on your skin. If it irritates your skin, then it’s definitely not for you.
If you’re going to DIY a patch test, start by washing the area where you will test the product. You usually would want to start on a patch of skin that you can leave alone for 24 hours. This is usually the back of your hand, the underside of your forearm, or your thigh skin.
Natural and Organic Isn’t Always Better
When it comes to skincare, natural doesn’t always mean it’s better. Organic doesn’t mean anything too, as natural and organic are not an indicator of the quality of ingredients or their safety. Natural only means that the material came from natural sources, usually from oils and extracts.
Many products with natural and essential oils can still elicit a bad allergic reaction. Natural and organic are nothing more than marketing tricks that try to bank on the notion that natural means good. Make sure to still do your vetting before buying a skincare product.
Go for products that contain vitamin C, tea tree oil, or niacinamide, if acne is your main concern. If your goal is to avoid wrinkles and aging skin, then ingredients such as goat milk, tea extract, and retinoids will come to your rescue. Natural goat milk soaps, for example, will remove the dead cells from your skin surface and will not harm your skin barrier, leaving you a fresh sensation of nourished skin. Tea tree cleansers, in their turn, will reduce irritation and will have a soothing effect on your skin. It is vital to choose the right products taking into consideration your skin goals.
The Bottom Line
When finding the right skin care product for your skin type, there’s nothing better than testing and vigilance. Know what you’re buying, what ingredients it contains, and if it’s right for you.
Follow our tips above and you should get a better chance of getting the product suited for your needs. Take the first step to healthier skin as soon as you can.