Do you have a skincare routine? Perhaps you’ve been working towards your ideal routine for a while now, but can’t seem to get a hold on oiliness or dryness. Here at Rejuvaskin, we love talking about skincare routines, and we want you to know that you’re not alone in struggling to find the right one for you. Building a skincare routine that works can take time.
Here are a few tips to help you in your journey, including some tips on building a skincare routine for dry skin, building a skincare routine for oily skin, and some ingredients to avoid with sensitive skin.
An Overview of the Different Skin Types:
Dry, Oily, and Combination Skin
These skin types are exactly what they sound like; dry skin produces very little (and usually not enough) natural oils, also called sebum, to keep the skin hydrated well. Oily skin produces too much sebum, and combination skin types find that their skin fluctuates between oily and dry – either with hormonal or environmental changes.
Acne-Prone, Sensitive, and Normal Skin
Some people are also highly prone to developing acne and pimples, while others simply have sensitive skin for which they need to carefully select skincare products. Finally, normal skin types have a healthy balance of sebum and are never oily, dry, or regularly develop acne.
Skincare Routines Based On Your Skin Type:
As you develop your skincare routine, make sure you have these three foundational skincare routine components in mind: a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a daily sunscreen. Other products, such as serums, toners, firming creams, soothing creams, and spot treatments may or may not be necessary for your skin– we all have unique skincare needs!
Tip #1: Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, your main focus is going to be, you guessed it, moisturization. Your skin needs a little extra help in this department, so you’ll be focusing on moisturizers as well as barrier creams that lock in that moisture. You may also find that, due to your skin’s needs, your skincare routine might take longer and require more products than someone else’s.
You also want to make sure that your cleansing routine only contains products that don’t strip your skin’s natural oils away – these are incredibly important in maintaining a healthy skin barrier and repairing a damaged one.
Tip #2: Skincare Routine For Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, your skincare routine might go one of two ways:
- Focusing on naturally reducing your skin’s secretion of sebum
- Cosmetically stripping these excess oils and reduce them that way
Some people only have oily skin because they aggressively remove their skin’s oils. As you can imagine, their skin would then respond by creating more oils. It’s a vicious cycle that you may or may not be in. However, some individuals simply have oily skin. For these folks, managing the amount of sebum is the best option.
If you have oily skin, you’ll probably want a short routine (aggravating the skin will stimulate more sebum release) that avoids oil-based moisturizers, toners, serums, and makeup. These products will only compound your issue.
Tip #3: Skincare Routine For Acne-Prone Skin
This is a topic filled with many nuances and can lead to different recommendations based on what’s causing your acne, so there are no hard-and-fast rules for this skin type. However, here are some tips:
- Avoid topical aggravators.
- Do not pick at your sores.
- Find a balance between oily and dry above that works for your acne.
- Don’t get discouraged if something doesn’t work.
- Talk to your doctor about your hormone levels.
- Be very careful with oral antibiotics for acne.
- Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide don’t work for everyone; don’t damage your skin barrier by continuing to use these products if they don’t work for you.
Tip #4: Skincare Ingredients to Avoid With Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll know that the seemingly most random products and ingredients can aggravate your skin. In general, try to avoid the following skincare ingredients when building your sensitive skincare routine:
- Fragrances
- Essential oils (used as fragrances)
- Urea
- Lanolin
- Retinoids
- True acids and alcohols (salicylic acid and rubbing alcohol, for example)
Above All, Trial and Error
One of the beautiful things about humans is that we’re all incredibly different. Our skin is all unique, and what works for one person with dry skin may not work for your dry skin! The principles for dry skin, however, are transferable; you’ll just need to find a subset of products that works well for you. As you build your skincare routine, follow your skin’s natural cues – you’ll have something figured out in no time!