Understanding Your Skin Type: Tailored Skincare Routines

Aug 02, 2024By Yanique Graham
Yanique Graham

Cover image by Getty Images.

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Table of Contents

Oily Skin

Dry Skin

Sensitive Skin

Combination Skin


Understanding your skin type is the first step to achieving healthy, glowing skin. Each skin type requires a unique approach to care. Here, we break down the best routines and products for oily, dry, sensitive, and combination skin.

Oily Skin

Oily skin and pimples on wide forehead of Asian adult young woman.
Image: Getty Images

Characteristics:

  • Shiny appearance
  • Enlarged pores
  • Prone to acne and blackheads

Skincare Routine:

  1. Cleanse: Use a gentle foaming cleanser twice a day to remove excess oil.
  2. Tone: Apply a toner with salicylic acid to help control oil production.
  3. Moisturize: Choose a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer.
  4. Exfoliate: Use a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid 2-3 times a week.
  5. Sun Protection: Opt for a non-comedogenic sunscreen.

Recommended Products:

  • Foaming Cleanser: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
  • Toner: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid
  • Moisturizer: Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer
  • Exfoliant: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
  • Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen

Dry Skin

Flabby and wrinkled skin on senior woman face.
Image: Getty Images

Characteristics:

  • Flaky or rough texture
  • Tight feeling
  • Possible redness and irritation

Skincare Routine:

  1. Cleanse: Use a hydrating, cream-based cleanser.
  2. Tone: Apply a hydrating toner with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
  3. Moisturize: Use a rich, emollient moisturizer.
  4. Exfoliate: Gently exfoliate once a week with a mild scrub.
  5. Sun Protection: Use a hydrating sunscreen.

Recommended Products:

  • Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
  • Toner: Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner
  • Moisturizer: Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream
  • Exfoliant: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser
  • Sunscreen: EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40

Sensitive Skin

papulopustular rosacea, close-up of the patient's cheek
Image: Getty Images

Characteristics:

  • Easily irritated
  • Prone to redness and rashes
  • Reacts to many products

Skincare Routine:

  1. Cleanse: Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
  2. Tone: Apply a calming toner with ingredients like chamomile.
  3. Moisturize: Use a soothing, hypoallergenic moisturizer.
  4. Exfoliate: Exfoliate sparingly with a mild, enzyme-based exfoliant.
  5. Sun Protection: Use a mineral-based sunscreen.

Recommended Products:

  • Cleanser: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
  • Toner: La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
  • Moisturizer: Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer
  • Exfoliant: First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
  • Sunscreen: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Combination Skin

beauty concept skin aging. anti-aging procedures, rejuvenation, lifting,
Image: Getty Images

Characteristics:

●   Oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin)

  • Dry or normal on the cheeks

Skincare Routine:

  1. Cleanse: Use a gentle gel cleanser.
  2. Tone: Apply a balancing toner.
  3. Moisturize: Use a lightweight moisturizer on the T-zone and a richer one on the cheeks.
  4. Exfoliate: Use a mild exfoliant 2-3 times a week.
  5. Sun Protection: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen suitable for all skin types.

Recommended Products:

  • Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
  • Toner: Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner
  • Moisturizer: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (T-zone) and Cream (cheeks)
  • Exfoliant: Pixi Glow Tonic
  • Sunscreen: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30

By following these tailored routines, and  product recommendations (avaliable on amazon.com) you should see immense improvement in your skin's health and overall glow!

Thank you for reading! We hope this article provided you with some useful insight.