Skin Care Basics
Skin Care Basics
To best navigate skin care shopping, you’ll first need to determine your skin type, then you can focus on your skin concerns, and finally, your skin’s sensitivity level. The combination of these three factors will dictate the products best suited for your skin.
Going through this process will ensure you don’t waste your money or add to the graveyard of under-used skin care products you have under your sink (And I know you have one!). Selecting the wrong product for your skin type or concern, or simply selecting them in the wrong order of importance, is the biggest reason that graveyards keep growing.
This is why I’ve created your Priority Investment Guide below.
But first, let's discuss skin types, and concerns.
Normal: Skin shows neither oil nor flaking skin on the tissue. It has the proper balance of water and lipids. The pores are just about visible and skin has minimal to no sensitivity. It should feel supple and smooth. If you have it, consider yourself lucky.
Oily: Skin is characterized by the grease on the tissue. It is also common for a person with oily skin to have large pores and a shine. It is more often seen in young people, caused by overactive skin glands secreting excess lipids. It is due to, or made worse by puberty (hormone imbalance), stress, excess heat, or humidity.
Dry: Skin may feel taut or show flakes of dead skin. It is associated with a dull complexion, red patches, small pores and peeling, cracking, itchiness, or irritation. Moisturizing is important for this skin type.
Combination: Most common. It exhibits traits of all three of the above skin types. It can be due to genetic factors or hormone levels that affect the amount and location of lipids, which become unevenly distributed in the skin. Usually, the skin is oily in the T-zone and normal to dry elsewhere.
There are many words you can use to describe common skin concerns, but we've narrowed it down to these top ten. We suggest that you always choose your primary skincare concern and then a secondary skin concern, as there is often overlap between the two. But before we do that... let's check your skin's sensitivity level.
Sensitivity Test:
On a scale of 1 - 10, how sensitive is your skin? (1 is not at all - you could take sandpaper to it and not even flinch; and a 10 is skin that is red, raw, cracked and hurts you to even smile.)
If you decide your skin is a 7, or higher, while your primary skin concern might be aging or acne for example, because you are a 7+, you actually need to address your sensitivity first. Then, once your skin’s barrier is no longer compromised, (i.e., less sensitive), you can tackle your other skin concerns. (For more explanation read the blog on (“How To Navigate Sensitive Skin”)
If you chose 6, or less, on the sensitivity scale, then you can choose two concerns from the following list:
This can feel confusing sometimes, right?
This is why we often see people wasting money on the wrong skin care investment for their immediate need. You might not be investing in poor quality products, but you could be investing in the wrong place first.
Example:
You have sensitive skin ( 7+), but you’re concerned with aging, so you buy a retinol. You’re almost certainly going to have a reaction. Why? Because while aging might be your most prominent skin concern, your skin’s sensitivity (7+) needs to be addressed first.
This same situation can apply for Acne + Sensitive Skin. While acne may be your biggest concern, if your skin’s barrier is so stripped, tired, dehydrated (compromised) even the most powerful acne kit won’t work. You’ll first need to add a serum to combat inflammation, otherwise, you’ll almost always find your skin “burns” or “reacts” to the acne kit.
If you're ready to return to the spa, book in for a facial and we can give you a jump start on your skin’s health, plus offer in-person home care recommendations.
Not ready to return to the spa, but still want help? Book a customized skin consultation with me.
Want to self guide? Read this article, follow the priority investment guide and get shopping.
No matter which option you choose, please know that I respect all people’s time and budget. We all work hard for our money and you deserve to have the education you need in order to spend it wisely. You’ll never get a pushy sales pitch from me or my team, we’ll simply educate, offer advice, and help you invest right, the first time.