Different skin types call for different points of focus. Find out what’s the most important step for your skin type!
Expecting great things from your skin care without understanding the nuances of your skin type is like dumping old syrup in your coffee and expecting it to taste like Starbucks. You need to use products with the right ingredients to get glowing skin.
Luckily, we have the breakdown of common skin care concerns so you can start your morning off with beautiful skin. Find the most important skin care step you need to know for your skin type.
Oily Skin – Oil Cleansing
Oily skin seems to be the villain of our teenage years. Unfortunately, for some, it perpetuates beyond. Oily skin can be characterized by enlarged pores, oily shine (especially in the T-zone), and frequent acne. The goal for this skin type should be to balance skin’s moisture level. Stay away from overly drying products, which will cause the skin to produce even more sheen.
A great start for oily skin types is to use an oil- or gel-based cleanser, like the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil. Using an oil cleanser may seem counter-intuitive for oily skin; however, understanding the notion of “like dissolves like” is key for our shiny sisters. The oils in the cleanser will wash away all the over-produced oil on the skin while simultaneously providing moisture the skin needs.
Dry Skin – Applying Essences and Exfoliating
If you find the skin on your face to be tight, itchy, and occasionally flaky, you probably have dry skin. Whether it’s due to environmental conditions or genetics, this skin type plagues people of every age and background.
The main objective here is to maintain as much moisture as possible and coupling that with gentle exfoliation to slough off dead skin. Keywords to look for when dealing with dry skin are: soothing, anti-aging, and moisturizing. Dry skin also tends to show signs of aging sooner than other skin types due to the lack of moisture on the top layer of the skin. Skin plumps up with water but cracks and wrinkles without it, just like a sponge.
Because of this, essences are a dry skin’s secret weapon towards achieving the youthful glow. For anyone suffering with irritating flakes, the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence Intensive Moist is a godsend. Essences are an amplifier for hydration, and if you use an essence with a watery texture, you won’t be clogging your pores. As an added bonus, essences are also great at evening out skin tones.
Exfoliation is a must for dry skin, because dead cells tend to clump up into ugly flakes on the face. The Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine is a cult classic that sloughs off dead skin. If you haven’t seen these already on Instagram, these peeling pads are perfect for exfoliating dry and sensitive skin. The pads are packed with great AHA’s like glycolic and lactic acids, chemical exfoliators that are gentle enough for dry skin yet powerful enough to clear away dirt and debris.
Combination Skin – Oil cleansing and toning
Combination skin means the skin is oily and dry in different parts of the face. Characteristics of this skin type include an oily (or shiny) T-zone and dry-to-normal cheeks. This type of skin can be difficult to deal with since it is not homogenous, and it may need multiple types of products to keep it happy. The best defense for combo skin is to treat it gently all over and then tackle the oil-prone areas separately.
To cleanse, use a hydrating balm like the Banila Co Clean It Zero Purity, which will take off all the gunk of the day, revealing smooth skin underneath. After cleansing, use a toner like the Neogen Real Flower Calendula Cleansing Water, concentrating on the T-zone. This formula takes away oil and sebum while moisturizing the skin, which makes it perfect to use on the oily areas.
Normal Skin – Toning
If you have normal skin, you basically have the best kind of skin. The trick here is to maintain your near-perfect skin without throwing off its pH or moisture levels. Using a gentle toner like the Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin, you can provide a barrier between your skin and the harsh environment that it will be exposed to. Formulated without alcohol and pumped with snail mucin, this toner packs a punch while filling the skin up with hydration. Toners like this one are great at balancing the pH level of any skin type, keeping it regulated and even.
Sensitive Skin – Sheet Masking
Those with sensitive skin have to be careful with anything they put on their skin. Even the slightest change in their routine can catapult their skin into an irritated, broken-out mess. To keep sensitive skin pristine, look for ingredients like green tea, aloe, and shea butter for calming and soothing the skin all day long. As sensitive skin wielder myself, my magic bullet for agitated skin is a healthy dose of sheet masking. The Manefit Natural Green Tea Pore Care Sheet Mask is my go-to for sad-skin days. These sheet masks keep the redness and acne at bay using antioxidants from whole green tea leaves. These hydrogel sheet masks honestly feel like a mini facial each time. Use one at night, and you’ll wake up with plumped, hydrated skin with less irritation and redness.
Bottom line:
K-Beauty is bustling with skin care products suited to all different skin types. If you shop smart and choose products made for your skin type, figuring out why your skin isn’t cooperating will no longer be a headache.
+ What’s the most important step f your routine? Tell us in the comments below!
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