Dry, Oily or Combination: What's your Skin Type?

Dry, Oily or Combination: What's your Skin Type?

Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, but it helps knowing what kind of skin you’re dealing with. So what’s your skin type? Check out our handy guide to figure out exactly what your skin needs.

Dry Skin

Is your face dryer than the Sahara Desert? Do you suffer flakey skin? Sounds like you’ve got dry skin!

Dry skin can be caused be so many things, like the air con in your office, too much sun exposure or using a bar of soap to wash your face. There’s a reason you’re only supposed to use that on your body.

Dry skin is crying out for moisture, so make hydrating your skin your top priority. Call in sick to work. Cancel dinner with your girlfriend. Let the world know that you’d love to leave the house but unfortunately you’ve got hydrating to do. Or just, you know, apply moisturiser morning and night. That’s probably the easier option.

You’re going to need a moisturiser with some epic ingredients courtesy of Mother Nature to undo that drying damage and get your skin looking less like a brick and feeling more hydrated. We’re talking Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Vitamin E.

Before you go slathering on this magical concoction of ingredients, slough off that rough layer of dry skin with a face scrub. Choose something that’s effective but also gentle enough to not cause your skin to dry out even more. Exfoliating ingredients like AHA and Walnut Shell are tops.

Action plan: Keep that bar of soap away from your face (that’s what face wash is for!). Use a face scrub 2-3 times a week to get rid of dead skin. Moisturise day and night with a nourishing moisturiser after cleansing.

Oily skin

Whether you’re plagued by breakouts or have a face that’s shinier than the bonnet of a Porsche, there’s no mistaking oily skin.

Oily skin is caused by — surprise, surprise — your skin over-producing oil. Ironically enough, this can sometimes be a case of your skin not getting what it needs. That’s right, not moisturising your skin can cause it to become even oilier.

Of course, it’s important to keep on top of washing your face day and night, especially if you experience acne. The bacteria on your face can cause even more breakouts and oiliness, so you need to keep it in check. Gently cleanse away excess oil with a face wash containing antibacterial ingredients like Chamomile Extract.

Moisturiser is essential even for oily skin, but make sure you go for a lighter formula. Again, opt for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients like Chamomile and Aloe Vera to soothe your skin and give it everything it needs to not turn into an oil slick by the time lunch rolls around.

Action plan: Wash your face morning and night, and always follow that up with a light moisturiser to keep your skin sufficiently hydrated.

Combination skin

Does it seem like both of the above apply to you? Then you might just have combination skin. People with combination skin tend to have dry or normal skin on their cheeks while their “T-zone”— that’s the chin, nose and forehead — is oily or shiny.

So how do you deal with skin that’s both oily and dry at the same time? The key here is still hydration. In fact, if your skin seems both oily and flakey at the same time, then it’s probably dehydrated.

Chances are, your skin is crying out for a simple but effective skincare routine. Get into the habit of washing your face at least once a day, start using a face scrub 2-3 times a week, and treat your skin to a good moisturiser. Simple. From there, see how your skin is responding and adjust your approach accordingly. Skin feeling too dry? Try cutting back on the exfoliating just a little bit. Too oily? Swap your moisturiser for a lighter formula.

Action plan: Stick with the basics- a good face wash, scrub and moisturiser used regularly will work wonders in bringing balance to your skin.

Any more questions? Shoot them through to the Charles + Lee team any time.

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