With the fast-paced lifestyle we lead, our skin is exposed to a multitude of irritants, pollution, and allergies that impact the overall health of our skin. It is becoming increasingly essential to create a skincare regime that serves you right where your skin concerns lie. Before going ahead with a regime, one must consider two things for a customized skincare routine, first and foremost your skin type. Is your skin oily, dry, or a mix of both i.e. combination?  Secondly, one must always consider which skin concern needs more attention based on your age and skin type, such as acne, anti-aging, and hydration, among others. You should also think about how often you use them and how much you are willing to spend on a product.

Here is a quick guide for you to know all about how to choose the best skincare products for your skin type by yourself:

Know Your Skin Type

Skincare is a very personal thing. What works for one person may not work for another, so analysing your skin type is a big thing to consider when choosing what kind of beauty products you can get for yourself. There are various skin types and each skin type has its requirements and needs. Once you know your skin type normal, dry, oily or combination -, then you can begin to narrow down what ingredients will work best for you when formulating a skincare routine. For example, if you have oily skin, you’ll want to avoid products that are heavy and greasy, as they will only make your problem worse. Additionally, understanding your skin type can also help you to identify potential problems early on and take steps to prevent them. Investing your time in analysing and understanding your skin type and its concerns will eventually help you maintain younger-looking and healthy skin.

Here is a detailed guide on the best ingredients suited for your skin type:

OILY SKIN

Oily skin tends to clog pores and trap dirt and bacteria, resulting in acne and black and white heads. Because the skin concerns for people with oily skin are numerous, you must select ingredients that work on all of your skin at the same time. Here are a few ingredients that are bliss for people with oily skin and with other skin concerns too:

1. SALICYLIC ACID:

This acid is a best friend for oily skin individuals and the worst enemy for acne and blackheads. Salicylic is used in over-the-counter skin care products like serums, face cleansers, toners and ointments.

Salicylic reduces excess sebum production, as an anti-inflammatory helps calm acne breakouts, prevents future breakouts, and clears dirt and bacteria which cause the appearance of black and white heads.

2. NIACINAMIDE: Another best companion for oily skin after salicylic acid. Nowadays in the market, most skincare brands offer their serums and other products by combining these two ingredients, salicylic and niacinamide in one.

Why?

Most of the benefits of niacinamide are the same as salicylic acid like sebum control, prevention of acne breakout, and cleaning and shrinking of pores, but its additional benefits are reduced pigmentation and dark spots (lightening), clearing out the appearance of pores and fine lines and building the skin barrier. It prevents dryness and itching by preventing water loss from the skin, Curtailed redness due to sunlight (photoprotective).

3. AHA (GLYCOLIC & LACTIC ACID) & BHA: Oily skin is prone to clogged pores because of excess sebum production and the trapping of dirt and bacteria in pores, resulting in acne breakouts, pimples, and black and white heads. To unclog pores, oily skin needs weekly exfoliation. Regular physical exfoliators create havoc on oily acne-prone skin, as the rubbing of granules on acne or comedones will give rise to more acne breakouts and damage the skin barrier with harsh and rough granules of exfoliators. That’s why to combat the problem, skincare brands use chemical exfoliators like AHA & BHA, to make exfoliation a better process to clean and unclog pores and maintain skin barriers. 

AHA & BHA are hydroxy acids, used to treat diverse skin issues. BHA tends to be more effective than AHA as AHA’s are considered to be weak acids, it exfoliates and sheds off dead skin cells, stimulate the production of collagen, resulting in reduced fine lines, and curtails signs of sun damage, also enhances skin’s natural moisturising factors.

While BHA helps in skin calming, improves skin’s overall texture, and decreases fine lines and wrinkles more effectively than AHA, BHA works on skin conditions like rosacea or redness, penetrates deep into the pores, and diminishes acne breakouts.

4.HYALURONIC ACID: Oily skin too needs hydration and moisturising products irrespective of having oily skin. Every skin needs moisturization with different ingredients and bases. Oily skin needs water-based moisturiser enriched with hyaluronic acid. 

Hyaluronic acid helps in retaining skin moisture, enhancing skin appearance and plumpness, and fading away dull skin by increasing the hydration of the skin, boosting cell repair and reducing free radicals.

Hyaluronic-enriched products also help in combating the effects of regular usage of topical treatments like benzoyl peroxide or Retino-A which makes the skin dry and gives rough patches.

DRY SKIN

Dry skin is a common skin type that can be caused by a variety of factors, including weather, genetics, and skincare habits. People with dry skin often get rough patches and have a dull, itchy, and flaky skin texture. There are several ways to soothe and protect dry skin, including using moisturisers, avoiding harsh cleansers, exfoliating gently, and protecting the skin from the sun. With the right care, dry skin can be soft, supple, and healthy. Some best friends of dry skin are:

1. GLYCERIN: Thick, viscous, and sticky fluid which have immense application in the beauty and skincare industry.  Glycerine is primarily used in the production of moisturisers, lotions, and, more recently, body washes, toners, and serums. Glycerine is a miracle worker for people with dry skin. As a humectant, glycerin (an agent which pulls water into the outer layer of the skin to the deeper level of the skin).

Glycerin aids in skin moisturization, improves skin barrier functionality, soothes itchiness of dry skin, aids in skin irritant protection, maintains skin PH balance, keeps skin plump, hydrated, and fresh, and regular application over dry patches or extra dry skin sheds dead skin and makes skin smooth.

2. SHEA BUTTER: If you have dry skin, you know how difficult it is to find a moisturiser that works. Shea butter is a natural product that provides numerous benefits to dry skin.

Shea butter is made from shea tree nuts. It contains a lot of vitamins A and E, as well as fatty acids. These nutrients are excellent for dry skin. Shea butter can be used to moisturise and protect dry skin. It can also aid in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines.

3. HYALURONIC ACID: This acid is a must-have ingredient for all skin types but for dry skin, it’s a saviour. Dry skin needs moisture deep in the skin. Hyaluronic acid as we have discussed above is very lightweight and penetrates deep into the skin hence providing moisture retention deeply into the skin. Give a healthy glow to dry skin and smoothes dry patches with regular usage in the day and nighttime skincare routines.

4. LACTIC ACID: Dry skin needs exfoliation too. And lactic acid is the best one for dry skin as contradicted to other AHAs like glycolic. Glycolic is a milder acid exfoliant than glycolic acid which is best tolerated by dry and sensitive skin people. It boosts cell turnover, and the skin renewal process, even out skin texture and tone, smoothes the fine line and wrinkles, good humectant, enhances the natural skin barrier, proven to fade hyperpigmentation.

COMBINATION SKIN TYPE

Combination skin is distinguished by an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry or normal skin elsewhere. If you have combination skin, you may notice that some areas of your skin are oily while others are dry. Large pores, blackheads, and breakouts are also possible. Combination skin is the most complicated skin type because it combines two different types of skin, making it difficult to find products that will suit both types of skin.

1. HYALURONIC ACID: Hyaluronic acid is suitable for both oily and dry skin. So this is the best ingredient for combination skin because it effectively treats both the oily T-zone and the dry cheeks.

Because it is lightweight and non-comedogenic, hyaluronic acid improves moisture retention in dry areas, smoothes dry patches, and increases water retention, and it does not clog oily T zones. A fantastic ingredient for combination skin.

2. RETINOIDS: Retinoids or Retinol are derivatives of vitamin A. Another perfect ingredient for combination skin. Retinoids benefit the T zone area by reducing the building up of bacteria, dead skin and tissues because of excess sebum production, maintaining skin balance and smoothing out the texture. Reduces pore size. For dry areas of combination skin, it helps to smooth wrinkles, and fine lines, reduce pigmentation, anti-ageing effect, making dry areas more firm, elastic and glowing by boosting collagen production.

3. GLYCOLIC ACID:

This AHA (glycolic acid) exfoliates your dry and oily T zone area and stimulates skin regeneration. Remember to use it only twice a week. It gently peels off dead skin and tissues from the dry area while eliminating dirt and bacterial excess sebum from the oily area, leaving your face smooth, even, and glowing.

4. CERAMIDES: It’s a lipid or fat that is found in skin cells. A must-have ingredient for moisture retention. It enhances the skin barrier and increases the level of ceramides in your skin, combating problems like dryness and itchiness in your dry areas of skin. keep skin moist supple and healthy acts as an anti-ageing product too, 

A visit to the dermatologist to get a diagnosis is worthwhile if you’re unsure of your skin type. Once you are aware of your skin type, you may begin making more informed product choices.

 

Know what you need

Spend some time thinking about your skin’s needs. Maybe you want to make fine lines on your face less noticeable or you want to reduce the look of large pores or lingering acne that doesn’t respond to your regular regimen. The products you choose must effectively address the issues that bother you the most.

Know the essentials

No matter what type of skin you have, follow the four skincare commandments since they form the basis of any successful routine.

1. Cleanse

Whatever your skin type, you should pick a basic cleanser that doesn’t dry out your skin. You might not realise it, but throughout the day, your skin picks up dirt, bacteria, and other pollutants. The buildup of oil, dead skin cells and other pollutants are removed by a proper cleanser, which also leaves your skin feeling clean.

2. Hydrate

In addition to seeming more supple, lively, and healthy, skin that is properly hydrated is also more resistant to problems like wrinkles. This is why every skincare routine ought to include a good moisturiser. Your skin’s outer layers depend on a constant intake of water. Look for essential components like hyaluronic acid in moisturising cosmetics since they draw moisture to the skin and keep it there.

3. Protect

From ultraviolet ray damage to high humidity, your skin undergoes a lot of turmoil without knowing. Weather can damage your skin and speed up ageing in addition to making it look lifeless and dull. It can also irritate skin sensitivities.

Without a product to shield your skin from the effects of daily life, no skincare routine is complete. Antioxidants and essential fatty acids are fail-safe elements that keep your skin glowing every day. A broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 is necessary.

4. Treat

You must have a go-to daily treatment to treat your skin’s most urgent problems. Pick products with anti-ageing superstars like alpha hydroxy acids if wrinkles are a problem. Understand that natural doesn’t always equate to superior

It might be comforting to read familiar words in an ingredient list, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should err on the side of caution. Many skincare products are termed natural skincare products however the truth behind this is completely different than what it appears to be. You wouldn’t want to apply poison ivy’s natural oil all over your body, for example, even though it is present. Natural essential oils can cause reactions on many people’s skin, it’s another situation in which you must operate by your individual needs.

Do a patch test every time

A patch test is a wise move in your product elimination procedure. Additionally, it’s a fantastic justification for a free trip to your favourite skincare store!

A patch test can help assess whether certain components or products will irritate your skin, create allergic responses, or clog your pores. The key takeaway is to cease using a product if it is aggravating your skin or in any other manner causing you discomfort.

Testing all of your components before using them may take some time initially, but it will ultimately save you a lot of money and hassle.