Oily. Combination. Dry. Sensitive. Normal. With so many possible skin types and symptoms, and thanks to hormones, seasons, make-up and, well, everyday life, it can be tricky to determine exactly what skin type you have.
Think you’ve got yours sorted? Well, you could be surprised – there are some skin types that can disguise themselves as something else. Read on to find out if your skin is playing tricks on you.
YOU THINK YOU HAVE: OILY SKIN
BUT IT MIGHT BE: COMBINATION
If by the end of the day your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) resembles an oil slick, then I’m afraid you probably do have oily skin. But before you rush out to buy all of the oil absorbing products you can, have a look at your cheeks. Are they oily too? If they’re not, then you most likely have combination skin, which means different areas of your face have different issues such as dehydration, dryness redness, sensitivity or normal skin. Use products targeting ‘combination skin’ so you don’t strip your dryer areas of moisture, and try and reset your oil and moisture balance by adding a replenishing toner to your routine.
Try: Planet Eve Organics Facial Balancing Toner, Natio Young Oil Control Toning Lotion
YOU THINK YOU HAVE: DRY SKIN
BUT IT MIGHT BE: DEHYDRATED
If skin your skin looks and feels flaky, rough and tight, you can’t be blamed for putting it down to having a dry skin type, which has its own share of myths associated with it. But, in actual fact, dry skin can be a symptom of a deeper issue – dehydration. When your skin is dehydrated, it lacks moisture, so external factors like wind, cold air and hot water strip even more moisture out of your complexion, making it look and feel even drier. Get your hands on a hydrating serum and apply it morning and night to nourish and relieve your skin from the outside in.
Try: philosophy when hope is not enough hydrating antioxidant serum, Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum
YOU THINK YOU HAVE: OILY SKIN
BUT IT MIGHT BE: DEHYDRATED
How can oily skin be dehydrated I hear you ask? Well, the reason your skin might be so oily is because its actually lacking water, so it’s overcompensating by producing more oil to try and balance your skins hydration levels. So what’s the solution? Start using an oil on your skin. Yes, I know this sounds crazy seeing as oil is the problem in the first place, however treating your skin morning and night with a nourishing oil will help your dehydrated skin draw in the hydration it’s lacking, and stop over-producing its natural oils.
Try: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Face, Rosehip by essano Certified Organic Rosehip Oil
What skin type do you have? Do you think you are misunderstanding your skin type?
