Do You Know Your Skin Type?

Each and every one of us has a different skin type, some people’s might remain the same for their whole life and others can find it to be ever changing. Skin type is usually determined by genetics, however there are a whole range of factors that can cause it to change over time- such as age, sun exposure, mental health, diet and a whole bunch of environmental factors.

We have put together a full-proof skin type guide to help you get to know your skin type and make sure you give your skin the best treatment you possibly can. After all, it’s with you for life!

If you’ve not done it already, scroll up and take some time to do our skin-type quiz, this will help indicate what your skin type might be.

Now you’ve found out what your skin type might be, lets delve a little further into what that means.

Maybe a little self-explanatory but a dry-skin type means that your skin is likely to be lacking in moisture, a little flaky and tight around the face with pores being barely visible. People with dry skin are often likely to have more defined fine lines on the skin and are prone to suffering from dullness and sensitivity. This dullness is often due to an excess amount of dead skin cells on the surface of the face.

Things to avoid:

How to help dry skin:

• Opt for a moisturising cream rather than a gel or lotion. This will provide your skin with much deeper and long-lasting hydration. Moisturize morning and night for best results.
• Drink plenty of water also, moisturising your skin will not be beneficial unless you ensure that your body is hydrated also. 8 glasses of water per day is the recommended amount.
• Steer clear of heavy foundations and invest in a good tinted moisturiser or BB cream instead. Your skin will thank you.
• Wear lip balm to keep lips hydrated
• Introduce a mild, oil based facial cleanser and hyaluronic acid serum into your daily skincare regime.
• Be sure to exfoliate a couple times a week, this can help remove dead skin cells and improve the overall texture of the skin. Chemical exfoliation using AHAs is recommended as it is a little less intrusive than using a facial scrub.
• Make sure you incorporate a decent spf into your everyday skincare, this is vital to protect your skin from pesky sun exposure and prevent ageing and fine lines.

Product Recommendations:

• Elemis Hydra-Boost Day cream – This super-nourishing, anti-oxidant rich day cream helps provide continuous hydration and moisturisation to leave skin feeling nourished, smooth and supple.
• Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Cleanser – Stimulates the skin’s natural cell renewal cycle, smoothing and refining whilst gently sloughing away dead skin cells which dull the complexion.
• IMAGE Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler – This concentrated topical filler contains six different forms of hyaluronic acid and boosts both instant and time released hydration. Fill in fine lines without an injection.

If you have an oily skin type you might recognise some of the following issues:

• Skin appearing shiny or greasy
• Waking up with a thick layer of sebum (thick layer of buildup on the skin) in the morning and this often reoccurring throughout the way
• Enlarged, visible pores
• Skin prone to blackheads, spots and blemishes
• Likely to suffer from acne or other bacterial infections

Nodding your head to all of these? Still not sure whether or not oily if your type? Take a tissue, blot it on your forehead and if there is any residue then it’s likely you’re in the right place.

As your skin secretes more than enough natural oil, hydration really isn’t your issue, so what does it mean to have oily skin? Unfortunately, It means that our skin can often get slightly congested. We are significantly more prone to breakouts and find it hard to find skincare products that feel light on our skin.

Skin Myth : People with oily skin shouldn’t use facial oils or oil-based cleanser

False. In fact, using oil-based skincare products can actually be beneficial in aiding in the replenishment of your skin’s natural oils, in turn keeping oil levels balanced and preventing breakouts.

Things to avoid:

• Heavy moisturisers- opt for something lightweight instead.
• Greasy or fatty food. Eating a diet rich in nutrients can help tackle oily skin.
• Thick, oil-based makeup.

How to Look After Oily Skin

• Cleanse the face regularly, we recommend cleansing once in the morning and opting for a double cleanse at night- first with an oil-based cleanser and then again with a gel or foam cleanser.
• Use a toner after cleansing to help dry out the skin and wash away any excess dirt
• Use a facial oil rich in linoleic acid, good examples of this are Ylang Ylang, Lavender or Jojoba oil.
• Gently pat your face dry after washing
• Opt for a clay based facial mask as these are good for oil absorption, however, be sure to use them sparingly as overuse can cause the skin to dry out. Make sure you moisturise afterwards.
• If wearing makeup, opt for water-based products and make sure that all make-up is thoroughly cleansed off each night to avoid clogged pores.

Product Recommendations:

· PURE Skincare Clean & Glow Cleansing Oil – Gentle, deep cleansing and balancing formula melts away make-up & grime, leaving skin soft & smooth.

· Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask – This soothing clay mask incorporates clarifying and soothing Rosemary, Thyme and Lavender Essential Oils blended with Kaolin to purify dull, blemished and congested complexions.

· PURE Skincare Regulate & Clear Facial Oil – Treat oily or blemished skin with this skin balancing dry oil moisturiser with regulating Ylang Ylang and purifying orange and lavender. Active oil balancing moisturiser enriched with GLA and antioxidant protection.

Combination skin is the most common of all skin types, this usually consists of skin that is oily in places and dry in others, with skin texture and conditions changing between the cheeks and t-zone. People with combination skin may find that their skin changes depending on external/environmental factors. Most commonly, combination skin consists of an oily t-zone with dryer patches on the cheeks, however this can vary. Combination skin is also likely to present fairly large, open pores in some areas and visible blemishes.

People with combination skin often have a slightly more thorough skincare routine as they have to cater for both the dryer parts of the face as well as the oil-based zones.

Things to avoid:

• Over exfoliation- it’s important to keep the skin’s PH balance correct to even out the skin texture, so do not use too many exfoliation products. We recommend opting for a chemical exfoliant with AHA and using it no more than 2 times per week.
• Touching your face- the hands carry a lot of hidden dirt and germs, this will only cause build up and blocked pores.
• Using too many skincare products- less is always more! Certain skincare products can actually cause extra sebum build up and, in turn, excess oil and moisture on the face. It is important to make informed skincare choices and make sure that all products you use compliment each other. Make sure that when you are buying skincare products they are made specifically for combination skin (these are often labelled as balancing).

How to Look after Combination skin:

• Keep your body hydrated both inside and out. Make sure you are consuming 2 litres of water per day and using a good moisturiser. Moisturising lotion or gel creams often work best for combination skin- you can always use a slightly heavier cream on areas that have considerable dryness.
• Be sure to use an alcohol-free toner. This will combat any dryness whilst still mattifying that oily t-zone.
• Use a custom multi-mask once per week, applying a hydrating and brightening mask to dry areas and a purifying clay mask to oily areas this is a great method for addressing the skin’s specific concerns and can be completely personalised to your needs.
• Use an oil free SPF
• Remember to cleanse make-up off thoroughly, especially around the hairline to avoid extra oil build-up and clogged pores.

Product Recommendations:

• IMAGE Prevention + Daily Matte SPF 32 Moisturiser – Light-weight formula that absorbs skin surface oil, leaving a matte, shine-free finish. Excellent to use for a makeup base. Water resistant.
• Elemis Superfood Facial Oil – This vegan friendly 100% natural facial oil delivers power packed nutrients to nourish and hydrate. Skin will appear healthier looking, glowing and radiant.
• Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel – Natural fruit enzymes of exfoliating Papaya and calming Pineapple will gently smooth and clarify the complexion without use of harsh exfoliants.

Suffer from frequent breakouts, irritation or broken skin? It’s likely that you have a sensitive skin-type. This is due to a breakdown of the skin barrier. Skin may go through bouts of both oiliness and dryness and this can be ever-changing depending on environmental factors, most commonly weather and also stress levels. Skin can commonly look red and is often irritate and sore. People with sensitive skin are most likely to suffer from skin conditions from acne to rosacea and often have skin allergies.

Things to avoid:

• Anything with fragrance or harsh chemicals– this is super important. Fragrance skincare is likely to aggravate the skin and cause more problems. Stick to all things natural, the less ingredients the better. It’s important to remember that certain essential oils can also be irritating to sensitive skin.
• Over-exfoliating, especially with broken skin. When skin is broken, minimal product should be applied to this and anything that is applied should be doctor approved. For sensitive skin in general it is important to exfoliate a maximum of 1 time per week and ensure that a gentle exfoliant is used. Do not use manual exfoliating brushes or rough exfoliating creams. We recommend an oatmeal based exfoliating mask or gentle Salicylic Acid.

Tips for Sensitive skin:

• Be sure to incorporate a high number spf into your morning skincare to protect your skin against harmful UV rays.
• Make sure to gently dab face with a towel or pat dry with clean hands after cleansing, do not rub the skin vigorously as this can aggravate skin.
• Only use fragrance free skincare and opt for light, everyday makeup such as tinted moisturiser or BB cream that will provide the skin with more oxygen flow.
• If a skincare product causes any irritation to your skin stop using it immediately. It might be a good idea to take a look at the ingredients list to help identify ingredients that don’t agree with your skin.

Product Recommendations:

• IMAGE Hydrating Enzyme Mask – This gently exfoliating hydrating masque infused with Vitamin C sloughs away build-up of dead skin cells while infusing the skin with essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Provides continuous hydration for hours after application.
• Elemis SOS Recovery Cream – A rich restoring cream for dry, irritated, sore or hormonal skin. A quick application of Elemis SOS Emergency Cream acts as an intense soothing and hydrating boost for dry, damaged or sunburnt skin.
• Myroo Gentle Cleaner – This gentle cleanser is fragrance free and gently cleanses without stripping the skin, removing grease and even waterproof makeup whilst repairing the skin’s natural barrier and maintaining natural moisture.