In order to give your skin what it needs to stay healthy, you need to memorize it like the inside of your brain. As you might have noticed, most products are labeled based on skin type; as different types of skin need different kinds of help. Your skin is similar to a plant–it must be fed and watered correctly based on its particular and unique needs.

There are 4 main skin types that are most commonly found: normal, dry, combination, and oily. Let’s break them down in more detail:

1. Normal Skin: ‘Normal’ is a term widely used to refer to well-balanced, or “eudermic” skin. One’s skin might not be completely perfect, but overall sebum is balanced and the skin is not too dry or too oily. Normal skin has a smooth texture, uniform color, and fine pores.
2.  Oily Skin: This term describes a skin type with heightened sebum production, which can be triggered by a number of features such as genetics, hormonal changes & imbalances, stress, medication, etc. Oily skin is typically characterized by enlarged pores, a “shiny” look, and commonly varying forms of acne.
3. Dry Skin: This term is used to describe a skin type that produces less sebum than normal skin that it needs to produce moisture and protect from external forces. Sebum is an oily substance produced by your body’s sebaceous glands that coats and moisturizes your skin. Another cause of dry skin is active water loss, as skin moisture depends on a supply of water in the skin layers. Dryness in skin is very common, and also normally occurs with age.
4. Combination Skin: Within the term “combination skin”, the skin types vary in the T-zone and cheeks due to a lack/overproduction of sebum in the different areas. Combination skin is commonly characterized by an oily T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose), enlarged pores in certain areas, and normal to dry cheeks.

Now that we have gone over the possible skin types, we need to discuss how to take care of said skin and the products that would be most beneficial. Most cleansers and moisturizers will specify what type of skin is best suited for the product and why; mostly focusing on the key ingredients that target a problem area.

• For those with oily skin, look for a foaming cleanser that can thoroughly remove the excess oil from the skin’s surface but does not disrupt the skin’s protective barrier. According to Cerave’s website, some good ingredients for oily skin include niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. People with oily skin should moisturize at least twice a day and after they sweat or work out. Lastly, it is important to use products such as serums, retinol, or acne treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. To complete the routine, make sure to use a non-comedogenic moisturizer and sunscreen.
• If your skin is feeling dry, flaky, or tight, be sure to use a hydrating cleanser that is not too harsh, preferably also containing hyaluronic acid. Next, an alcohol-free toner could be useful to restore the pH levels of your skin. It is also important to use a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate and a good non-comedogenic moisturizer with SPF to lock everything in place.
• For combination skin, it is necessary to use the cleanser twice a day, and if you wear makeup–make sure to double cleanse by using makeup remover and face wash. Once per week, make sure to exfoliate (removing dead skin cells) in order to keep pores clear. In addition to this, make sure to use moisturizers, serums, and sunscreen that contain beneficial ingredients such as salicylic acid, lactic acid, antioxidants, and Vitamin C.

Using this information is necessary to build a skincare routine that works for you and has you feeling your best! Remember: you’ll never find the perfect routine without trial and error, so give your skin some time. Don’t be two-faced–give your skin the nutrients and time it deserves to heal.