Your New Beauty Routine, Based On Your Skin Type

Following other peoples suggested skin care routines can be troublesome, as what works for other people isn't likely to work for you. And it's all because everyone's skin type is slightly different. Your skin type should ultimately dictate what products you use and how, so you can get the most out of your daily skin care routine. 

So here we've listed each main skin type (if you're not sure which one you are keep reading, because we'll tell you how to spot your skin type, too) and what routine suits which so you can really look after your skin and get it looking it's best. 

Dry Skin

Tight, flaking skin? If your skin tends to feel uncomfortable most of the time it’s most likely your skin is dry. Dry skin means you might be more likely to get fine lines, but as long as you look after your skin you should be able to prevent these. Positive of having dry skin is that you’re less likely to have break outs or clogged pores than other, more oily skin types. But you do have to wear a lot of heavy moisturizer to restore lost moisture. Whether the cause of your dryness is natural or due to things such as bad weather, it’s best to follow this routine until your skin is normal again.

Morning

Cleanse with a moisturizing wash every morning, one with aloe, glycerin, ceramide or hyaluronic acid in. If your skin is incredibly dry, you might want to skip the step completely, and rinse your face with water instead. Then use some hyaluronic serum and finish with a moisturizer from a jar (because this means it’s heavy).

Night

Wash your face with an oil cleanser and then apply hyaluronic serum, followed by the same heavy moisturizer from the morning.

When Needed

Have a face mist with you for instant hydration throughout the day. Using a sheet mask weekly can really hydrate your skin and restore the moisture lost throughout the week. 

Oily

Oily skin is pretty easy to spot, as your skin will get progressively oiler and greasier as the day goes on and you might find your makeup has run down your face. You’re more prone to clogged pores and breakouts when you have oily skin, too but to make up for it, you're skin ages much slower than those with drier skin.

Morning

Use a cleanser that includes clay, that way it can cut through the oil your skin produced overnight or use one with salicylic acid to mildly exfoliate. Then use a serum with either niacinamide, salicylic acid or tea tree that will help balance your skins oil levels and continue stripping that oil down. Finish with a lightweight moisturizer, like a water gel, so you can still keep your skin hydrated but it won’t be too heavy either. 

Night

Double cleanse on an evening, first with an oil cleanser, then with the same cleanser you used in the morning. Use a salicylic exfoliant and finish with your water gel cream.

When Needed

If you have oily skin, use a clay mask every week or so.

Combination

This is where it gets a bit trickier. If you suffer from dry skin in certain areas and oily skin in others, then you have to use different products on the certain areas which are more prone to be oily to the areas that are dry. Normally it’s the T-zone that’s the oiliest, and the cheeks are the driest (but yours might be slightly different, if so, switch the routine around accordingly). 

Morning

You can either use a gel or a lotion-based cleanser, whichever takes your fancy. Then use hyaluronic serum where your skin is the driest, then finish with a lightweight water gel moisturizer all over.

Night

Cleanse with the same cleanser you used in the morning, and tone with salicylic acid where your skin is oily. The apply hyaluronic acid where you have dry skin, and finish with a water gel cream.

When needed

Using a clay mask on your t-zone or where you’re most oily and continue to do this once a week. 

Breakout Prone

If you’re prone to having a lot of blackheads, whiteheads, and big cysts, it’s likely you’re ‘breakout-prone’. This is slightly different to oily skin, as you both may suffer from breakouts, but you can still be breakout prone even if you have dry skin. It’s usually down to hormones if this is the case.

Morning

Use the right cleanser based on what’s described above, depending on whether you have dry or oily skin. Then follow up with a liquid salicylic acid formula to help clear your pores. If you have zits, apply benzoyl peroxide to them, and when it’s dry, finish with a moisturizer, heavy or light depending on how dry or oily your skin is.  

Night

Double cleanse with an oil cleanser and the cleanser you used in the morning. For intense breakouts, put some salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide on your face and end with a lightweight moisturizer.

Sensitive and Reactive

If you often suffer from redness, itchy skin or bumps, it’s likely your skin is sensitive and reactive. It’s often triggered by contact to allergies or can even be rosacea. Some triggers include caffeine, spicy food or alcohol. If it’s itchy, it’s more likely to be an allergy, but if it feels like it’s burning it could be rosacea.

Morning

Wash your face with a gentle milk or cream cleanser. Use products that are fragrance-free and skip serums as these can irritate your skin. Keep your routine as minimal as possible and hydrate with a moisturizer infused with calming ingredients like green tea or squalene to boost your skin natural barrier against irritants.

Night

Do the same as the morning, as it’s important to not add too many products and ingredients into your routine. By keeping it nice and simple, you're less likely to cause a reaction. 

Resilient

Also known as ‘normal skin’ as it’s neither oily, nor dry and it’s able to tolerate an array of products including acids and fragrances without reacting. You can pretty much do as you please, and use any product to target whichever problem you're having (such as skin dullness etc). 

Morning

Cleanse with whatever you prefer, then follow up with a serum for whichever problem area you’re experiencing at the moment. If you want brighter skin, try vitamin C. If you want smoother skin, give alpha hydroxy acids a go. But you also don't have to use a serum if you don't want, either. 

Night

As you did with the morning, do however you wish! 

Mature

Mature skin usually characterized by dryness, sunspots and fine lines. Aging skin is (apart from age) often to do with sun exposure and smoking, too. So even if you’re young, you can still have ‘mature’ skin. Look out for fine lines whilst your skin is resting, for broken veins on your skin (which is a sign of sun damage) or sunspots.

Morning

Cleanse with a lotion-based cleanser, and then finish with a targeted serum. Use ones with peptides, hyaluronic acid or a blend of antioxidants, then finish with a medium-to-thick moisturizer.

Night

Cleanse skin, then apply retinol, finish with the same moisturizer from the morning and oil, if preferred.

As Needed

Sheet masks should be used on a weekly basis to restore lost hydration. Our Stem Cell Face Masks are highly hydrating and full of ingredients that boost your skin's collagen to reverse signs of aging.