Knowing the characteristics of your skin is essential to take care of it with suitable products. Indeed, each type of skin requires specific cosmetics, that is to say that respond to its problems. We explain how to identify what is best for your skin.

There are four main types of skin:

• normal skin.
• dry skin.
• oily skin.
• combination skin. 

It is largely determined by our genes but you should know that the appearance of our epidermis, the surface layer of the skin, can vary depending on internal (diet, stress, disease, etc.) and external (pollution, exposure to the skin) factors. sun, cold, heat…). 

Normal skin is the type of skin that everyone dreams of because as the name suggests, it is balanced and healthy. It is neither too greasy nor too dry because it is sufficiently hydrated (water contained in the epidermis) and nourished (fatty substances contained in the epidermis). People with normal skin have a smooth complexion, the texture is even, and the pores are not visible. Normal skin is therefore distinguished by its uniform appearance.

Dry skin lacks hydration and epidermal lipids. Concretely, dry skin produces less sebum than normal skin. Consequently, it does not have enough fatty substance to retain water and protect itself against external aggressions. There are different degrees of dry skin (dry, very dry and extremely dry skin). The main symptoms of dry skin are tightness, roughness, itching, mild to severe flaking, and a dull complexion. 

Oily skin is the result of excessive production of sebum, which is called seborrhea. People with oily skin may have a “shiny” face and thicker-looking skin with a pale complexion. The pores are visible and dilated leaving the field open to blackheads and acne. 

Combination skin is characterized by a variation in the appearance of the skin depending on the area of ​​the face. In fgeneral, people with combination skin have oily skin on the T zone (forehead, nose, chin) with large pores; and dry to normal skin on the cheeks. In question, an excess of sebum on the T zone and a lack of water and lipids on the cheeks. 

Skin diagnosis can be performed by a dermatologist using skin imaging devices. The specialist begins by taking very high resolution photos of your face, front and side, under different light filters (visible light, polarized light, blue light, UV light). This step allows you to possibly highlight spots, wrinkles and other imperfections. Then, the dermatologist carefully analyzes the skin using probes to check in particular its flexibility but also its hydration level.

After analyzing your skin, the doctor may ask you questions about the care you are used to applying at home and advise you to make some adjustments if your habits are not suitable for your skin type. 

If you don’t want to go through a skin diagnosis with a dermatologist, you can also make your own diagnosis. by analyzing your skin yourself. Here are some characteristics of the different skin types:

People who complain of tightness, redness and / or itching, marked wrinkles have rather dry skin. They must focus on treatments with rich textures based on moisturizing and nourishing active ingredients. The preferred ingredients are glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter or even coconut oil.  

If you tend to have a “shiny” face, comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), large pores, your skin is rather oily. The goal is therefore to use treatments that slow down and absorb excess sebum. Opt for non-comedogenic, non-greasy, purifying and mattifying treatments to reduce this “shiny” effect caused by seborrhea. Use products that contain zinc or grape seed oil, which are natural sebum-regulating substances. Remember to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week. 

Combination skin must juggle the issues of dry skin and oily skin. For cleansing the face, foaming gel is a good option. For hydration, it is best to treat the fatter T-zone and the dry areas separately. Better to use a richer moisturizer on the cheeks and a mattifying cream on the forehead, nose and chin. 

If your skin is normal, cleaning with a non-greasy milk or non-drying, alcohol-free micellar lotion is recommended. For the day, apply a light moisturizing emulsion and for the night a slightly richer moisturizer. The goal is to keep this precious skin balance with which nature has endowed you!