SKINTYPES AND CONTITIONS
Understand skin type and skin condition.
At DÉBUT COPENHAGEN SKINCARE we want to make it as easy for you as possible, when it comes to finding your specific skin type. That is why we have made this guide, which tells you all you need to know, before and after you have found your skin type.
Firstly, it is important to know the difference between skin type and skin condition.
There can be many similarities between these two notions, but there is one critical thing that separate the two: We are all born with a specific skin type, whereas the skin’s condition may change depending on time or place.
Does it seem complicated? We will elaborate: So read on here:
A skin type is something you are born with – it is permanent. Your skin type stays the same your entire life.
A skin condition is only temporary and comes from influence from the outside, and it can be changed with the right care. Skin conditions can be brought on by sun burn, diet, lack of sleep, and hormonal fluctuations in relation to pregnancy or menstruation.
Listen to and understand your skin
Your skin is really good at communicating. It tells you about its condition by being dry, red, oily, or itchy for example. If your skin condition changes, it is most likely your skin trying to tell you that it is out of balance and needs care.
Why is it so important to know all this?
Far too many people misunderstand their own skin, because the two concepts often are mixed up, and that makes people choose the wrong products for their skin.
For example, many believe they have an oily skin type, but in reality, it is simply being mistreated. Mistreated skin is a skin condition, and it is characterized by the skin appearing and feeling oily on the surface but is actually dry when you wrinkle your nose or forehead.
Improper treatment happens when you use the wrong skincare products. For example, you may accidentally use a product that dries oily skin without you actually having oily skin.
This sends the skin on the defense, and it will start to protect itself by increasing the production of sebum in the skin, which is the reason why the skin will appear oilier. If you pick the right type of skincare products, your specific skin type will be allowed to appear and receive the right care in the future.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES?
Skin types can be divided into several categories: Normal skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, and combination skin. Most people have a combination of several skin types or conditions, while others only experience symptoms from a single category.
OILY SKIN
Oily skin is caused by an overproduction of sebum in the skin. This is often identified by shiny facial skin, primarily in the forehead and in the nose region. In most cases, you will be able to feel an oily layer on the skin when touching it with your fingers. Oily skin has a tendency to develop far more blackheads and acne around the nose and cheeks, as the pores are clogged with sebum, dirt and dead skin cells. With oily skin it is important not to dry out the skin over longer periods of time, as this will send a signal to the body that the skin is dry and thus the body starts to produce even more sebum.
You most likely suffer from oily skin if you experience one or more of the following:
● My fingers get oily when I touch my skin
● I often look like I sweat from my forehead
● My skin shines despite having just cleansed it
● My skin tends to have enlarged and visible pores
● I often have acne
● My skin does not like thick skin cream
● I tend to have many black heads
● Make-up tends to crack and will not stay on my skin
NORMAL SKIN:
Normal skin should not be confused with a common or general skin type. This category refers to skin which has a good balance of the right (normal) levels of oiliness and moisture. With this skin type, your skin will have a consistent and smooth structure, with few or no visible pores.
A normal skin type can, as all other skin types, experience changes in its condition, however, it is rare.
You most likely have normal skin if you experience one or more of the following:
● Even if I forget to take care of my skin, it looks fine
● My skin feels nice and soft
● I can use most skin care products without issue
● I rarely have acne (can happen if I’m stressed or menstruating)
● My skin is more or less the same all year round
● My make-up sticks fine to my skin and stays “fresh”
DRY SKIN
This skin type tends to find it hard to maintain a proper level of oiliness and moisture and will thus be lacking this. This will often result in a dull surface which can feel dry and rough to the touch, and touching may cause pain and a burning sensation. This type of skin may feel tight and hard when wrinkling your nose or forehead. These characteristics often mean that people confuse the skin type with sensitive skin, but dry skin is not the same.
You will most likely suffer from dry skin if you can nod yes to several of these points:
● My skin feels dry – on bad days almost rough
● When I wrinkle my nose or forehead, my skin feels tight
● My skin is flaky and itchy
● I don’t usually get acne, but it sometimes happens when I’m stressed or menstruating
● My skin requires a lot of product
● Products make my skin burn, especially cream
● I can clearly see fewer fine lines and wrinkles in my skin, when I make sure it is properly moisturized versus when I skip using cream
SENSITIVE SKIN
The characteristics of sensitive skin will often be a tendency to become warm or red through touch or physical influence, and often the skin will be plagued by irritation and rashes that are difficult to alleviate. This skin type is very unpredictable and can change from one day to the next, which makes it hard to treat.
Skin problems, including eczema and rosacea, belong to this category. Many people mistake sensitive skin for dry skin, but sensitive skin can also be oilier and even be plagued by impurities and acne.
You are sure to suffer from sensitive skin if you can nod yes to several of these points:
● My skin changes a lot depending on the season
● My skin gets warm and red through touch or physical influence (for example when using peeling)
● My skin is generally quite red
● I have a predisposition for allergy or rash
● I experience that my skin is no good with make-up
● Skincare products tend to burn my skin
● My skin is very unpredictable and can change from one day to the next
COMBINATION SKIN
About 85 % of the Danish population has this skin type, and it is thus the most common skin type in this country. This skin type is also one of the most difficult skin types to work with, as it often comes with a list of other challenges since combination skin is a mix of several skin types. The skin will often have obvious distinctions on the cheeks versus in the T-zone (nose, chin, forehead). Often it is marked by dry or normal skin on the cheeks, while the T-zone tends to have blackheads, enlarged pores, and acne.
You can most likely have a combination skin if you can nod yes to several of these points:
● My skin acts one way on my cheeks and another in the T-zone
● I tend to have enlarged pores around my nose
● I often have a lot of blackheads around my nose
● I tend to get acne in the T-zone area
● I have a hard time finding a moisturizer that my face can work with