Different Skin Types And How To Care For Them

Different Skin Types And How To Care For Them

Some insights into the different skin types and how to care for them so that you can look - and feel - like the amazing babe that you are 😉

Did you know that every skin type reacts differently to each ingredient? Commercial products made for the entire population may not really be the best bet for your skin! Which is why knowing your unique skin type is extremely essential for your skincare.

There are five basic skin types - normal, oily, dry, combination and sensitive. Not sure what yours is? Take our quick skin type test here, and read on babe. 

A. Normal Skin

Normal skin is neither oily nor dry.  It has balanced sebum production and good blood circulation.  (Sebum is an oily/waxy substance that our bodies produce naturally.)

B. Oily Skin

Oily skin is characterised by a greasy appearance as a result of excess sebum production. This skin type is prone to breakouts.

C. Dry Skin

Dry skin is characterised by a flaky or rough texture. It can often feel tight and is easily irritated.

D. Combination Skin

Combination skin lies somewhere between oily and dry. Combination skin types are often characterised by an oily T-zone (i.e. the forehead, nose and chin) and dry cheeks.

E. Sensitive Skin

If your skin often feels flushed after eating spicy food and generally reacts badly to new products, then you may have sensitive skin.

1. Identifying NORMAL Skin

  • Smooth texture
  • Fine pores
  • No sensitivity
  • No blemishes
  • Few or no breakouts

Caring for Normal Skin

Don't make the mistake of assuming that you don't need to take active steps to care for your skin just because you don't have any detectable issues. Your skin needs to be taken care of too. If you have normal skin you don’t need to have a strict, intricate skincare routine, but you should still be intentional about staying healthy, hydrated and at least following a basic skincare routine.

A. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can result in developing flaky, dry skin as well as excess sebum production, so drink up babe!

B. Wear Sunscreen

Sunscreen is important for maintaining healthy skin, no matter your skin type. Direct sun exposure can dry up your skin and cause wrinkles and dark patches (aka hyperpigmentation). An oil-free sunscreen is recommended to avoid clogging your pores.

C. Moisturise

A good moisturiser is another essential item for any skin type. Moisturising your face will keep your skin moist and prevent it from overproducing sebum.

D. Remove Your Makeup Before Going To Bed

The words "getting your beauty sleep" may conjure up images of looking pretty while you sleep, but this doesn't mean going to bed with your makeup on is ever a good idea! Makeup can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. This can be avoided by removing all makeup before calling it a night - otherwise you may end up getting the opposite results to what you'd expect after "getting your beauty sleep" 😝

E. Wash/Cleanse Your Face Before Going To Bed

Even if you don’t wear makeup, it's essential to wash your face every night before you go to bed so as to avoid dirt and environmental bacteria from clogging your pores.

Best Standard Products for NORMAL Skin

  • Mild Face Wash or African Black Soap
  • AHA Lactic Acid Toner
  • Squalane Serum
  • Lightweight Moisturiser
  • Normal Skin Starter Kit

2. Identifying OILY Skin

  • Greasy appearance
  • Open / big pores
  • Prone to breakouts

What Causes Oily Skin?

  • Hormonal changes
  • Hot / humid climate
  • Genetics
  • Large pores
  • Too much exfoliating and/or using harsh soaps

Caring For Oily Skin:

A. Moisturise Regularly

Moisturising regularly will keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from overproducing excess sebum.

B. Stay Hydrated

Drink enough water to keep your skin moist. This will prevent your skin from producing excess oil.

C. Wash Your Face Twice A Day

Wash your face in the morning and at night in order to remove dirt and bacteria that may clog your pores. Be careful not to overwash. Overwashing can remove necessary oils from your skin, which often results in skin that is sensitive and more oil-prone.

Best Standard Products for OILY Skin

  • African Black Soap
  • Squalane Serum
  • Lightweight Moisturiser
  • Oily Skin Starter Kit
  • Pink Clay Face Mask

3. Identifying DRY Skin

  • Flaky / rough skin
  • Uneven texture
  • Itching
  • Skin feels tight

What Causes Dry Skin?

  • Genetics
  • Dry climate and cold weather
  • Long hot showers
  • Ageing

Caring For Dry Skin

Best Standard Products for DRY Skin

  • Mild Face Wash

  • Hyaluronic Acid Serum

  • Squalane Serum

  • Marula Oil Serum

  • Dry Skin Starter Kit

  • Vitamin C Jelly Hydration Face Mask

Keanan Justin showcasing our Squalane serum. Dewy, glassy skin for the win 🙌

4. Identifying COMBINATION Skin?

  • Oily T-zone and dry cheeks
  • Breakouts only on forehead, chin and nose
  • Sensitive cheeks

What Causes Combination Skin?

  • Genetics
  • Harsh products
  • Seasonal changes (e.g. oily skin in summer and dry skin in winter)

Caring For Combination Skin

A. Use A Gentle Cleanser

Combination skin is typically characterised by the pores in your T-zone being larger than the pores on the rest of your face. Harsh products may clog your pores so it's best to uses a gentle cleanser instead.

B. Exfoliate Gently And Only Once in A While

Exfoliating daily is not advisable for any skin type, as it strips necessary oils from the skin. When you exfoliate, take care not to scrub your T-zone too much. Scrubbing too hard can damage your skin.

C. Wear Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must-have skincare product. Be sure to choose an oil-free sunscreen if you have combination skin.

D. Maintain Two Separate Skin Care Routines

Products that work for dry skin may be harsh on oily skin. Following a separate skincare routine for your T-zone and the rest of your face will avoid developing unwanted skincare concerns (i.e. don't use the same products for your T-zone and the rest of your face) - unless you're using our African Black Soap, which also goes by the name of the Miracle Cleansing Face Wash because it's equally effective on normal, oily and dry skin!

E. Buy Oil-Free Products

Whether it's sunscreen or makeup, it's best to buy oil-free products to avoid clogging your pores.

Best Standard Products for COMBINATION Skin:

  • African Black Soap
  • BHA Salicylic Acid Toner
  • Vitamin C Serum

5. Identifying SENSITIVE Skin

  • Skin feels itchy and tight
  • Parts of your body have uneven texture
  • Becomes oily in summers
  • Gets dry in winters
  • Reacts to skincare
  • Becomes red after a hot water bath
  • Feels itchy while wearing tight clothes
  • Feels flushed after eating spicy food

Caring For Sensitive Skin

A. Conduct A Patch Test

This is very important if you want to avoid adverse skin reactions to new products. Don’t use a product without testing it on the top of your hand first and waiting for at least 24 hours. If your skin shows no signs of flaring up, apply the product to the area behind one of your ears before using it on your face.

B. Don’t Overdo Your Skincare Routine

Buy a mild cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen. Don’t apply too many products to your face.

C. Don’t Blindly Believe The “Hypoallergenic” Label

Products claiming to be “hypoallergenic” may still not necessarily be suitable for you. Conduct a patch test before applying these products as well.

Best Standard Products for SENSITIVE Skin

  • Mild Face Wash
  • Aloe & Cucumber Toner 
  • Niacinamide Serum
  • Marula Oil Serum

We all know that looking good helps us feel good and vice-versa. We want you to keep your skin healthy, energised, vibrant, and rejuvenated to avoid any signs of ageing and other problems that may arise over time. Happy, healthy skin makes for a happy, healthy you ✨

Charmaine Chadinha enjoying the look-good feel-good effects of using Standard Beauty products. All about the glow