Today I’m partnering with Vichy to write about different skin types (oily, dry, and combination), and how to pick the best skincare products for your specific skin type. I’m going to finish with a week-long giveaway with a set of handpicked Vichy items for EACH skin type. So read on to figure out what camp your skin falls in, and what products are best suited for your skin. Guess what? There’s pros and cons to each category, so whichever one you fall into, don’t fret.

 

Dry

This skin type presents as flaky, red, dry patches of skin, and your face tends to feel tight after cleansing. I find that dry skin types tend to worsen during the winter (see my post on transitioning to winter skincare here). This type is not as likely to get acne flares, but is prone to wrinkling and aging over time. The good news is there are steps you can take to minimize these changes.

Recommendation:

• Replenishing that moisture and rebuilding your skin barrier is KEY.
• Cream based cleansers help moisturize while gently removing dirt, makeup, and other impurities from your skin. I personally use the Vichy 3-in-1 cream cleanser during the winter because parts of my skin get so dry it looks like paint chipping off.
• If your face gets overly dry after cleansing, only use the cream based cleanser at night. In the morning, just splash cold water on the face but not necessarily wash again, since that will strip your skin of natural oils.
• Hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient to add to your regimen for all three skin types, as it is light enough to not clog pores, but also increases your skin’s own ability to draw in and retain moisture. Use an HA-containing product such as the Vichy Mineral 89 after cleansing but prior to moisturizer to maximize the benefit of your moisturizer.
• Choose a rich moisturizer that comes out of a jar rather than a pump bottle, and apply it while the skin is still damp to trap in hydration.

Oily

People with oily skin are prone to blackheads, whiteheads, enlarged pores, and a “shiny” appearance on the face. The worst areas are the T-zone (forehead, nose, cheeks). Luckily for you, the extra oil, as greasy as it is, helps you age better. Wrinkles and fine lines don’t look as obvious until you transition into combination or dry skin as you age.

Recommendation:

• Use an oil free, non comedogenic cleanser to avoid clogging your pores more
• If you’re acne prone, consider ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which are active acne-fighting ingredients
• A light-weight non-greasy moisturizer is still important, especially in the winter, and don’t forget your SPF as well
• Retinoids work well for their comedolytic properties; one of their main side effects is also dryness, which can actually work in your favor if you have oily skin

 Combination

Combination skin is the most common skin type, and also a very frustrating one. I have combination skin and it causes me endless grief! You kind of have the worst of both worlds: you have oily shiny acne prone skin in your T zone and dry flaky red skin in your cheeks and everywhere else. You may have a hard time finding products that work, because some moisturizers may trigger an acne breakout, but others may leave your cheeks with dry patches. What are we supposed to do with this?

Recommendations:

• The best thing I can recommend is try to find even ground. Stay away from super rich moisturizers in your T-zone and do NOT use harsh moisture stripping ingredients like alcohol, witch hazel, AHA/BHA, even retinoids, on your dry spots.
• I recommend starting with something gentle to remove makeup such as the Vichy 3 in 1 micellar water solution; this is a gentle formulation of micellar water that removes makeup, cleanses, and tones in one product. Micellar water is a solution that looks like water but is made up of tiny oil molecules (micelles) that attract dirt and oil. Some people use it instead of a face cleanser; I personally wouldn’t chuck my cleanser to the wayside, but I think it’s a good first step to remove makeup and tone.
• After cleansing, use an HA-containing product followed by an oil free moisturizer in your T zone and a richer moisturizer on your dry areas. If it’s too hard to use too moisturizers, use something in the middle of the spectrum.
• A note on retinoids: I haven’t been able to incorporate a retinoid or even an over the counter retinol into my regimen, because I get horrible peeling, stinging of my face, and redness. I would be careful starting retinoids in dry skin or the dry areas of combination skin in the wintertime, because it can be overpowering!

To kick off some exciting giveaways, I’m partnering with Vichy to give away one set of skincare essentials for each skin type. I’ll be hosting it on Instagram starting today, Wednesday, and Friday, so check out my IG to enter!

The skincare sets we will be gifting will be:

Monday: Dry skin: 3-in-1 Cream Cleanser, Mineral 89, Nutrilogie 2

Wednesday: Oily skin: Fresh Gel Cleanser, Mineral 89, Idealia cream

Friday: Combination skin: 3-in-1 Micellar Water, Mineral 89, Aqualia Rich Cream

 

To find out more, read the American Academy of Dermatology’s primer on “Saving face 101: How to customize your skin care routine with your skin type”