First of all, and this applies to every skin type, you will need the following products (but they will vary depending on what skin type you have - we will dive into the specifics later in this post. Scroll down to find your skin type).
1) Cleanser (and a toner to follow if you like)
2) Moisturizer with SPF (to be applied right after you clean your face in the morning)
3) Exfoliator (to be used a maximum of 3 times a week - but less if you have Sensitive Skin)
4) Benzoyl Peroxide. This might scare you, or you might just be wondering what this is. This is another little miracle that I discovered when my doctor prescribed it for me. I had used Proactiv, which contains 5% BP, but my body developed a tolerance for it soon after (I also didn't really like what Proactiv did to my skin - it almost became combo skin). But, depending on your skin type, you could get away with 5% BP or go to 10%. I would use this nightly when I had pimples all of the time, but now I use it only if I have a spot or two - and only directly on the spot, whereas before I would put it on like a mask and wear it all night long. Warning: this could bleach your coloured sheets if you sleep with it on.
If you see anything written in RED, stop to read it, it applies to all skin types.
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For those with Normal Skin, you are very fortunate. You will probably experience minimal breakouts (for the ladies this might just happen around your period, and might only appear in one or two very low maintenance pimples - you won't have to treat them - that will leave no or minimal marking).
You can pretty much use any product out there, and any kind of makeup too. No need to check ingredients for added oil or other pore clogging substances, your skin is tough and can handle itself! However, most products out there now are mostly non-comedigenic anyways; meaning that they do not clog pores, so they won't contain any oils.
Just pick a cleanser, a moisturizer (make sure it has an SPF - something everyone should have in their daily moisturizer), and a toner if you like them, an exfoliating scrub (you could also get away with using a bigger bead in your exfoliator, vs. a smaller one for a more gentle cleanse) and you're good to go!
A Note: depending on what you prefer, you could get away with not cleansing your face before bed.
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A Note on Exfoliators for every Skin Type: these miracles in a bottle will not only smooth your skin and soften it (generally make your skin look more healthy), but they will actually also help to hydrate your skin! Exfoliators will allow your skin to absorb the most moisture, post face wash. These should be used as early on as possible, because they should also help to fight off wrinkles!
A Note on Moisturizing Post Face Wash for every Skin Type: Only lightly pat your face dry with a towel, and immediately apply your moisturizer. Wet skin actually absorbs more moisture than skin that is more dry. Moisturizers should be used as early as possible, because they should help to fight off wrinkles!
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Dry Skin, like Sensitive Skin, is more complicated. You will have to work a bit to get your skin better hydrated (and keep it hydrated). You will also be limited in the products you choose because Dry Skin can be prone to acne (like Sensitive Skin). You must avoid any oil based products - that includes makeup!
Here is a run down of what I use:
1) Cleanser = Spectrogel (or a knock-off brand of this face wash)
2) Moisturizer with SPF = Neutrogena Oil Free face wash.And it is a myth that moisturized skin is more likely to break out (unless it's applied overnight). You need your skin to be hydrated for all over health (and to be spot free).
3) Exfoliator = St. Ives (oil free with 2% salicylic acid). I use this every time I shower every other day (I wash my face in the shower). Make sure you use a smaller bead/grit in this product. A bigger bead will be too harsh on your skin.
4) Benzoyl Peroxide = 5% now, but I used to use 10%. This can be very drying, so use sparingly until your skin is better hydrated. Also, add more moisturizer to dry patches. This happens to me around my mouth in the winter if I've used BP on a spot in the area. If any redness or darkening of the skin occurs, stop using BP and add more moisturise to the areas. Start with 5% and see how it works, and move to 10% if necessary. You may need a prescription for 10%, but you can get 5% in the drugstore.
For makeup I always make sure to read the labels of the products. I also look for hydrating makeups (like foundations) when and where I can. Another little trick I learned is when applying your foundation or concealer, add some moisturise to the brush or to the sponge, this will help your makeup go on smoother. But hopefully once your skin is up to a good level of hydration, you will have to worry less about makeup application or using as many hydrating products as possible.
A Note: I used to cleanse my face twice a day (AM and PM), especially when I was using the BP at night all over my face. However, I stopped, as I found it very drying and very irritating to my skin. If you can, I recommend only spot treating your pimples with BP, and not washing your skin if you can help it. Also, moisturising after cleansing and before bed could backfire on Dry Skinned individuals. It could lead to more acne while your face rests on the pillow.
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For all Skin Types: Avoid touching your face!!! Your hands are dirty (even if you don't think they are). Also, keep clothing and hair away from your face too. And always keep your clothes and your hair clean! This will ensure that no unnecessary oils/dirt come into contact with your face.
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For Oily Skin: avoid any and all oil based products! That is lesson number one!
Other than that you can find cleansers that are tailored to oily skin. Or, just use Spectrogel (which I love for an everyday cleanser for all skin types). Also, toners would probably be a good friend to you. These will help to lick away any excess oil left over after cleansing your face. Exfoilaters are also good for oily skin, as they will reduce enlarged pores, making your skin look smoother and potentially less red (if you experience redness that is associated with enlarged pores). You could afford to use a bigger bead, as opposed to a smaller one, in the exfoliator.
Benzoyl Peroxide will also help by getting rid of any acne. You could probably start off using 10% BP, as your skin is not likely to become as dry from it as other skin types would.
Finally, I don't normally wash my face at nighttime anymore, as I found that this agitated my dry and sometimes sensitive skin. But for oily skin I recommend that you cleanse your skin before bed. You might want to avoid applying moisturise though.
Your skin type is fairly straight forward, so once you manage the oil and the spots associated with oily skin, you should be on your way to clear and beautiful skin!
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Note for all skin types: make sure that you change your sheets and pillow cases regularly. Sheets should be changed at least every other week, and I recommend changing your pillow cases at least every week.
A trick I used was to flip my pillow case over every night, so that I was sleeping on a different part and my face would be exposed to older "dirt" while I slept.
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Combination Skin. It's tricky, but it can be managed!
Start of by using Spectrogel - I recommend this (or the knock-off brand), as it managed oil and dirt but does not deplete your skins natural moisture. This is going to be key in managing your oily T-Zone and your dry spots.
Also, be sure to avoid any oil-based products. Do not add any oil to your already oily skin (in spots), and your dry skin will not benefit either - it will only break out in spots!
I love Neutrogena's oil-free moisturise. It also has an SPF in it, which is very important in maintaining healthy skin all year (the sun still shines in the winter, not matter where you live!).
You could also invest in a toner (like one from Clinique - a brand that is know to be gentle on dry or sensitive skin). You could apply toner to your whole face or just to your T-Zone. Experiment and see what happens.
Exfoliators are, again, going to be your friend. They will get rid of any enlarged pores, and they will help to buff away oil and your dry skin, leaving your skin clean and better hydrated. Make sure to use a smaller bead, vs. a bigger one in this cleanser. It will be more gentle.
I recommend not cleansing your entire face before bed. Maybe only apply toner to your T-Zone. Do not moisturise.
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Sensitive Skin. Last but not least! I touched on some of this under the Dry Skin section, so you might want to read that as well, since both Sensitive Skin and Dry Skin are related and can exist together.
It is important that you understand what irritates your skin. Is it fragrance, is it oil, is it environmental factors, like cold weather?
First off, avoid anything that contains oil - this also applies to makeup.
Next, I recommend that you use Spectrogel (or the knock-off brand). This should help to soothe any irritation that you are experiencing, while also helping to boost your skin's levels of hydration.
If you find that this cleanser is still irritating your skin, try visiting your nearest Clinique counter, they specialize in looking after sensitive skin.
For a moisturizer I like Neutrogena's oil-free daily moisturizer. It's a light but very effective formula. It also contains an SPF. You might consider using a version with a higher SPF, if that's possible. This will better protect your sensitive skin against the elements. Only use this product (or any moisturizer) once a day. You do not want to over moisturize before bed.
Also, I recommend that you do not cleanse before bed either, as it could lead to over-drying and your skin becoming more irritated. The less you do to your face the better.
Exfoilating will help too. Use the most gentle bead there is. This will ensure that you are not further irritating your skin. This product will help to buff away any dead skin, and it should also help to hydrate your skin. It may take some time to notice a difference when using this product, because your skin will have to get used to it. At first it may seem to dry out your skin, but keep with it, and keep moisturizing, and your skin will come around. Mine did, if that encourages you any :)
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That's the end of this post - learning to care for your individual skin type! Please feel free to ask questions, about this post or about anything!
My plan is to blog about products that I continue to find that I like (and that I don't like),as well as post about everything from wrinkles, to cellulite, spray tans, and continuing to treat blemishes or other marks at any age!
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