The internet has no shortage of skin advice. Influencers are especially quick to recommend products that work for THEIR skin type. Sure, natural oil can be great for my drier than the Sahara face, but wreak havoc for someone with super oily skin. Skincare does not follow a one-size-fits-all rule. Even when your complexion falls under a category, tailoring a great care routine considers specific needs, sensitivities and external factors like the weather or your work environment. Not sure what your skin type is? Even if you do, what products should you stock up or stay away from? I got you. All of you. I sat down with my favourite medical aesthetician and founder of Freya MediSpa, Saima Riaz, and picked her brain on skincare do’s and don’ts — info categorized by skin type.
After over seven years in the medical aesthetic world, working with thousands of faces, Saima wanted me to tell you one thing: there is no such thing as “normal skin.” Normal is different for everybody. Sure, skin can be well balanced — overall complexion is neither too oily nor too dry, but to label something normal implies that other skin types are less than perfect. A total lie. Saima’s tailored approach to beauty is why I love and keep letting this woman bring around surgical scalpels near my face… That’s a story for another blog post. Here’s are some common skin types and the golden rules on how to take care of them:
Oily Skin.
If by afternoon you have shiny spots, you have oily skin. Another indicator is visible pores, as the active gland can enlarge them. It’s perfectly ok to have a little shine, but it becomes an issue when your skin “bloats” because of heightened sebum production. Here’s what you need to know:
Do:
- Use an oily skin cleanser or acid-based cleanser. Anytime you use an acid-based product, we need to compensate with hydration, hydration and more hydration.
- Get yourself a hydrating and conditioning toner with hyaluronic acid.
- Choose oil-free moisturizers.
- SPF, of course.
- Exfoliate weekly; we’re talking three to four times a week.
Don’t:
- Try overly drying products. Stay away from them, trust. I know it seems intuitive to dry but that actually triggers your skin to produce more oil. Working against what you’re trying to achieve — balance.
Dry Skin.
Hi twin, this is my skin type. We, my friend, are lacking oil. Why? Probably genetics. People with dry skin types are born with less active oil glands and retain less moisture. Your skin probably feels tight and gets wrinkly faster. Now, before you go blame your mom for passing on the family dry skin curse to you, I want to tell you that there is hope:
Do:
Use cream cleansers. If you don’t like the texture of cream go for something gentle and light weight. A favorite of mine is Kate Somerville’s DELIKATE Soothing Cleanser. First, it’s a treat to use, the texture is mouth-watering. Second, the DELIKATE line was specifically designed to repair the skin’s moisture barrier. I’m on my second tube and certainly not my last. Another great one is the Adoring Cream Cleanser.
- Find a conditioning toner, this is a must have. The ingredients to watch for an ideal conditioning toner are hyaluronic acid, glycerine and rose hip oil.
- Make a hyaluronic acid serum a non-negotiable too. One that I’ve discovered recently from L’Oreal improved my water retention immediately.
- Now, this one is pricey and not a total need but if you can splurge try the DELIKATE Recovery Serum. It’s like a tall, iced, glass of water for your skin.
- Be on the lookout for a moisturizer that doesn’t feel oily after you apply it. A good one should make your skin quenched, not greasy.
- Exfoliate once or twice a week. It opens up your skin to be more receptive to moisture
- Check your sunscreen and make sure it’s a moisturizing one. If it’s now, swap it for something that packs an extra boost of hydration.
Don’t:
- Befriend artificial fragrances, in fact, cut all ties. Dry skin tends to be sensitive and those ingredients can cause irritation.
- Even think about skipping out on drinking water. I know, it’s a silly rule, but deep down you know I’m right.
Acne or Blemish-prone Skin.
Dead skin, enlarged pores, clogging and painful pimples are a good indicator that you might have this skin type. If I had to guess, you are usually oily and have an unwanted shine at all times of day. Acne severity can vary between mild, moderate and severe conditions. These at-home-care Instructions are for my mild to moderate friends.
Casual breakouts here and there are completely normal #NormalizeTexturedSkin. However, battling Cystic acne, white heads and black heads on a regular basis is not only frustrating, but can also cause a lot of insecurity. Babe, if this is you, I want you to remember two things: (1) you are so much more than your skin, (2) there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your skin. It doesn’t need to be “cured,” it just needs some extra love and maintenance. Embracing yourself and nourishing your skin with the correct regimen is the first step. Here’s the game plan:
Do:
- Make sure you’re washing your face with an acid-based cleanser.
- Stock up on two types of toners: a hydrated toner and an antibacterial toner to keep acne infections at bay. Switching between those according to need. Pro tip: use the anti-bacterial one at night to prevent form stripping and the hydrating toner in the morning to combat environmental stressors.
- Use a hyaluronic acid serum for the morning routine and an acne spot treatment at night. Again, keeping that hydration and anti-bacterial balance.
- Apply an oil-free moisturizer in the a.m. and a treatment moisturizer for the p.m.
- Get yourself some detoxifying mud masks – use these once a week.
- Take a wild guess on this last one. Of course, sunscreen. Mineral is best.
Don’t:
- Use natural oils (natural and essential like shea butter and coconut oil), they tend to clog pores easily
- Settle for an oily sunscreen, another pore polluter, a lightweight formula is best
- Wash your face with harsh, soap-based cleansers. Matrix-dodge those at all cost.
Dehydrated Skin.
Let’s kick this one off with a myth buster: dehydrated skin is not a skin type; it’s a skin condition. It simply means that you probably dropped the ball on your eight glasses intake goal, and your skin is angry about it. Don’t beat yourself up though because that’s only a fraction of the cause. Dehydrated skin is actually a mix of water intake (20%) and lack of humidity in the environment (80%). Dehydrated skin should not be confused with the dry skin type mentioned above. Dehydrated skin lacks water, and dry skin lacks natural oils. Dehydration manifests itself differently for every skin type, but common signs include that tight feeling right after cleansing, itchiness, uneven skin tone and more noticeable fine lines. For my sensitive people, dehydration sometimes shows up as redness. Aside from the obvious lifestyle change (water and supersize it), here are some tips on how to correct dehydrated skin:
Do:
- Use a gentle or hydrating cleanser until your skin feels less reactive.
- Find a hydrating toner: must have hyaluronic acid, or we don’t want it.
- Have an oil free moisturizer handy.
- Check out some sealant serums, they prevent the loss of moisture without making the skin too oily. Saima’s top pick is the Silc Radiance Repair Serum from Cara Skin Care.
- Apply a lightweight mineral sunscreen and stay away from the chemical stuff.
- Exfoliate once to two times per week, that will make your skin more receptive to moisture.
Don’t:
- Use products with heavy acid ingredients in them, it’s stripping.
- Even think about fragrance-heavy products right now.
- Think that you can substitute coffee for water, as tempting as it is. Hydration starts from the inside out.
There you have it, a skincare guide that makes your search in finding the best products a breeze. One last parting note, please remember that in life and in skin habits, good things take time. Patience, persistence and consistency with your regime will give you the best results.
Another big aspect to achieving a supple and well-balanced complexion is going for spa treatments. As previously noted, I swear by Saima’s expertise and would love to give you a chance to find out how transformative a quality facial can be! In partnership with Freya MediSpa, we are giving away a free treatment.
To enter, simply comment your thoughts on this blog post or share your biggest skincare concern in the comments. Good luck!
Sara Cohen
I struggle the most with consistency. I get down or depressed and stop taking care of myself. 🙁
Danielle
Love this! I have a combination of blemish prone and dehydrated! (And just realising its not a skin type!) Us Alberta babes have no luck with the lack of humidity. I use Glo products, live their hydrolonic serum and Ole Herikson Vitamin C range. Need to get more antibacterial products in my routine though. Thanks for the info
Julie
This is such a well written and thorough article on skin types and skin care — thank you!! My only problem is figuring out what my main skin type is; sometimes it feels like I’m all of them depending on the season. Definitely will be exploring some of the recommended products 🙂
Caitlin
Obsessed with Freya 😍 I have super oily acne prone skin and they have me on a routine of microdermabrasion/deep pore facials, chemical peels and IPL photo facial. It’s been 3 months and I don’t even recognize my skin.. can’t wait to see what it looks like in another 3 months 💁🏻♀️
Taryn
My skin is always so dry, but still feels oily somehow and the last year and a half has done a NUMBER on my cheeks as far as texture issues go. These are some great tips!
Jennie Guenard
I feel like I can never quite figure out what skin type I have, is it possible to have dehydrated skin at all times? I’d never even heard of that before this article! I grew up much farther east in sooo much humidity and feel like I’m still not used to this Calgary air a decade later. Such a great giveaway and such a beautiful site 😍
Courtney
Can’t wait to try some dry skin recommendations- no more using up testers 🙊 time to buy with intention
Abby McGillivray
Great article Maria! As someone who has grown up with a mother who worked at a dermatologist clinic aaaand with oily, acne prone skin I feel like I’ve tried my fair share of skin products in my life. I swear by the Ordinary’s niacinamide serum and Origins gel moisturizer. Definitely gonna use some of your tips moving forward though 🤍
Maria
I have struggled with what my skin type is and how it reacts to different weather. I came from a very humid country and Calgary’s dryness has really taken a toll on it.
Fareeha
I was always confused why my face bloated and looked so shiny so knowing why that happens and my skin type is a good way to get a handle on it. Thank you for the tips!
Sjfinn
My skincare routine changed a lot last couple of year. Now I’m using mainly organic products because they are chemical free ♥️
Lizzie
I struggle to be consistent with my skincare so I never know if my products are working. As a teen I had acne prone skin and now I get the occasional blemish but I haven’t really switched up my approach to skincare because I don’t know where to start. I’ve booked a session at Freya to get some much needed help by your recommendation 🙌🏻
Daanis
I don’t have a set skincare routine but I have been using Aveeno on my skin for years and it will always be a brand I use and trust! It’s super gentle and not very fragrant which I like as I feel like anything too fragrant is sometimes not the best for my skin!