The various types of leather

What are they and how to treat them

It is often repeated that there is no cosmetic product that can be suitable for everyone. This is because every skin is different. For this reason, the same treatment does not work for all people. The skin, in fact, can be said to be a complex issue: it is the largest organ of the body and serves to protect the organism by acting as a barrier against external agents, but it is much more than that. 

On the other hand, the skin is subject to daily aggressions that come from within our body when we experience a period of intense stress, poor nutrition, or few hours of rest.

What unites us all is that we desire to have skin that always looks healthy, radiant, and toned. But to achieve this goal, it is essential to know your skin type: this way, you can understand how it responds to certain active ingredients and which ones to avoid.

Taking care of your skin also means learning to know yourself without necessarily having to identify with a specific type, also because often the needs of the skin change depending on various factors, including age.

Before we delve into the article, let's make a necessary premise: one should not confuse skin types with dermatological problems as issues can manifest in any skin type. In fact, it is likely that people with different skin types may encounter the same dermatological problems. That said, there is no doubt that there are natural predispositions that strongly depend on skin type, such as the fact that sensitive skin suffers more frequently from irritations.

What are the main skin types and how to identify your own

The skin of each of us is unique and at the same time it is not. What does this mean? That the intrinsic characteristics of the skin of each of us are unique and influenced by various factors, such as the level of pollution in the place where we live, but it is possible to share the same characteristics with many other people.

In fact, this is the principle on which cosmetic products are based that, even if formulated to effectively address specific issues, must be designed for a wide range of people who experience those same issues. 

There are essentially five different types of skin:

• Normal skin;
• Oily skin;
• Dry skin;
• Combination skin;
• Sensitive skin.

"Before delving into the specifics of the different skin types, it is important to know that there is also a different type of skin classification that prevails over that of skin types."

It's called skin prototyping, which is a classification of how the skin responds to sun exposure, for example, whether the skin tends to burn or has the ability to tan. The most widely accepted method is the Fitzpatrick scale.

The Fitzpatrick scale was first described in 1975 and is based on skin coloration, describing 6 different types: from the lightest to the darkest. This classification determines, for example, the correct type of sunscreen to use, which is essential to prevent the risk of skin cancer.

From a cosmetic point of view, the skin is classified based on various factors related to its balance, including sebum secretion, hydration, and sensitivity level. Therefore, each skin type has its own characteristics and different care that vary according to genetics, external factors, and the passage of time.

In addition to those indicated that can be more general, there are also types of mature, asphyxiated, or thickened skin that are more specific skin conditions and not always related to the types described. 

How to identify your skin type?

The best way to know what type of skin you have is to understand the main characteristics of the five macro types indicated. In some cases, it is also possible to identify your skin with more than one different type, and that is perfectly normal.

Once you have gained a greater awareness of what type of skin you have, it is also possible to delve deeper through tests or personalized consultations to understand which products are suitable for improving skin balance.

Normal skin

Normal skin, as the name suggests, is neither too dry nor too oily. It is usually skin that is not very sensitive and to which a wide range of different products and therefore different active ingredients can be applied without having a negative reaction.

Normal skin has a good balance: the production of sebum and the level of natural hydration are therefore intact. Of course, normal skin is not always better than other types and does not imply that the others are abnormal or that it does not need to be protected, treated, or improved in appearance.

In fact, it is important to manage to maintain, through specific products and a correct lifestyle, the natural balance and to avoid it being altered over time. Many people tend to neglect normal skin and do not intervene in a dermocosmetic sense, but having a good skincare routine is essential even in this case.

Furthermore, even if you have normal skin, you are subject to blemishes such as wrinkles, dark circles, dull tone, and loss of collagen. Normal skin should be treated in relation to external stimuli, therefore seasonal, and internal to prevent the balance from being compromised. Cleaning, hydration, and protection are the three fundamental steps of skincare for combination skin, where it is necessary to change the type of moisturizer according to the season, choosing a more intense hydration in winter and a lighter one in summer.

Combination skin

As the name itself indicates, this type of skin is characterized by a combination of different skin symptoms. The combination skin type often reflects subsets of different characteristics of skin types: for example, it can be a mix of oily and dry skin, where the T-zone of the face remains oily and the area on the cheeks is dry. Or it can be a mix of dry and sensitive skin, although dry skin is often more easily prone to sensitivity because the skin barrier is weakened.

Combination skin requires a more complex skincare routine that still involves gentle cleansing, a good dose of hydration, and a protective base to be increased according to specific needs. The part related to maintaining skin moisture can be built through various types of products, such as serums. Sometimes, if there are local impurities, spot treatments can be useful to avoid affecting areas where the skin is drier or more sensitive.

The serum could therefore act specifically in areas with dry skin to increase the level of skin hydration. Serums are quickly absorbed and are lightweight, working in synergy with other products without being greasy. If you are part of the group with combination skin, you need to pay attention to the ingredients that could conflict and that cannot be used simultaneously. To avoid this, it is possible to set up two different routines in the morning and evening to enhance the effects.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is immediately recognizable because those who suffer from it often perceive itching, burning, tingling right after applying a skincare product or after experiencing a sudden change in temperature. Sensitive skin is reactive to the climate and therefore to external factors, but also to makeup, soap, or even the skincare products themselves, as the function of the skin barrier is altered.

Cleansing sensitive skin focuses on restoring the skin's natural balance by acting gently. Cleansers with surfactants tend to remove dirt and sebum along with part of the skin barrier, which is why it is important to choose gentle cleansers and makeup removers. At the same time, a moisturizing cream, possibly enriched with anti-inflammatory and soothing active ingredients, could help strengthen the skin barrier, in synergy with a gentle facial serum, which may also contain niacinamide that reduces redness and spots.

Oily skin

Oily skin is caused by an overproduction of oil or sebum from the skin which leads to clogged pores and therefore pimples, so it is often a skin type that is frequently exposed to acne and breakouts. To treat oily skin, cleansing is one of the fundamental steps, but it is important not to overdo it.

In this case, one can opt for salicylic acid. It is better to select lightweight serums that go to "treat" the skin imbalance from the inside and always lightweight but protective face creams with antibacterial properties, which can unclog pores and mattify the oily surface while simultaneously reducing excessive sebum production.

Dry skin

Dry skin appears rough and scaly, tight to the touch, and in more severe cases, it can also present with cracks and intense itching. Dry skin results from the loss of the natural protective lipid layer that covers the surface of the skin. This way, skin cells become more exposed and lose moisture. Weather conditions can also cause dry skin, or air conditioning and central heating that remove moisture from the environment. Alternatively, it can be caused by aging or the use of certain medications.

Dry skin needs to be treated quickly, otherwise it may worsen over time leading to a skin infection and other complications. Of course, it is not always that serious, but it is certainly an annoying imperfection. A valuable ally is hyaluronic acid at different molecular weights that improves the skin's moisture level. Just like rich face creams, both day and night. Even dry skin needs cleansing to gently remove dead cells.

And you, have you identified your skin type?

If you want to deepen your awareness on how to take care of your skin, request a free consultation and find out which products are perfect for you.