Understanding your Skin Type is an essential first step to empowering you to make educated and correct choices of our selection of results driven medical grade skincare systems.
We believe that the true brilliance of your skin can only revealed when the skins foundational health has been identified, treated and maintained on a daily basis. This will ensure that the up-take of specialised products required for your associated Skin Conditions will be absorbed more efficiently and effectively to achieve results.
Facts about Skin Types
Genetically determined – you are born with your very own unique coding that determines your Skin Type.
They are a constant in your lifetime meaning that your Skin Type is with you day in – day out for your life.
Relative to the amount or lack of oil that your oil glands produce and the behaviour of your blood vessels.
Hormonal events such as Puberty, Menstrual Periods, Pregnancy, Pre-Menopause and Menopause will have an influence your Skin Type
Used on a daily basis, Cleansers, Toners, Moisturisers and SPF skincare products maintain and balance your Skin Type.
Below are the key characteristics that can help you understand your Skin Type so you can be well on your way to becoming an expert in your own skin health.
Dry
Oily
Normal
/
Normal/Oily
/
Normal/Dry
Acne
Sensitive
Dry
Dry
Skin Type
A DRY Skin Type is determined by the skin’s oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, where they produce little or no oil
The Oily Skin Type is the polar opposite to the Dry Skin Type. The oil glands are producing an ABUNDANCE OR EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.
If you have an Oily Skin Type the following precautions must be considered when maintaining the foundation health of this Skin Type.
Avoid SD alcohol based cleansers and toners as they strip back the skins protective surface and cause extreme water loss, chronic dehydration, irritation and premature ageing.
Associated Skin Conditions of breakouts and blackheads should be treated with specialised treatment products featured in breakout and congestion.
This is a rare Skin Type in which oil production is evenly balanced all over the skin. The Normal Skin Type is mistaken for ‘perfect skin’ and very often neglects a basic foundational skincare routine.
01
Causes
Genetics
Even balance of oil and water being produced in the skin.
02
Looks Like
Even in colour
Tiny pores
Flawless
Not too shiny – not too dry
Few imperfections such as breakouts, flaky patches or obvious dryness
A combination Skin Type is exactly that – a combination of areas of dryness and areas of obvious oiliness. It is essential that the oilier and dryer areas are equally treated on a daily basis. The Combination Skin Type falls into the 2 categories of Normal to Oily or Normal to Dry.
01
Causes
Genetics
Imbalance of production of oils in the skin resulting in areas of the skin being oversupplied and other areas being quite even in supply
Light-medium weight moisturiser to supply correct balance of moisture and hydration.
Normal / Dry
/
Normal/Dry
Skin Type
A combination Skin Type is exactly that – a combination of areas of dryness and areas of obvious oiliness. It is essential that the oilier and dryer areas are equally treated on a daily basis. The Combination Skin Type falls into the 2 categories of Normal to Oily or Normal to Dry.
01
Causes
Genetics
Imbalance of production of oils in the skin resulting in areas of the skin being void of oils while other areas are Normal in oil production
02
Looks Like
Areas of uneven dull and lacklustre complexion
Flaky patches of skin in the drier areas
Uneven dewy appearance
03
Feels Like
Tight
Parched in some areas
Cool in some areas warm in others
Texture is rough in drier areas and smoother in normal areas
A serum, concentrate or face oil may be required as a booster for the daily moisturising routine – it may be required only for the drier areas to give that added dose of oil.
Medium-heavyweight moisturiser to supply correct balance of nourishment and hydration
Acne
Acne
Skin Type
Acne is a very complex skin type and one of the most difficult to treat. There are 4 very distinct characteristics that contribute to the Acneic skin type. When you are addressing your Acne it is critical that each of these 4 characteristics are being addressed to control the severity of breakout, inflammation and amount of oil being produced.
4 Contributing Factors
More Oil Glands – this means more oil is being produced in an acne skin. The type of oil being produced is also of a different consistency than other skin types. It’s a richer, thicker and stickier oil.
More dead skin cells – up to four times more dead skin cells compared to a non-acneic skin type. This is known as retention hyper-keratosis. More skin cells mixed in with the thicker richer and stickier oil means more blocked pores, more breakouts, and a thicker rougher texture on the surface.
Less or No Hair – Hairs live inside your pores. They act like a ladder which dead skin cells and oils can travel on to reach the skin surface for shedding or in the case of oil for surface moisturising. When there is a very fine or deformed hair this process is impaired and the pores get blocked. Blockags become blackheads, blind pimples and pusy breakouts.
Bacteria – in everyone pores we have these amazing little bacteria called P-Acnes (Proprioni Bacterium). These bacteria thrive in an environment where there is very little if no Oxygen supply. In the case of acne whether the above 3 factors are occurring the pores become devoid of oxygen very quickly. This means these bacteria multiply very quickly in an acneic skin and cause havoc. This havoc result in pain, inflammation, swelling and pus forming in the pores.
01
Causes
Genetics
More reactive blood vessels
More Histamine present in circulation
02
Looks Like
Fine, delicate and translucent
Visible broken tiny blood vessels called capillaries
Flushed particularly on forehead, cheeks, nose and chin
Dull and lacklustre due to dehydration from the heat in the skin
Fine lines particularly visible with facial expressions
03
Feels Like
Hot to touch
Fine and delicate
Tight and parched
Possibly bumpy from small raised broken blood vessels
Oil free or mattifying formula supported with medicated anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory cosmeceutical and botanical bases
Sensitive
Sensitive
Skin Type
Looking at your parents’ skin is a great start to confirm you have a Sensitive Skin Type. The skin is reactive as a result of a large amount of pro-inflammatory agents within the skin known as Histamine. Histamine causes blood vessels to swell, leak fluid and blood, signals pain and irritation. In order to protect the integrity of your delicate Sensitive Skin Type and its long-term health we suggest following these simple golden rules.
Less Product – keep your routine simple so your skin responds in is a positive not reactive way. Stick to a maximum of 5 products.
Less Friction – avoid granular scrubs and gently pat dry your face after showering or cleansing and use only gentle, non-stimulating pressure when applying your skincare products.
Less Heat – use tepid water to shower, bathe, and to rinse your skin. Avoid long periods of exposure to dry hot air whenever comfortably possible.
01
Causes
Genetics
More reactive blood vessels
More Histamine present in circulation
02
Looks Like
Fine, delicate and translucent
Visible broken tiny blood vessels called capillaries
Flushed particularly on forehead, cheeks, nose and chin
Dull and lacklustre due to dehydration from the heat in the skin
Fine lines particularly visible with facial expressions
03
Feels Like
Hot to touch
Fine and delicate
Tight and parched
Possibly bumpy from small raised broken blood vessels
Non-abrasive consistency – NO SCRUBS! Gentle Hydroxy acid formulas can aid in restoring the barrier of the sensitive skin reducing irritation and stinging sensations
Light-medium weight consistency infused with powerful yet gentle anti-inflammatory, healing and strengthening cosmeceutical and botanical extracts SPF perhaps with a low chemical factor such as SPF15 otherwise opt for a physical sunblock with a TITANIUM DIOXIDE base to further calm the skin when exposed to the heat of UVB radiation
SPF perhaps with a low chemical factor such as SPF15 otherwise opt for a physical sunblock with a TITANIUM DIOXDE base to further calm the skin when exposed to the heat of UVB radiation