The Perks of Every Skin Type

Happy Thursday!

I am extra excited today for the long-awaited Labor Day weekend, which marks the end of summer for us in the Northeast.  Don’t get me wrong, I love summer but an extra day to shave the week off is awesome.

Yupe, Pumpkin Spice Lattes already arrived at Starbuck’s.

This week one of my favorite bloggers J The Nelly Bean blogged about the Perks of Every Skin Type, and I had to share it with you all as sometimes we forget how good we have it until our skin starts to act up.

Here’s a look at the Perks of Every Skin Type:

Oily skin

What it means:

Your sebaceous glands are working overtime when it comes to producing sebum (the oily stuff), and you’re prone to a buildup of excess on the surface of your skin. This can be good when it comes to moisturising, ie. acting as a waterproof layer on top of the uppermost layer of dead skin cells to stop water loss, but sebum buildup also means more food for the bacteria that cause acne – Propionibacterium acnes.

Perks:

• You naturally produce plenty of moisturiser, put the heavy-duty face creams down.
• You have more resistance to the elements – bring on the rain and blustery winds.
• You’re walking around with highlighter on 24/7. Seriously, that shine is glowier than any highlighter you can buy.

Dry skin

What it means:

The opposite of oily skin – your sebaceous glands don’t make enough sebum. I like to think of it as a brick and cement model – your skin cells being the bricks and the sebum/oils being the cement that holds it all together. Not enough cement, and your bricks start to fall apart; this is exactly what happens when your skin starts to flake and you get that tight feeling. Not to mention water loss when your protective barrier is compromised, this is the exact reason emollients and ointments are recommended if you have a condition characterised by dry skin like dermatitis.

Perks:

• Makeup creasing is less of a problem for you.
• You can use liquid products and layer products without having to worry about them melting off your face halfway through the day.
• You don’t need much exfoliation, too much can actually do your skin more harm than good.

Normal skin

What it means:

You’re in that happy place between chip fryer and the Sahara. Your sebaceous glands are doing just enough to keep your skin hydrated, and chances are your skin isn’t terribly sensitive either. Avoid the temptation to go all out with “detox” or “moisturising” creams designed for specific skin types, gentle products usually do the trick and allow your skin to balance itself out.

Perks:

• Chances are, most products on the market work for you.
• You probably don’t need to be splurging as much.
• You get the happy medium between chip fryer and the Sahara.

Combination skin

What it means:

Easily confused with a ‘normal’ skin type. If you have combination skin, this means that some areas of your face are prone to oiliness, others to dryness. Think variation based on location. Said to be the most common skin type – psst… I have combination skin.

Perks

• You may need more products, but they last longer for you than most people.
• You learn to get clever about product placement and formulation when it comes to makeup.
• You get the best of both worlds, quite literally.

Sensitive skin

What it means:

Your skin is hyperreactive to triggers – whether environmental, chemical or physical. Chances are, you’ve figured out your unique triggers by now and know to avoid them. They work by disrupting the protective barrier that is your skin, and in doing so, the body releases a chemical called histamine. This is the culprit for the inflammation and redness you often get in an allergic reaction.

Perks:

• You don’t need all the products out there. In fact, less is more.
• You’re more likely to discover better products and learn what works for your skin in the hunt for something that won’t cause irritation.
• You get the importance of UV protection against sun damage. Get that non-comedogenic foundation with SPF, gal.

Hope you enjoyed this one, I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together! If you have any tips or product recommendations for any of the skin types I’ve mentioned, please share them in the comments below – we need all the help we can get (at least I do). Until next time – you go girl,

– J

Disclaimer: J is a pharmacy student, not a qualified medical professional – none of the information in this post should supersede a healthcare professional’s recommendations. Please consult your doctor should you experience any adverse reactions to products, food or medication alike.

About the author: 

The Nelly Bean is a blog dedicated to all things beauty and self-love, with a huge dollop of philosophy and the occasional sprinkle of psychology.  In other words, a brief insight into the workings of her brain – which you will soon discover, don’t often make sense. But I rather like that. I’m also a curious one and many of my posts revolve around the many burgeoning questions I have about the world.  To follow her blog click here.

Sending beauty vibes!  💋

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Photo credit: Adventures in Fashion