First we discard the old system of looking at skin. If you borrow a friend’s cleanser, will you end up with irritated skin? Have you noticed dark spots on your skin after sun exposure or as a cut heals? Do you eat your fruits? Great skin results from addressing those questions and more, so let’s look at the four parameters that defines your skin type:
Dry (D) vs. Oily (O)
Oily skin appears shiny, and those who have it may prefer gel- or powder-based cosmetic products, as moisturizers feel greasy. Dry skin may appear dull and rough; dry skin types find moisturizer soothing and gravitate toward creamy makeup. Many people assume this parameter is solely affected by oil production, but the condition of your skin barrier – the moisture-retaining outer layer of skin – is just as important.
Sensitive (S) vs. Resistant (R)
Sensitive skin flushes easily and may become red and irritated at the slightest change from its standard routine; it may also be prone to acne and eczema.
Pigmented (P) vs. Non-Pigmented (N)
Some people believe that pigmented types are always dark-skinned, which is not the case. Anyone who experiences unwanted dark spots (melasma, sun spots, or freckles, for example) is a pigmented type.
Wrinkle-prone (W) vs. Tight (T)
Fortune teller notwithstanding, Wrinkled vs Tight is the best indicator of how your skin will age, based on both genetic tendencies and lifestyle. You can’t fight genetics but your daily regimen can significantly affect your wrinkled-tight scale: tanning, smoking, and poor nutrition etc, all contribute to skin aging.
Put them together, and you get 16 skin types instead of three or four – and by far a more realistic picture. For example, I’m a OSPW (Oily, Sensitive, Pigmented, Wrinkle-prone), which means that my regimen focuses not only on dealing with my slightly sensitive skin, but also on preventing pigmentation and sun damage and addressing wrinkles. See the 16 skin types.
Help yourselves to my blogs on the various Skin Types that I’ve consulted on our various clients, I’m sure you’ll be able to pick up many useful tips for yourself and how you can start to really care for your skin.
Skin Type Solutions was developed by renowned dermatologist Leslie Baumann.
Wake up to your best skin ever.
Deborah Chan
Hi Deborah,
I had “very” oily acne-prone skin as a teenager and into my mid-thirties that was also very sensitive to boot. Now I am in my 50’s and still have slightly oily skin, but no break-out issues anymore—just some old acne scars and lots of large pores, plus some facial blotchiness and redness at times. What can I do to treat those issues—-large pores, and slight acne scarring plus slight wrinkling. Can you give me suggestions for products (names & prices, etc.)?
Robin Lea Kreves