You want healthy skin but you don’t even know your skin type?

You could be doing all the right things in your skincare routine, (moisturizing, exfoliating, using sunscreen) but if you don’t actually know your skin type, you’re just fighting your body’s genetically-determined natural processes: making it harder for yourself to achieve glowing, healthy skin!

Your body produces sebum¹, an oily, natural lubricant consisting mainly of fat molecules that protects your skin from:

• The friction of everyday things rubbing against your hair and/or skin and causing damage (your pillow, your car seat headrest, cold wind, etc)

• Moisture loss in hair and/or skin

• Infections caused by bacteria or fungi

But all of our bodies produce different amounts of sebum and have different levels of sensitivity. So when you see someone on Tiktok telling you about how well a product worked for them… keep in mind that it probably won’t work exactly the same way for you!

You’ve probably heard of oily skin and dry skin, but how do you determine how much oil your skin produces? What if you have oily and dry skin? What if it’s sensitive, too? Do you struggle with acne consistently in certain spots? Maybe you’re not struggling with acne, but you are struggling with dry patches. Or maybe your skin looks … fine, but you don’t quite know what’s missing. 

The secret is in the science! Since your skin is made up of mostly proteins, and those proteins all have different functions…your DNA plays a big role in determining what your skin needs to be its best. Your skin takes on different appearances based on your age, stress level, hormone balance, and diet, but your genes ultimately determine your skin type.² 

So, try your best to not compare your skin to other people’s skin! Try to be patient with yourself if your skin looks different today than it did yesterday. (When in doubt, drink some water!)

Living in a society where we are 1) constantly told to be concerned about our age, 2) our bodies are almost always living in survival mode, 3) we eat a lot of processed foods, and 4) we’re usually not in sync with our natural hormone cycles…it’s only natural that we’re going to feel overwhelmed sometimes! 

On top of all that, we consume an endless amount of media every day– giving us hundreds of things to worry about each day based on whatever the algorithm has in store for us.

We’ve all scrolled on Tiktok, feeling the effect of the latest “skin-tok” trend lowering our self confidence and increasing our feelings of FOMO. Not everyone can afford to go to a dermatologist or get the latest skincare secret, and most of us want to get the result we desire for the least amount of money required, anyways! 

So here I am, your friendly neighborhood esthetician providing you with the resources you need to thrive! I promise: knowing your skin type will help you use your uniquely inherited proteins to block exposure from environmental factors and other aging factors. 

For example: if you have dry skin, you should be using an oil based cleanser, because dry skin doesn’t produce as much oil as “normal” or “oily” skin. If you have oily skin, you should primarily use a water based cleanser. 

So how do I determine my skin type?

The simple process to find out your skin type:

1. Wash your face with a mild, unscented cleanser

2. Pat dry with a clean washcloth 

3. Don’t touch your face or add any products for at least an hour

4. With clean hands, touch your skin and observe its qualities

Read below to determine your skin type: 

1. Your skin is “normal” if: your skin looks and feels the same as it did a few hours after cleansing. Even skin tone, texture is smooth, few to no blemishes. 

2. Your skin is dry if: you rarely experience any oily t-zone, your skin feels tight and you see few or no pores on the nose. Your skin tends to be thin or fragile, and you have some fine lines and wrinkles. 

3. Your skin is combination if: your t-zone gets moderately oily a few hours after cleansing, your skin feels dehydrated at times, you have visible pores in the t zone and experience some clogging (blackheads), occasional breakouts are somewhat common. 

4. Your skin is oily if: your skin gets oily within a few hours after cleansing, you see visible or large pores on the t-zone and cheeks, breakouts are common and you have many clogged pores, (blackheads) and your skin appears shiny all over with an oily t zone. You can also blot the skin to see if oil is left behind.

5. Your skin is sensitive if: ordinary skin care products cause stinging, itching, or a burning sensation, you easily flush, your skin appears flaky and dry, you experience random red blotches on the neck and/or face.  

Once you start using the correct daily products for your skin, you should see immediate improvements! 🥳 

Expert Skincare Recommendations - Based on Your Skin Type

From a Bioelements-partnered Esthetician <3

“Normal” Skin Type:

• Congratulations! You have the “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” of skincare, not too oily and not too dry! You can focus on preventative skincare without any extra factors to consider :) 

• Make sure to be applying sunscreen regularly throughout the day

• Incorporate retinol/bakuchiol in your skincare routine

• Use collagen-building products to combat the natural decline of collagen production that occurs as we age

• Moisturize regularly and make minor adjustments in your skincare routine seasonally

• Book a facial with me! 

• Faster Custom Blend Facial: Don’t have a ton of time to spend on self care? This quick, yet highly personalized treatment will cleanse, exfoliate and revitalize your skin in no time. The Faster Custom Blend Facial is a relaxing 60 minute experience that leaves your skin feeling clean, smooth and glowing. $102 / 1 hour+

Dry Skin Type: 

• If you’ve only been using a water based cleanser… you’ve probably been making your dry skin worse! Substitute with an oil based cleanser for your daily skincare routine. 

• Always cleanse skin in warm water – not hot! Hot water can steal your skin’s much needed moisture and further irritate your dry skin.

• Saturate your dry skin with three rich ingredients:

• Ceramides: Help restore skin’s barrier function, enhance the effect of moisturization, prevent moisture loss, and help you mildly shed your dead skin cells. 

• Vitamin E: A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E is incredibly moisturizing, protective and soothes your dry skin.

• Squalane: A natural moisturizing agent full of antioxidants and fatty acids. It works on top of and below the skin barrier to lubricate cells.

• Book a facial with me! 

• Oxygen Glow Treatment: A purifying treatment to renew dull, tired, sluggish, clogged or prematurely aging skin. Designed to deliver personalized results with increasing levels of oxygenating exfoliation! Oxygen facials are known to add radiance, hydrate skin, even skin tone, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and even calm acne! $136+ / 1 hr 45 minutes+

• Firm + Lift Facial: This treatment is designed for client-friends who want to lift and sculpt their skin to combat its’ natural tendency to sag over time. You’ll see and feel the renewing benefits immediately, as skin elasticity, fullness, and lines improve almost instantly. $146+ / 1 hr 45 minutes+

Combination Skin Type:

• Your skin type is extra sensitive to the change in seasons/weather! 

• “The dry/oily duality of combination skin is often affected by seasonal shifts, becoming more dry in winter and more oily in summer. Make sure your at-home agenda flexes when needed – for example, adding in a hyaluronic acid serum like moisture x10 to give skin an extra boost of hydration in the winter.” – Debbie Jones, Bioelements Esthetics Insight Circle member

• Try spot-masking! 

• Apply a Bioelements corrective treatment mask only where it's needed: like Kerafole on your oily areas (t-zone) and Collagen Rehab on dry areas (cheeks/chin).

• Use an oil based AND a gentle water based cleanser for your double cleanse.

• To target specific areas and rebalance your skin, look for products with these ingredients:

• Sodium PCA: a skin-softening, water absorbing substance that helps replenish skin in the areas that need it most. 

• Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol + Xylitol: a vegetable-derived, anti-dehydration sugar blend that helps with water circulation and reinforces skin’s barrier. 

• Adaptogens: natural herbs (like ginseng, gotu kola, dong quai or watercress) that work to naturally balance and strengthen the skin.

• There are three qualities³ that plants must have to be an adaptogen:

1. It is non-toxic when taken in normal doses

2. It helps your body cope with stress

3. It allows your body to return to balance (homeostasis)

• Book a facial with me! 

• Faster Custom Blend Facial: Don’t have a ton of time to spend on self care? This quick, yet highly personalized treatment will cleanse, exfoliate and revitalize your skin in no time. The Faster Custom Blend Facial is a relaxing 60 minute experience that leaves your skin feeling clean, smooth and glowing. $102 / 1 hour+

• Custom Blend Facial: Almost two hours long, this facial experience is truly the most customized facial you can get! Each step is a fusion of science, natural botanicals, aromatherapist oils and luxurious techniques customized with clinical strength ingredients uniquely designed to deliver fast results. Based on your initial skin consultation, I will further customize this facial experience to your skin needs in order for you to achieve your dream skin! $134+ / 1 hour 45 minutes+

• Even Brighter Facial: Do you want the glowiest skin you could possibly get? You can make evening out your skin tone and fading dark spots a reality with this high-tech facial featuring maximum (yet safe) levels of skin brighteners with proven results. $146+ / 1 hour 45 minutes+

Oily Skin Type:

• Use a mixture of water based and oil cleansers, making sure to not use excess oil.

• To target and remove oil without over-stripping skin, look for products with these ingredients:

• Iris Root Extract: This natural extract helps skin control oil and refine the appearance of pores.

• Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid: A powerful antioxidant ingredient that helps to regulate your skin’s natural oil production.

• Phospholipids: Water-binding lipids (organic compounds made up of glycerol, fatty acids, and phosphate) that deliver the hydration your skin needs without making the skin look or feel oily.

• Book a facial with me! 

• Acne + Pore Clearing Facial: An absolute must: whether you have stubborn chronic acne, hormonally induced breakouts or simply clogged pores and blackheads. For those who constantly struggle with acne, making this effective treatment a regular part of your fight against acne will be a gamechanger for you. $146+ / 1 hour 45 minutes+

Sensitive Skin Type:

• Think about HOW you’re cleansing your face: apply cleanser with your fingertips and use gentle massaging movements. Rinse with warm (not hot) water, and gently blot dry with a towel – no rubbing!

• Best ingredients for sensitive skin:

• Silver Ear Mushroom: Natural alternative to hyaluronic acid helps form a barrier-protective hydration film to keep skin nourished over long periods of time.

• Hemp Seed Oil: Packed with anti-inflammatory omega 3 + 6 essential fatty acids, it restores elasticity and softens skin.

• Bakuchiol: A natural alternative to retinol without potential irritation, reduces fine lines and wrinkles while improving elasticity and firmness.

• Book a facial with me! 

• Barrier Repair + Relax Facial: Designed for skin that’s stressed, red or delicate! This facial is incredibly calming as it helps soothe irritated skin while restoring your skin barrier to be healthier and more resilient. Clean, clinical ingredients triple-target sensitivities as active ingredients nourish skin’s barrier. $136+ / 1 hour 45 minutes+

Skincare Tips for all Skin Types

💛 No matter your skin type, if you want better-looking skin you need to: 

• Cleanse

• Tone

• Moisturize

• Sunscreen

…twice daily! 

💛 Exfoliate 1-3 times per week consistently.

💛 If you want to introduce new products to your routine, introduce them one at a time with enough time in between new products to notice a difference in your skin.

💛 Change your pillowcase at least once each week! Pillowcases collect dirt, sweat, oils, and even your hair product and makeup residues. If you don’t change your pillowcase at least once a week, it becomes a hotspot for acne-causing bacteria!

💛 If you get forehead breakouts, your haircare routine might be to blame! Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products can transfer on your skin, clogging the pores along your hairline, forehead, neck, and back.

💛 If you're skipping post-workout showers or not taking the time to use a towel to wipe the sweat from your face, you’re trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria! Why would you want to waste that post gym glow and create a breakout disaster? Bare minimum: wipe the sweat from your face post-workout and remember to shower as soon as you get home.

Share this with a friend + save it to refer to later!

💛 Xo, Sunni

References:

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24538-sebaceous-glands 

2. https://www.mddermsolutions.com/the-role-of-genetics-in-skin-health-understanding-your-skin-type-and-its-unique-needs/

3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22361-adaptogens